The Spook School (band)
| The Spook School | |
|---|---|
|
The Spook School in 2012. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Genres | Indie pop, pop punk |
| Labels | Fortuna Pop! |
| Associated acts | Martha |
| Website |
thespookschool |
| Members | Nye Todd, Adam Todd, Anna Cory, Niall McCamley[1] |
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The Spook School are a four-piece band from Edinburgh, Scotland.[2] The name is a reference to the Glasgow School.[1]
The band's lyrics explore "gender, sexuality and queer issues"[2] with themes such as "fluidity and the lack of a binary in gender".[1]
Their music often gets compared to bands off the C86 compilation, such as The Shop Assistants, as well as The Buzzcocks;[2][3][4] however the band also lists David Bowie as an influence.[1]
History
They met and formed in 2012 whilst attending the University of Edinburgh.[1] Brothers Nye and Adam Todd met Anna Cory and Niall McCamley through the university's comedy society.[5] Most of the band have previously been involved in live comedy shows, some of which were performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[1]
Critical reception
Their debut album, released in 2013,[3] is entitled Dress Up because it "relates to the idea of gender being a social construction, something that can be artificially appropriated".[2] The record received positive reviews from Loud and Quiet,[4] Under the Radar,[6] and The Skinny.[7]
Sophomore LP Try To Be Hopeful, released in 2015, has also received favourable coverage from music journalists.[8][9][10] Often with emphasis that their world-view encompasses the fluidity of both gender and sexuality and that this gives their output "urgency and cheering freshness".[10]
Discography
Albums
- Dress Up - Fortuna Pop!, 12" LP, CD, MP3 (2013)[3][4]
- Try To Be Hopeful - Fortuna Pop!, 12" LP, CD, MP3 (2015)[8]
Extended Plays
- I Don't Know, You Don't Know, We All Don't Know The Spook School - Soft Power Records, Cassette EP, MP3 (2012)[2]
Singles
- History/Hallam - Self Release, CD Single, MP3 (2011)
- Here We Go/Cameraman - Cloudberry Records - 7" Single, MP3 (2012)[2]
- I'll Be Honest/Will You Always Be My Friend? - Fortuna Pop!, 7" Single, MP3 (2013)[2]
- Binary/David Bowie Songs - Fortuna Pop!, 7" Single, MP3 (2016)
Split Releases
- Continental Drift (with Tigercats, Wildhoney, and Mercury Girls) - Fortuna Pop! and Slumberland Records (2016)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pollock, David (18 October 2013). "Haunting melodies from students at Spook School". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lester, Paul. "New band of the week The Spook School (No 1,589)". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- 1 2 3 Morrison, Alan (8 October 2013). "The Spook School: Dress Up (Fortuna POP!)". The Herald (Glasgow). Newsquest. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- 1 2 3 Scott, Hayley. "Dress Up by The Spook School". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ↑ Burrows, Marc. "One to watch: The Spook School". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ Saunders, Chris. "Reviews - The Spook School, Dress Up". Under the Radar (magazine). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ↑ Buckle, Chris. "Reviews - The Spook School - Dress Up". The Skinny (magazine). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- 1 2 Brown, Paul. "The Spook School Try to be Hopeful". Drowned In Sound. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ↑ Scott, Hayley. "The Spook School - Try To Be Hopeful". Clash (magazine). Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- 1 2 Didcock, Barry. "The Spook School: Try To Be Hopeful (Fortuna POP!)". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 14 October 2015.