The Orchids
Encyclopedia
The Orchids are a Scottish twee pop band that achieved success with Sarah Records
. Formed near Glasgow
in 1986, the Orchids released a series of underground singles on the influential Sarah Records (see 1986 in music
). The group's line-up comprised James Hackett (vocals), John Scally (guitar), Chris Quinn (drums), Matthew Drummond (guitar) and James Moody (bass). Their producer, Ian Carmichael
, often played keyboards on their records. The group split up in 1995, playing their final gig at the Sarah Records farewell party.
The Orchids were musically one of the most interesting Sarah bands and certainly developed far more on that label than any band except, perhaps, The Field Mice
. Starting with a fairly conventional melancholy guitar pop sound on Lyceum
and contemporaneous singles, they moved on to become more keyboard and sample/effects-based for their second and third albums, Unholy Soul
and Striving For the Lazy Perfection
, developing a more electronic sound, possibly as a result of their producer, Ian Carmichael
, who was a member of dance band One Dove
.
Their entire back catalogue was re-released on LTM
Records in 2005.
The band reformed in 2004 with a new bassist Ronnie Borland, and released a new album Good to Be a Stranger
in 2007. The new album was released on Madrid based label Siesta on 5 February 2007, and the band will be heading out to play live gigs for the first time in twelve years to promote the new release.
The first three of these albums were reissued with bonus tracks on LTM in 2005.
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
. Formed near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1986, the Orchids released a series of underground singles on the influential Sarah Records (see 1986 in music
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
). The group's line-up comprised James Hackett (vocals), John Scally (guitar), Chris Quinn (drums), Matthew Drummond (guitar) and James Moody (bass). Their producer, Ian Carmichael
Ian Carmichael
Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE was an English film, stage, television and radio actor.-Early life:Carmichael was born in Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The son of an optician, he was educated at Scarborough College and Bromsgrove School, before training as an actor at RADA...
, often played keyboards on their records. The group split up in 1995, playing their final gig at the Sarah Records farewell party.
The Orchids were musically one of the most interesting Sarah bands and certainly developed far more on that label than any band except, perhaps, The Field Mice
The Field Mice
The Field Mice were an indie pop band on the indie label Sarah Records. Initially a duo from South London suburb of Mitcham comprising Robert Wratten and Michael Hiscock, their first EP, Emma's House, was released in November 1988, and reached number 20 in the UK Independent Chart...
. Starting with a fairly conventional melancholy guitar pop sound on Lyceum
Lyceum (album)
Lyceum is an album by The Orchids, released on Sarah Records in 1989.It was the first album release by the group and was originally only available as an 8 track, 10" mini-album on vinyl...
and contemporaneous singles, they moved on to become more keyboard and sample/effects-based for their second and third albums, Unholy Soul
Unholy Soul
Unholy Soul was the second album by The Orchids, released in 1991.The album contains an unlisted track "Definition of a Bastard" which comes after track 7. The original CD numbering however did not take this into account and so from track 7 onwards the numbers and tiles do not correlate; and...
and Striving For the Lazy Perfection
Striving For the Lazy Perfection
Striving for the Lazy Perfection is an album by The Orchids, released in 1994. It was the last release by the group before they split up the following year....
, developing a more electronic sound, possibly as a result of their producer, Ian Carmichael
Ian Carmichael
Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE was an English film, stage, television and radio actor.-Early life:Carmichael was born in Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The son of an optician, he was educated at Scarborough College and Bromsgrove School, before training as an actor at RADA...
, who was a member of dance band One Dove
One Dove
One Dove was a Scottish alternative dance music group active in the early 1990s, consisting of Dot Allison, Ian Carmichael and Jim McKinven, a former member of Altered Images.-History:...
.
Their entire back catalogue was re-released on LTM
LTM
LTM Recordings is an independent record label founded in Britain in 1983, and best known for high quality, well-packaged reissues of artists and music from 1978 to the present day, as well as modern classical and avant garde composition...
Records in 2005.
The band reformed in 2004 with a new bassist Ronnie Borland, and released a new album Good to Be a Stranger
Good to Be a Stranger
Good to be a Stranger is an album by The Orchids, released in 2007. It was recorded by the group when they reunited in 2006 with new members Ronnie Borland and Keith Sharp...
in 2007. The new album was released on Madrid based label Siesta on 5 February 2007, and the band will be heading out to play live gigs for the first time in twelve years to promote the new release.
Singles
- "I've Got A Habit" (Sarah 2, February 1988)
- "Underneath The Window, Underneath The Sink" (Sarah 11, November 1988)
- "What Will We Do Next" (Sarah 23, September 1989)
- "An Ill Wind That Blows" (Caff RecordsCaff RecordsCaff Records was a short lived British independent record label run by Bob Stanley of the band Saint Etienne. The label went by the name Caff, Caff Records and Caff Corporation. Established in 1989, it is most noted for single releases by Pulp and the Manic Street Preachers...
11, September 1990) - "Something For The Longing" (Sarah 29, February 1990)
- "Penetration EP" (Sarah 42, February 1991)
- "Thaumaturgy" (Sarah 66, September 1992)
- "She's My Girl" (Pebble 001, May 2010)
Albums
- LyceumLyceum (album)Lyceum is an album by The Orchids, released on Sarah Records in 1989.It was the first album release by the group and was originally only available as an 8 track, 10" mini-album on vinyl...
(Sarah 401, August 1989) - Unholy SoulUnholy SoulUnholy Soul was the second album by The Orchids, released in 1991.The album contains an unlisted track "Definition of a Bastard" which comes after track 7. The original CD numbering however did not take this into account and so from track 7 onwards the numbers and tiles do not correlate; and...
(Sarah 605, May 1991) - Striving For the Lazy PerfectionStriving For the Lazy PerfectionStriving for the Lazy Perfection is an album by The Orchids, released in 1994. It was the last release by the group before they split up the following year....
(Sarah 617, January 1994) - Good to Be a StrangerGood to Be a StrangerGood to be a Stranger is an album by The Orchids, released in 2007. It was recorded by the group when they reunited in 2006 with new members Ronnie Borland and Keith Sharp...
(Siesta 226, February 2007) - The Lost Star (Pebble 002, October 2010)
The first three of these albums were reissued with bonus tracks on LTM in 2005.