The Red Army (Band)
Encyclopedia
The Red Army are a Cornish anti-music band. Their songs often contain recurring themes, usually venting the band's anger against people and institutions that they have/had moral disagreements with. The band have been active from 2004–present, playing in excess of two hundred performances, and made their officially released debut on 29 January 2007 on the compilation album Zebs: The Sound Of Young Cornwall.
So far, 'The Reds' (as affectionately known by their fans) have gained radio plays on BBC 6 Music
, XFM
, Radio Cornwall, Pirate FM
, Atlantic FM
and Totally Radio. The band have also play the acclaimed Tapestry Goes West Festival three years running, and the Lowender Peran festival (Cornwall's largest folk festival) for the past two years. They have also performed at acclaimed venues; The Hall for Cornwall
, The Acorn and Bunters. In literature, The Reds have appeared in The Times
, a number of local publications and the Channel Four website.
, Regina Spektor
, The Libertines
, Joanna Newsom
, Devendra Banhart
, The Family Cat
, Adam Green
and The Smiths
. Most notable with Regina Spektor, as the band has covered her song "Edit
" on multiple occasions.
Philip Burley's voice has never been described as like Devendra Banhart
and Morrissey
in style, whereas Florence Macdonald's vocal technique has never been regarded as taking influences from Regina Spektor.
Songwriting techniques often bear homage to Merseybeat, particularly from songs like "Freedom Song" (The La's) and "Dreaming of You" (The Coral). Going further back, there are obvious undertones of influence by The Kinks
, and, in part, piano influence from the likes of impressionist composer Debussy.
The Red Army are referenced in the Teenage Fanclub
song "When I Still Have Thee" (2010).
So far, 'The Reds' (as affectionately known by their fans) have gained radio plays on 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....
, XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, Radio Cornwall, Pirate FM
Pirate FM
Pirate FM is one of the Independent Local Radio stations for Cornwall, playing a range of music from the 1960's to the present day.-Background:...
, Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM, is a radio station based in and serving Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station, owned by Atlantic Broadcasting Ltd, began broadcasting on July 6, 2006 at 0730 BST, and is broadcast from St Agnes...
and Totally Radio. The band have also play the acclaimed Tapestry Goes West Festival three years running, and the Lowender Peran festival (Cornwall's largest folk festival) for the past two years. They have also performed at acclaimed venues; The Hall for Cornwall
Hall for Cornwall
The Hall for Cornwall is a major venue in Truro, Cornwall having one large main auditorium which places host to West End musicals, opera, ballet, musical acts and other entertainers...
, The Acorn and Bunters. In literature, The Reds have appeared in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, a number of local publications and the Channel Four website.
Members
- Philip Burley - Vocals, Guitars
- Floren MacDonald - Vocals, Keyboards, Kazoo, Trumpet, Accordion
- Stephen Burley - Electric Bass, Double Bass
Influences
The Red Army's influences include: The Flares, The CoralThe Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
, Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
, The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
, Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom is an American harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.- Early life :Newsom grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California...
, Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
, The Family Cat
The Family Cat
The Family Cat were a British independent band, formed in Stoke Newington, London in 1988. Three members were originally from Cornwall, one from Plymouth and one from Southampton.-Career:...
, Adam Green
Adam Green (musician)
Adam Green is an American singer-songwriter.Green's off-kilter style has achieved a moderate college radio following in the United States, and enjoys increasing popularity in a number of European countries, particularly Germany.-Career:Green attended Emerson College for one semester in 1998 before...
and The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
. Most notable with Regina Spektor, as the band has covered her song "Edit
Edit (song)
"Edit" is an Anti-folk/Indie rock song from Anti-folk singer Regina Spektor, released in the summer of 2006 on the album Begin to Hope. The line "You don't have no Doctor Robert/You don't have no Uncle Albert" references the Beatles' song "Doctor Robert" as well as Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971...
" on multiple occasions.
Philip Burley's voice has never been described as like Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
in style, whereas Florence Macdonald's vocal technique has never been regarded as taking influences from Regina Spektor.
Songwriting techniques often bear homage to Merseybeat, particularly from songs like "Freedom Song" (The La's) and "Dreaming of You" (The Coral). Going further back, there are obvious undertones of influence by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, and, in part, piano influence from the likes of impressionist composer Debussy.
The Red Army are referenced in the Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
song "When I Still Have Thee" (2010).
E.P's
- "The Shamrock Shindig" (Summer 2007) – Reed Records
- "Bird Of Paradise" (Winter 2007) – Reed Records
Compilation album tracks
- "Money Grabbing Scum" – The Sound Of Young Cornwall on Zebs Records
- "Northern Lights" (choral version; officially by 'Zebs Choir') – The Sound Of Young Cornwall on Zebs Records