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The Aliens

 
Artist: The Aliens
 
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The Aliens

Group Members:

John Maclean, Robin Jones, Gordon Anderson

Similar Artists:

The Bees, Super Furry Animals, El Goodo, Malajube, The Universe, The Sleepy Jackson, Thirdimension, King Biscuit Time, Badly Drawn Boy

Formal Connection With:

The Beta Band
  • Formed: 1996, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Retro-futurist pop trio the Aliens reunited three founding members of the cult-favorite Scottish outfit the Beta Band. Singers/guitarists Steve Mason and Gordon Anderson formed the Betas in Edinburgh in 1996. Originally dubbed the Pigeons, the duo added bassist Steve Duffield, drummer Robin Jones, and DJ/keyboardist John Maclean during production on their landmark debut EP, Champion Versions. Soon after completing the sessions, Anderson fell ill and left the Beta Band, subsequently cutting a series of self-released LPs under the name Lone Pigeon, including 28 Secret Tracks, Moses, and Auckley Craw. In the meantime, the Beta Band emerged as darlings of the international music press, culminating in the 1998 release of their classic The Three E.P.'s. Although follow-ups like 2001's Hot Shots II and 2004's Heroes to Zeros enjoyed critical acclaim and consistently reached the upper rungs of the British pop charts, the group was openly critical of its own efforts and played a farewell show in Edinburgh on December 5, 2004. At that point Maclean and Jones resumed their collaboration with Anderson as the Aliens, in mid-2006 releasing their debut EP, Alienoid Starmonica. Eschewing the Betas' dub and trip-hop influences for psychedelia and glam, the record earned a positive critical response and set the stage for the 2007 full-length Astronomy for Dogs. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: The Aliens
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article is about the Scottish band The Aliens. For Roky Erickson and the Aliens, see Roky Erickson.
The Aliens
Origin Scotland
Genre(s) Indie
Psychedelic rock
electronica
funk
Years active 2005-present
Label(s) EMI/Pet Rock Records
Associated acts The Beta Band
Website www.thealiens.co.uk
Members
Gordon Anderson
John Maclean
Robin Jones

The Aliens are a Scottish band consisting of former Beta Band members Gordon Anderson (aka Lone Pigeon, lead vocals, guitar), John Maclean (keyboards, backing vocals) and Robin Jones (drums, backing vocals). They formed in 2005 following the split of The Beta Band the previous year, and frontman Gordon Anderson falling ill to "acute psychosis". Anderson is now out of hospital and has been off medication for some time.

Influenced by artists such as The Stone Roses, The Who, The Beatles, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and T. Rex, The Aliens have a more upbeat and psychedelic pop sound in contrast to the trip-hop-based Beta Band.

Their first release, the EP Alienoid Starmonica, recorded by John Williamson, was released to the UK iTunes Music Store on 20 March 2006, and on CD and 12" on 8 May 2006 on their own EMI imprint, Pet Rock.

The Aliens released their first album, Astronomy for Dogs, on 19 March 2007. Astronomy for Dogs was recorded in The Underground, the small recording space beneath the Forest Cafe in Edinburgh before being put onto disc at Olympic Studios in London. The band produced it themselves. The release was timed to coincide with a ten-date UK tour but this had to be canceled due to Gordon Anderson breaking his clavicle climbing up a tree. The tour was rescheduled to May/June of that same year. In October 2007 they toured North America.

The movie 21, released on 28 March 2008, features the Aliens song "I Am the Unknown" from their album "Astronomy for Dogs".

In spring of 2008, the band cancelled all shows but the festival appearances due to the increasing ill health of Gordon Anderson during the recording of the second album, however, on his recovery the band completed a string of UK festival dates in July. The new album, Luna was released on September 29th, 2008 and was preceded by the single "Magic Man", released September 22nd.

Contents

Discography

Albums/EPs

Singles

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
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