Finitribe
Encyclopedia
Finitribe was a dance music
band
from Edinburgh
, Scotland
. The group is sometimes also referred to as Fini Tribe. The name was taken from finny tribe, a term used by the Rosicrucians to describe the fishes.
They began in the mid 1980s as Gallery Macabre, an experimental guitar band, before moving into a sample
based dance style, setting up their independent Finiflex label
, playing live and recording
as funds allowed. Following a period on Chicago
's Wax Trax, and the limited release of two twelve-inch singles
, the band restructured with the departure of some band members and migration of vocalist
Chris Connelly
to join the Ministry
/Revolting Cocks
crew.
Based on the dancefloor success of the track "Detestimony" from the 1986 "Let the Tribe Grow" EP
, the remaining members became a more dance-oriented act signing to One Little Indian. The label was then home of The Shamen
, a group which had undergone a similar transition from guitar rock to dance music, although Finitribe never approached The Shamen's considerable commercial impact. The group had minor mainstream success with dance mixes of the tracks "101" and "Forevergreen" from their 1992 album, An Unexpected Groovy Treat. The follow-up LP Sheigra failed to meet with the same success despite critical acclaim. In 1996, the group, slimmed down to Miller and Pinsky with a collection of vocal collaborators, released a final album Sleazy Listening, in a drum and bass
/trip-hop style, in 1998.
The group performed sessions for John Peel
in 1985, 1989, and 1998.
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The group is sometimes also referred to as Fini Tribe. The name was taken from finny tribe, a term used by the Rosicrucians to describe the fishes.
They began in the mid 1980s as Gallery Macabre, an experimental guitar band, before moving into a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
based dance style, setting up their independent Finiflex label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, playing live and recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
as funds allowed. Following a period on Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Wax Trax, and the limited release of two twelve-inch singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, the band restructured with the departure of some band members and migration of vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly is a Scottish musician who became famous for his industrial music work of the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly his involvement with the Revolting Cocks and Ministry. He has since established himself as a talented alternative singer-songwriter...
to join the Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
/Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
crew.
Based on the dancefloor success of the track "Detestimony" from the 1986 "Let the Tribe Grow" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, the remaining members became a more dance-oriented act signing to One Little Indian. The label was then home of The Shamen
The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
, a group which had undergone a similar transition from guitar rock to dance music, although Finitribe never approached The Shamen's considerable commercial impact. The group had minor mainstream success with dance mixes of the tracks "101" and "Forevergreen" from their 1992 album, An Unexpected Groovy Treat. The follow-up LP Sheigra failed to meet with the same success despite critical acclaim. In 1996, the group, slimmed down to Miller and Pinsky with a collection of vocal collaborators, released a final album Sleazy Listening, in a drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
/trip-hop style, in 1998.
The group performed sessions for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
in 1985, 1989, and 1998.
Members
- David Miller (guitar/vocals/noise)
- Philip Pinsky (bass/vocals & production)
- John Vick (keyboards/sampling/production & editing) until 1996)
- Simon McGlynn (drums, until 1988)
- Andy McGregor (guitar/vocals/noise & pictures) until 1988)
- Chris Connelly (vocals, production) until 1988)
Selected discography
- "Curling and Stretching" 12"EP (Finiflex 1984)
- "Let the Tribe Grow" EP (Cathexis 1986)
- Noise, Lust & Fun LP (Finiflex 1988, One Little Indian 1989)
- Grossing 10K LP (One Little Indian 1989)
- An Unexpected Groovy Treat (One Little Indian 1992)
- "Forevergreen" EP (1993) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#51 - "Brand New" (1994) - UK #69
- Sheigra CD (FFRR 1995)
- "Squelch" (1996)
- Sleazy Listening (Infectious 1998)