Monkey Swallows the Universe
Encyclopedia
Monkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic
/indie
band from Sheffield
, England
. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield
. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars with Gori adding extra touches with instruments such as the recorder
and glockenspiel
. The band later expanded to include Catherine Tully on violin
, Andy George on cello
and Rob Dean on drums
. Nat Johnson became the main singer and song-writer. In February 2006, the band released its first album The Bright Carvings on the small independent record label Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation
. The band had been featured a number of times in Sandman magazine
.
On 11 April 2006, the band appeared on Gideon Coe
's BBC 6 Music
radio show, and played two songs live in session. In May 2006, the band supported Richard Hawley on three dates of his UK tour. Later that year, the band supported the Long Blondes on 5 dates of their UK tour. In July 2006 MSTU released "Science" (b/w Happiness & Florence) as a CD single, and on 7" vinyl (b/w Happiness) also on Thee SPC.
The band signed to Loose Records to release a second album The Casket Letters
in August 2007. The band also released a single from the album, Little Polveir
, a song named after a racehorse which was an unlikely winner of the British Grand National
. The band performed further live radio sessions, including an appearance on Radio 4's Loose Ends. The band appeared at several festivals in the UK, including Latitude, Green Man, Truck, Secret Garden Party and End of the Road. A download only single, 'Bloodline' was released in September 2007, backed with a cover of Jonathan Richman's Ice Cream Man. The band performed these songs live on Marc Riley's 6music show.
On December 4, 2007, the band announced via its official website that it would be taking an indefinite hiatus after touring. Monkey Swallows the Universe played their last show in Edinburgh on 11 February 2008. After the announcement of hiatus, Nat Johnson began a solo career and released the single "Dirty Rotten Soul" in 2008. In 2009, she and Kevin Gori formed Nat Johnson and the Figureheads.
Nat Johnson appeared on the David Rotheray album 'The Life of Birds' on the track 'Flying Lessons'. Nat also appears on the album 'Another Sleepless Night with Rory McVicar' by Rory McVicar.
"They stand on the brink of becoming the steel city's latest sensations" - The Sun
"Delightful indiepop." - Daily Telegraph
"Roll over Charles Darwin and tell those musical evolutionists the news - there's yet more Sheffield Monkeys beside the Arctic variety." - The Mirror
"These Sheffield kids are big big news. They have a sound that transports you back to the days of the late 80's and listening to John Peel religiously every night. It sounds like a mix of The Siddleys, Belle and Sebastian and Sarah Records." - Rough Trade
"Capable of haunting, tear-prickling acoustic beauty...more than worthy of any - and everyone's respect and attention." - Drowned in Sound
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
/indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars with Gori adding extra touches with instruments such as the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
and glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
. The band later expanded to include Catherine Tully on violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, Andy George on cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and Rob Dean on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. Nat Johnson became the main singer and song-writer. In February 2006, the band released its first album The Bright Carvings on the small independent record label Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation
Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation
Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation, or Thee SPC, is an independent record label based in Sheffield, UK. It is one of the most influential labels in the Yorkshire area, having given early breaks and support to many bands in the so-called New Yorkshire scene. The label was formed by members of...
. The band had been featured a number of times in Sandman magazine
Sandman (magazine)
Sandman was a free music magazine launched in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in September 2002. Later versions were created, specifically covering Leeds, Kingston upon Hull, York, Nottingham and Manchester before all five editions were amalgamated into one compendium edition which also covered...
.
On 11 April 2006, the band appeared on Gideon Coe
Gideon Coe
Gideon "The Guv'nor" Coe is a radio DJ, presenter, sportscaster, voiceover artist and journalist.Coe was one of the child presenters of the BBC 1 children's programme "Why Don't You?"....
's BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
radio show, and played two songs live in session. In May 2006, the band supported Richard Hawley on three dates of his UK tour. Later that year, the band supported the Long Blondes on 5 dates of their UK tour. In July 2006 MSTU released "Science" (b/w Happiness & Florence) as a CD single, and on 7" vinyl (b/w Happiness) also on Thee SPC.
The band signed to Loose Records to release a second album The Casket Letters
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
in August 2007. The band also released a single from the album, Little Polveir
Little Polveir
Little Polveir was a race horse. He won the 1989 Grand National steeplechase ridden by Jimmy Frost, beating West Tip by seven lengths...
, a song named after a racehorse which was an unlikely winner of the British Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
. The band performed further live radio sessions, including an appearance on Radio 4's Loose Ends. The band appeared at several festivals in the UK, including Latitude, Green Man, Truck, Secret Garden Party and End of the Road. A download only single, 'Bloodline' was released in September 2007, backed with a cover of Jonathan Richman's Ice Cream Man. The band performed these songs live on Marc Riley's 6music show.
On December 4, 2007, the band announced via its official website that it would be taking an indefinite hiatus after touring. Monkey Swallows the Universe played their last show in Edinburgh on 11 February 2008. After the announcement of hiatus, Nat Johnson began a solo career and released the single "Dirty Rotten Soul" in 2008. In 2009, she and Kevin Gori formed Nat Johnson and the Figureheads.
Nat Johnson appeared on the David Rotheray album 'The Life of Birds' on the track 'Flying Lessons'. Nat also appears on the album 'Another Sleepless Night with Rory McVicar' by Rory McVicar.
Track listing of The Bright Carvings
- Sheffield Shanty
- Martin
- Jimmy Down The Well
- The Chicken Fat Waltz
- Down
- You Yesterday
- Wallow
- 22
- Fonz You!
- Still
- Beautiful Never
- Secret Word Is Groucho (hidden trackHidden trackIn the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
)
Track listing of The Casket Letters
- Statutory Rights
- Bloodline
- Science
- Matterhoney
- Gravestones
- Little Polveir
- Elizabeth & Mary
- Ballad of the Breakneck Bride
- Paper, Scissors, Stone
- When the Work is Done
Critical Acclaim
"Sheffield's loveliest band" - The Guardian"They stand on the brink of becoming the steel city's latest sensations" - The Sun
"Delightful indiepop." - Daily Telegraph
"Roll over Charles Darwin and tell those musical evolutionists the news - there's yet more Sheffield Monkeys beside the Arctic variety." - The Mirror
"These Sheffield kids are big big news. They have a sound that transports you back to the days of the late 80's and listening to John Peel religiously every night. It sounds like a mix of The Siddleys, Belle and Sebastian and Sarah Records." - Rough Trade
"Capable of haunting, tear-prickling acoustic beauty...more than worthy of any - and everyone's respect and attention." - Drowned in Sound