Zabrinski
Encyclopedia
Zabrinski were an alternative rock
band from Carmarthen
, Wales
. They formed in the late 1990s and released four albums before splitting up in 2007.
, the band was formed by school friends Matthew Durbridge (vocals
, guitar
), Iwan Morgan (electronica/keyboards
), and Gareth Richardson (guitar) in Carmarthen. They relocated to Cardiff
and took on further members, Rhun Lenny (bass
) and Owain Jones (drums
), both of the band Topper. Their debut album, Screen Memories was released on their own Microgram label, and led to a deal with Ankst
. In March 2001, the band's Ankst debut, Yeti was released, described by the South Wales Echo
as "a collection of 10 tracks just bristling with ambition", and the band also recorded a session for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show. Yeti drew comparisons with such varied artists as New Order
, Aphex Twin
, and Flaming Lips. The same year, they supported Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
on their UK tour, and they also toured several times with Super Furry Animals
. They were nominated for three Welsh Music Awards in 2001. The band's third album, Koala Ko-ordination was issued in 2002 now with Kris Jenkins on keyboards, with comparisons again to Flaming Lips, and also to Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. The album was described as "Very strange. Rather marvellous" by the Sunday Times, and "a beguiling album that is both smart and warm" by the Daily Express
. The band's last album, Ill Gotten Game was released in 2005, and was described by the BBC
as "a many faceted work of wonder", but disappointing sales contributed to the band splitting up in 2007. The band's final performance was at the Gwyl Macs Fest in Carmarthen on 1 September 2007.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They formed in the late 1990s and released four albums before splitting up in 2007.
History
Misnamed after the 1970 film Zabriskie PointZabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is a part of Amargosa Range located in east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park in the United States noted for its erosional landscape...
, the band was formed by school friends Matthew Durbridge (vocals
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...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Iwan Morgan (electronica/keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), and Gareth Richardson (guitar) in Carmarthen. They relocated to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and took on further members, Rhun Lenny (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Owain Jones (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 ....
), both of the band Topper. Their debut album, Screen Memories was released on their own Microgram label, and led to a deal with Ankst
Ankst
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
. In March 2001, the band's Ankst debut, Yeti was released, described by the South Wales Echo
South Wales Echo
The South Wales Echo is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff, Wales and distributed throughout the surrounding area.The newspaper was founded in 1884 and was based in Thomson House, Cardiff city centre. It is published by Media Wales Ltd , part of the Trinity Mirror group...
as "a collection of 10 tracks just bristling with ambition", and the band also recorded a session 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...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show. Yeti drew comparisons with such varied artists as New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
, and Flaming Lips. The same year, they supported Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in Carmarthen, west Wales in 1991. They sang songs in both Welsh and English. They split up in May 2006.-Biography:...
on their UK tour, and they also toured several times with Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
. They were nominated for three Welsh Music Awards in 2001. The band's third album, Koala Ko-ordination was issued in 2002 now with Kris Jenkins on keyboards, with comparisons again to Flaming Lips, and also to Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. The album was described as "Very strange. Rather marvellous" by the Sunday Times, and "a beguiling album that is both smart and warm" by the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
. The band's last album, Ill Gotten Game was released in 2005, and was described by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as "a many faceted work of wonder", but disappointing sales contributed to the band splitting up in 2007. The band's final performance was at the Gwyl Macs Fest in Carmarthen on 1 September 2007.
Albums
- Screen Memories (2000) Microgram
- Yeti (2001) AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
- Koala Ko-ordination (2002) Ankst
- Ill Gotten Game (2005) Ankstmusic