Snapped Ankles

Last updated

Snapped Ankles
Rockaway Beach- Snapped Ankles (38972403774).jpg
Rockaway Beach- Snapped Ankles (2018)
Background information
Origin London, England
Genres Post-punk, Electronica, Punk, Krautrock
Years active2011–present
Labels The Leaf Label
Website http://www.snappedankles.com

Snapped Ankles are an English, London-based post-punk band, incorporating elements of performance art and art rock. They signed to The Leaf Label in 2017 and have released four albums, two EPs and numerous singles to date. The band members' identities are unknown, due to the fact that the group performs in ghillie suits, but they claim to be "forest folk...descended from the trees" [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

Formed in East London in 2011, the band began performing at DIY nights creating live improvisations by chopping up 1960s films before sequencing and augmenting them with synthesisers. [5] [6] The band released their first single, "True Ecology (Shit Everywhere)", in December 2012, on Ears Have Eyes records. Their next release came in early 2015 with "I Want My Minutes Back", issued on white label, and reissued in 2017 as their first release on The Leaf Label. From 2015 to 2016, they performed in Daniel Oliver's participatory performance show 'Weird Seance'. [7] In May 2017, they performed a live session on Marc Riley's BBC 6 Music show. [8]

The group's first release specifically for The Leaf Label, 12-inch EP The Best Light Is The Last Light, was released in June 2017, with debut album Come Play the Trees following that September. [3] The Quietus described the album as "propulsive and angular", praised it as "the embodiment of the weird, wonderful and true ecology of it all, presented by a bunch of folks dressed like ditches" and compared the band to "a pagan Can or a forested Fall". [9] Loud and Quiet describe the album as "hyperactive post-punk for the ailing state of the nation" and "bounding forward uncannily like The Fall's recent work". [10] In December 2017, Electronic Sounds placed the album at number 9 in their top 30 albums of the year and The Quietus at 14 in their list of 100. [11] [12]

Snapped Ankles released Violations, an EP of cover versions, for Record Store Day 2018. It was released on limited edition vinyl and featured songs by The Fugs, Can, Joey Beltram and The Comateens. [13] [14] Their second album Stunning Luxury was released on The Leaf Label on 1 March 2019. Described as a "10-song Gang of Four style takedown of modern capitalism" and "a stridently political album that loses neither its sense of humour nor its capacity for bangers", the album's themes and settings are based in the city and suburbs rather than the forests of 2017's Come Play The Trees. The album's lyrics attacks gentrification and other aspects of modern city life. [15] [16] [17] The Quietus placed the album at #16 in their Albums Of The Year 2019. [18]

The band's first live album, 21 Metres to Hebden Bridge, was released in September 2020. Named after the distance between the pool table and stage at The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, where it was recorded in October 2020, the album was released for the delayed Record Store Day 2020. [19] [20]

Snapped Ankles' third studio album, Forest Of Your Problems, was released on The Leaf Label in July 2021. The was Rough Trade's Album of the Month, and they described it as the group's "most spellbinding potion of woodwose krautrock to date" and a "bewitching and hypnotic incantation with swirling melodies, primal rhythm and feral funk that harks back to the feeling of possessed mania of Can or Joy Division." [21] Loud and Quiet gave the album 8/10 and described it as a "Goat-meets-The Fall soundworld that perfectly captures the group’s psychotic, eerie vision". [22]

Music, imagery and live performance

The band perform in "shamanistic costumes" and their live performances include elements of performance art and art-rock. Their unique live show is known for "whipping audiences into a manic, frenzied, ecstatic state." [23] [4]

The Leaf Label describes the band's sound as "primal motoric rhythms, the rush of white noise and post-punk angles; an aural onslaught played out on homemade log synths, electrified guitars and sticks beating hell on taut animal skin". The Quietus called them "a band defying convention at every turn and toying with their own mythology as they see fit". [6]

In the same article, the band describe Come Play The Trees as "[having] a bunch poppy, post-punk groove tracks, but then we've got some songs that are made just using the single oscillator log-synths. They're sort of non-songs". They go on to say, "when you've got an instrument that can only make one note, long or short, and barely make a tune at all, it feels like a political statement about going back to these situations where we had to be based in places that barely had locks on the doors and where we were using PAs and drums kids made out of bits that we cobbled together. That's what I like to see in a band. I want to see bands that have thrown it together, rather than having all the new gear from Denmark Street". [6]

The band also cites the diverse influences of Morris dancing, Old Norse texts, Jean-Luc Godard, Lightning Bolt, Fela Kuti and London warehouse parties. [6] [24]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurosis (band)</span> American avant-garde metal band

Neurosis is an American avant-garde metal band from Oakland, California. It was formed in 1985 by guitarist Scott Kelly, bassist Dave Edwardson, and drummer Jason Roeder, initially as a hardcore punk band. Chad Salter joined as a second guitarist and appeared on the band's 1987 debut Pain of Mind and then Steve Von Till replaced him in 1989. The following year, the lineup further expanded to include a keyboardist and a visual artist. Beginning with their third album Souls at Zero (1992), Neurosis transformed their hardcore sound by incorporating diverse influences including doom metal and industrial music, becoming a major force in the emergence of the post-metal and sludge metal genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Holden (producer)</span> English disc jockey of electronic music

James Alexander Goodale Holden is a British electronic music artist and DJ. After beginning his career as a DJ and producer, Holden has moved extensively into live performance and founded his own record label Border Community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Leaf Label</span> British independent record label

The Leaf Label is a British independent record label based in Yorkshire, England. Initially an electronic music label, releasing mainly instrumental music, the company's approach now features artists spanning jazz and post-punk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seb Rochford</span> British musician

Sebastian Rochford is a British drummer and composer. He has recorded and released music as leader of the British band Polar Bear, as Kutcha Butcha and as part of numerous collaborations.

Keeley Forsyth is an English actress and musician. She has released the albums Debris (2020) and Limbs (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vacant Lots</span>

The Vacant Lots are an American post-punk electro band based in Brooklyn, New York.

Melt Yourself Down are a London-based band who incorporate elements of West African musical styles (afrobeat), punk, jazz and funk. Founded in January 2012, the band is led by saxophonist Pete Wareham, former leader of now defunct jazz/punk band Acoustic Ladyland and saxophonist in British jazz band Polar Bear. The original line-up included saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, drummer Tom Skinner, vocalist Kushal Gaya, bassist Ruth Goller and percussionist Satin Singh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleaford Mods</span> English electronic punk music duo

Sleaford Mods are an English post-punk music duo, formed in 2007 in Nottingham. The band features vocalist Jason Williamson and, since 2012, musician Andrew Fearn. They are known for their abrasive, minimalist musical style and embittered explorations of austerity-era Britain, culture, and working class life, delivered in Williamson's East Midlands accent. The duo have released several albums to critical praise.

<i>Melt Yourself Down</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Melt Yourself Down

Melt Yourself Down is the debut album of the London-based band of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Comet Is Coming</span> British jazz-rock band

The Comet Is Coming is a London-based band who incorporate elements of jazz, electronica, funk and psychedelic rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fat White Family</span> English rock band

Fat White Family are an English rock band, formed in 2011 in Peckham, South London.

<i>Channel the Spirits</i> 2016 studio album by The Comet Is Coming

Channel the Spirits is the first full-length album by London-based band The Comet Is Coming. It was released on 1 April 2016 by The Leaf Label.

<i>Last Evenings on Earth</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Melt Yourself Down

Last Evenings on Earth is the second studio album by the London-based band Melt Yourself Down. It follows 2013's eponymous debut and Live at the New Empowering Church, released for Record Store Day in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brix & the Extricated</span> British post-punk band

Brix & the Extricated were a British post-punk band, formed in 2014 in Manchester, by ex-Fall members Brix Smith Start (vocals/guitar) and Steve Hanley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idles</span> English rock band

Idles are a British rock band formed in Bristol in 2009. The band consists of Joe Talbot (vocals), Mark Bowen (guitar), Lee Kiernan (guitar), Adam Devonshire (bass) and Jon Beavis (drums). Their debut album, Brutalism, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, as was their second album Joy as an Act of Resistance in 2018. Their third album, Ultra Mono, was released in 2020, followed by Crawler in 2021.

<i>Holiday Destination</i> 2017 studio album by Nadine Shah

Holiday Destination is the third studio album by English musician Nadine Shah. It was released in August 2017 under 1965 Records. The album was produced by Ben Hillier.

<i>Brutalism</i> (Idles album) 2017 studio album by Idles

Brutalism is the debut studio album by British rock band Idles, released in March 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flamingods</span>

Flamingods are a four-piece alternative rock band from London and Bahrain founded by Kamal Rasool in 2010. The band's other members are Karthik Poduval, Sam Rowe and Charles Prest.

Stunning Luxury is the second studio album by English band Snapped Ankles. It was released on 1 March 2019 under The Leaf Label. Described as a "10-song Gang of Four style takedown of modern capitalism" and "a stridently political album that loses neither its sense of humour nor its capacity for bangers", the album's themes and settings are based in the city and suburbs rather than the forests of 2017's Come Play The Trees.

<i>New Hymn to Freedom</i> 2018 studio album by Szun Waves

New Hymn to Freedom is the second studio album by British band Szun Waves. It was released on 31 August 2018 through The Leaf Label.

References

  1. ↑ "WATCH: New Snapped Ankles". The Quietus . Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Snapped Ankles get cinematic on 'Jonny Guitar Calling Gosta Berlin'". DIY. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 "NEWS: Snapped Ankles - Come Play The Trees out today". The Leaf Label . Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Snapped Ankles discuss the inspirations for new album 'Forest of Your Problems'". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Patrick Glen. "Snapped Ankles was the only gig happening in London last night where four people dressed as trees played in a warehouse". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Murray, Eoin. "Screaming Hedges: An Interview With Snapped Ankles". The Quietus . Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Weird Seance". Danieloliverperformance.com. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Marc Riley: Snapped Ankles, 8 May 2017", BBC. Retrieved 22 October 2017
  9. ↑ "Resistance Is Fertile: Snapped Ankles' Come Play The Trees". The Quietus . Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Snapped Ankles Come Play The Trees". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "Albums of the Year". Electronic Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Albums of the Year". The Quietus . Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "LISTEN: New Snapped Ankles". The Quietus . Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Snapped Ankles - Violations for Record Store Day 2018". The Leaf Label . Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "Snapped Ankles make music to soundtrack the apocalypse". The Line Of Best Fit. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury". The Skinny. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "Stunning Luxury". The Leaf Label. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  18. ↑ "Quietus Albums Of The Year 2019". The Quietus. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "21 Metres to Hebden Bridge". The Leaf Label . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "21 Metres to Hebden Bridge". Discogs . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Album of the Month - July 2021". Rough Trade . 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Forest Of Your Problems". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "INTRODUCING: SNAPPED ANKLES". With Guitars. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  24. ↑ "Snapped Ankles bring the roar and the rumble on new single "Jonny Guitar Calling Gosta Berlin"". Line Of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.