Ultramarine (band)
Encyclopedia
Ultramarine are a UK
-based ambient
/ ambient house
band, formed in the early 1990s by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper.
(1991) found critical acclaim, and Ultramarine was frequently seen at festivals
such as Megadog and Glastonbury
during the early to mid 1990s. A large part of the interest generated was due to the eclectic mix of samples and influences, evident on Every Man and Woman, which was dedicated to Dewey Bunnell of the band America
. Ultramarine were one of the only acts that was signed to Sire Records
in the U.S. through Giant Records instead of sister labels Warner Bros.
or Reprise
.
Their subsequent albums did not achieve the same commercial success of Every Man and Woman is a Star. These included United Kingdoms (August 1993), featuring Robert Wyatt
, and Bel Air (August 1995). They also released the single "Hymn", with vocals by David McAlmont
, in 1996. Their last album was 1998’s A User’s Guide. A remix album of Every Man and Woman is a Star, entitled Companion, was issued in May 2003 and collected various early, alternative, unreleased or live versions from 1990 to 1993. It was an extended version of the previously available Nightfall in Sweetleaf. Remixes of tracks were by various artists including Spooky
, Sweet Exorcist
and Coco Steel. Ultramarine regrouped in 2010, playing live shows before releasing two new singles in 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
/ ambient house
Ambient house
Ambient house, a music genre that first emerged in the late 1980s, is a sub-genre of house music, combining elements of acid house and ambient music...
band, formed in the early 1990s by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper.
Biography
Hammond and Cooper first worked together in the band A Primary Industry during the mid-1980s. Following the split of this band, they formed Ultramarine and released transitional album Folk in April 1990. The duo's second long player, Every Man and Woman is a StarEvery Man and Woman is a Star
Every Man and Woman Is a Star is the second album released by the British electronic band Ultramarine. The original 1991 version, released by Brainiak Records, featured 12 tracks, while a subsequent 1992 reissue on Rough Trade Records featured two additional tracks...
(1991) found critical acclaim, and Ultramarine was frequently seen at festivals
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
such as Megadog and Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
during the early to mid 1990s. A large part of the interest generated was due to the eclectic mix of samples and influences, evident on Every Man and Woman, which was dedicated to Dewey Bunnell of the band America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
. Ultramarine were one of the only acts that was signed to Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in the U.S. through Giant Records instead of sister labels Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
or Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
.
Their subsequent albums did not achieve the same commercial success of Every Man and Woman is a Star. These included United Kingdoms (August 1993), featuring Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
, and Bel Air (August 1995). They also released the single "Hymn", with vocals by David McAlmont
David McAlmont
David McAlmont is a British vocalist and songwriter.-Early years and Thieves:...
, in 1996. Their last album was 1998’s A User’s Guide. A remix album of Every Man and Woman is a Star, entitled Companion, was issued in May 2003 and collected various early, alternative, unreleased or live versions from 1990 to 1993. It was an extended version of the previously available Nightfall in Sweetleaf. Remixes of tracks were by various artists including Spooky
Spooky
Spooky is a British house/techno duo consisting of Duncan Forbes and Charlie May. They debuted with Gargantuan in 1993 after signing to Guerilla Records. In 1995 and 1996 they released three EPs on their own Generic Records label, followed quickly in mid-1996 by their second album, Found Sound...
, Sweet Exorcist
Sweet Exorcist
Sweet Exorcist is the sixth studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1974.The album was recorded at Curtom Studios, acquired by Curtis Mayfield's Curtom record label from RCA, in Chicago by R. Anfinsen and J...
and Coco Steel. Ultramarine regrouped in 2010, playing live shows before releasing two new singles in 2011.
Albums
- Folk (Les Disques du Crépuscule, 1989)
- Every Man and Woman is a StarEvery Man and Woman is a StarEvery Man and Woman Is a Star is the second album released by the British electronic band Ultramarine. The original 1991 version, released by Brainiak Records, featured 12 tracks, while a subsequent 1992 reissue on Rough Trade Records featured two additional tracks...
(Brainiak RecordsBrainiak RecordsBrainiak Records is a defunct UK record label. It was started by the London club The Brain. Brainiak Records released techno and progressive house tracks, as well as launching the careers of several dance music producers.-Discography:...
, 1991) - United KingdomsUnited KingdomsUnited Kingdoms is an experimental album released in 1993 by the British electronic band Ultramarine on Blanco y Negro Records.The album fuses ambient music and electronica with elements of English folk music, and features guest vocals from Robert Wyatt....
(Blanco y NegroBlanco y NegroBlanco y Negro can refer to* Blanco y Negro in Spain.* Blanco y Negro Music, a record label in Spain.* Blanco y Negro Records, a record label in the U.K....
(UK); (Sire/Giant/Warner Bros.) (US), 1993) - Bel Air (Blanco y Negro, 1995)
- A User’s Guide (New Electronica Records, 1998)
- Companion (LTM, 2003)
Singles
- "Wyndham Lewis" (les disques du crépuscule, 1989)
- "Stella" (dancycopaedia, 1990)
- "Weird Gear" / "British Summertime" (Brainiak Records, 1991)
- "Saratoga/Nova Scotia" (Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, 1992) - "Nightfall in Sweetleaf" (Rough Trade Records, 1992)
- "Kingdom" (Blanco y Negro, 1993)
- "Barefoot" (Blanco y Negro, 1994)
- "First Air" (Blanco y Negro, 1995)
- "Bel Air" (Blanco y Negro, 1995)
- "Sketches" (Blanco y Negro, 1995)
- "Hymn" (Blanco y Negro, 1996)
- "On The Brink" (New Electronica Records, 1998)
- "Find a Way" (Real Soon, 2011)
- "Acid" (WNCL, 2011)