Electrasy

Last updated

Electrasy
Origin Dorset, England
Genres Alternative rock, Britpop
Years active1994–2002, 2021—present
Labels MCA, Arista, Pink Hedgehog, CD Baby
MembersSteve Atkins
Jim Hayden
Ali McKinnell
Alex Meadows
Nigel Nisbet
Chris Page
Past membersPaul Pridmore

Electrasy are an English rock band. Formed in 1994 in Dorset, UK, the band consists of vocalist Alisdair (Ali) McKinnell, guitarists Nigel Nisbet and Steve Atkins, bassist Alex Meadows (who joined the band before they recorded In Here We Fall ), drummer Paul Pridmore and keyboardist Jim Hayden (who left the band by May 2001 and rejoined in 2022). The band were active until 2002, although several members of the band still based in the UK after this time continued to perform occasional gigs. Nigel Nisbet has subsequently released four solo albums, Calling All The Dreamers in 2007, Musicians are Different in 2015, Mainstream Panic in 2016 and Falling from the Stars in 2018. Alex Meadows has also released recent solo material under the name The Inexperienced, and is also a regular performer with various other acts (Tom Jones, Il Divo). Electrasy released a new album on 1 July 2021, entitled Givin' It Back, including multiple remasters and a live recording of their 1998 single Best Friend's Girl.

Contents

A 4th album titled 'To The Other Side' was recorded in 2022 and was released in the summer of 2023. The album release was accompanied by two gigs in the UK, in Cheltenham and at the 100 club in London. In July 2024 the band completed a more extensive 10 date tour throughout the southern United Kingdom.

A book, Calling All The Dreamerswritten by Pete Trainor was released in June 2023 and chronicles the band's career, the major changes in the music industry during Electrasy's time in it, and the impact of those changes on the band and music in general.

Career

Electrasy (originally named Crush and then Vivid from 1994 to 1996) achieved UK Singles Chart success with "Morning Afterglow" (reached number 19 and later number 49 in the US Rock charts in 2000), [1] and released two major label albums, 1998's Beautiful Insane in the UK and 2000's In Here We Fall in the US. "Morning Afterglow" was on both albums and a new version of "Angel" was recorded for In Here We Fall. Recording began for their third album Wired for Dreaming in 2001, but due to trouble with their record labels – first MCA/Universal UK and then Arista in the U.S. – delayed release of the third album, until it was finally released on physical format in 2008 with the help of Pink Hedgehog Records. [2]

During their career, Electrasy played over 180 shows in 1998, including two live performances on Channel4 TFI Friday and appearing on the Other Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1999. [3] The band were also voted #2 NEW ARTIST OF 1999 by WBRU's listeners, and in the Top Songs Of 99 chart, "Morning Afterglow" came in at #7, and "Best Friend's Girl" came at #63. [4]

In Here We Fall features a cover of the Led Zeppelin song "Dazed and Confused". The song "Cosmic Castaway", from the same album, was also featured on the soundtrack album of the 2000 animated film Titan A.E. and has been streamed over 3 million times. In addition, their song "Renegades" can be heard in the final scene and credits of the 2001 film Monkeybone .

In 2013, the band released a previously unreleased version of the song "Today's the Day" for Pink Hedgehog Records' compilation album Close to the Hedge, featuring various artists. This version of the song was originally recorded in 1997 as part of the pre-production for the album Beautiful Insane .

According to The Guinness Book Of Records, Electrasy won an award for having 4,400 custard pies thrown in three minutes featuring members of the Official Laurel and Hardy fan club, which was also part of the music video to their single "Best Friend's Girl". [5]

Discography

Albums

YearInformation UK Album Chart
1998Beautiful Insane
  • Debut studio album
  • Released: 17 September 1998
  • Formats: CD
  • Track listing:
  1. Lost in Space
  2. Queen of the Crimson Nile
  3. Strawberry Sunrise
  4. Nineteen
  5. Best Friend's Girl
  6. Morning Afterglow
  7. Chemical Angel
  8. Miracle
  9. Beautiful Insane
  10. Angel
  11. Demented
  12. Today's the Day
No.41
2000 In Here We Fall
  • Second studio album
  • Released: 26 September 2000
  • Formats: CD
  • Track listing:
  1. Renegades (featured in the 2001 film Monkeybone )
  2. Naked
  3. Morning Afterglow
  4. Dazed and Confused
  5. Bussed Out
  6. Cosmic Castaway (featured in the 2000 film Titan A.E. )
  7. Special Forces
  8. Foot Soldierz
  9. In Here We Fall
  10. Angel
  11. Cry
2008Wired for Dreaming
  • Third studio album
  • Released: 2007 (Recorded in 2001)
  • Formats: CD
  • Track listing:
  1. Far Away
  2. Million of You
  3. White Noise
  4. Goin' Down
  5. You Don't Get It
  6. Wired for Dreaming
  7. Lullaby
  8. Sacred
  9. Dr. Zack
  10. Roll it Up
  11. Alive and Breathing
  12. The Only Drug
  13. Floating
2021Givin' It Back
  • various unreleased demos & studio recordings
  • Released: 2021
  • Formats: Digital
  • Track listing:
  1. Rocketman
  2. Lost in Space
  3. Marie Marie
  4. Jesus Was a Junkie
  5. Today's the Day
  6. Givin' It Back
  7. 23rd Century Girl
  8. Spaced Out (Hotel Room Jam)
  9. High
  10. Demented
  11. Best Friend's Girl (Live)
2023To The Other Side
  • 4th studio album
  • Released 15 July 2023
  • Formats: Digital
  • Track Listing:
  1. A Million Pictures
  2. Aurora
  3. Easing my Soul
  4. Radiate
  5. Breaking Away
  6. I Tried (feat., Julia Violinista)
  7. Falling From the Stars
  8. Holiday In the Sun (feat., tomato)
  9. Statesman
  10. To the Other Side (feat., Jess Upton)

Singles

YearInformation UK Singles Chart Album
1998Lost in Space
  • Debut single
  • Released: 1 June 1998
  • Formats: CD, Cassette, 7"
  • Track listing:
  1. Lost in Space
  2. I Got U
  3. Cosmic Crusader
No.60Beautiful Insane
Morning Afterglow
  • Second single
  • Released: 24 August 1998
  • Formats: 2 x CD, Cassette
  • Track listing:
  • CD 1
  1. Morning Afterglow
  2. Queen of the Crimson Nile (The Honky Tonk Version)
  3. Lost in Space (The Summer Of Love Version)
  • CD 2
  1. Morning Afterglow (The Drummer's in the Pub Version)
  2. Victoria
  3. Nothing to Do But Get Stoned (The Grassed Up Version)
No.19
Best Friend's Girl
  • Third single
  • Released: 16 November 1998
  • Formats: 2 x CD
  • Track listing:
  • CD1
  1. Best Friend's Girl (Fat Nanny Radio Remix)
  2. Best Friend's Girl (Edit)
  3. Cabaret of Love
  • CD2
  1. Best Friend's Girl (The Future Funk Squad's 'Threesome' Radio Mix)
  2. Get the Monk Out
  3. Wasted Fixation
No.41
2008Roll it Up
  • Fourth single
  • Released: 7 July 2008
  • Formats: Digital download
  • Track listing:
  1. Roll it Up
Wired for Dreaming
2023Chemical Angel (Radio Session)
  • Fifth single
  • Released 11 April 2023
  • Formats: Digital download
A Million Pictures
  • Sixth single
  • Released 1 May 2023
  • Formats: Digital download
To the Other Side
Easing my soul
  • Seventh single
  • Released 1 June 2023
  • Formats: Digital download
I Tried (feat, Julia Violinista)
  • Eighth single
  • Released 1 July 2023
  • Formats: Digital download

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References

  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 180. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  2. "Pink Hedgehog Records Releases". Archived from the original on 30 December 2008.
  3. "Glastonbury 99 report". Archived from the original on 3 March 2001.
  4. "Electrasy News". Archived from the original on 18 August 2000.
  5. "GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2008". 6 October 2007.