Absentee are a band from London in the UK, signed to Memphis Industries. They are Dan Michaelson (vocals/guitar), Melinda Bronstein (vocals, keyboards, melodica, glockenspiel), Babak Ganjei (guitar/lap steel), Laurie Earle (bass) and Jon Chandler (drums).
The band have had two major releases so far. Donkey Stock in 2005 was a six track EP, which helped get the band noticed. In 2006, the band released a full length album called Schmotime, which was well received by the music press, including a 7.1 Pitchfork rating. Much was made of the up-beat nature of the songs, in stark contrast to the morbid nature of the lyrics - 'There's a body in a car somewhere' - for example.
The album was produced by James Ford, of Arctic Monkeys and Mystery Jets fame.
The band are currently touring around Europe. They supported Bloc Party at a gig at the Olde Firestation in Bournemouth on 24th January 2007.
Pre-formation
Before forming the band, Dan Michaelson and Melinda Bronstein collaborated to make the self-produced mini-album Hawaiian Disco. Five songs from that mini-album, and other unreleased material was used in the 2003 film Twisted, shown in the Raindance Film Festival.[1][2]
Discography
Singles
- 2006 "Something to Bang" #180 UK
- 2006 "Weasel"
- 2006 "We Should Never Have Children"
- 2006 "There's A Body In A Car Somewhere"
EPs
- 2005 Donkey Stock
Albums
- 2006 Schmotime
References
- ^ "Absentee", DrownedInSound.com; URL accessed May 20, 2006.
- ^ "Full Cast and Crew for Twisted (2003/I)", IMDB ; URL accessed May 20, 2006.
External links
- Absentee at memphis-industries.com
- Absentee at Crossthepond Music
- Review of Donkey Stock EP at PopMatters.com
- Interview with Absentee at SoundsXP
- Review of Absentee's Donkey Stock by James Jam at NME
- Jelbert, Steve, "Something to bang on about", Times Online, February 25, 2006.
- Jelbert, Steve, "Absentee : Donkey Stock -- East London countryists' lugubrious wonder", Times Online
- Absentee at the All Music Guide
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