The Experimental Pop Band – In Session for John Peel – February 1, 1997 – BBC Radio 1 –
The Experimental Pop Band to start the week. Originally conceived as a Studio project known as The Southwest Experimental Pop Band by former Brilliant Corners members Chris Galvin and Davey Woodward, the band soon dropped the Southwest part, gathered additional members, eventually recorded and released their debut album in June of 1997.
Just prior to that, in 1996, they released two eps, The Lounge and Boutique in my Backyard, of which Boutique was named Single of The Week by NME. Those tracks were compiled into their unofficial debut album Woof, which was released in January of 1997, and this session, their first and only one done for John Peel, happened on February 1st.
In 1999, following the death of co-founder Chris Galvin, they called a hiatus, but resumed two years later in 2001, adding a new bassist and issuing a new album, The Tracksuit Trilogy, which was very well received critically and got a four-star review from The Sunday Herald.
Still together (as of 2012) and with 7 albums to their credit, The Experimental Pop Band have had a strong following and have done several European tours as well as performing many of the summer festivals.
Not much in the way of current information is available on the band as to what they are doing now or what they have planned. They could be lying low or on another hiatus, it’s not quite clear what.
Checking their catalog, none of their albums or singles have been issued in the U.S., so it’s safe to say they are known by a few and not by the mainstream over here.
Whatever the case, The Experimental Pop Band, if you aren’t familiar with them, are worth checking out via this session or via their catalog, which is still in print.