Over to Germany this morning and the Serengeti Festival from 2014 for a set by Editors. Recorded and broadcast by West German Radio.
Editors formed in 2002 in Birmingham. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band currently consists of Tom Smith (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Russell Leetch (bass guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals), Ed Lay (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Justin Lockey (lead guitar), Elliott Williams (keys, synthesizers, guitars, and backing vocals), and Benjamin John Power (composer and producer).
Editors have so far released two platinum studio albums, and seven in total, with several million combined sales. Their debut album The Back Room was released in 2005. It contained the hits “Munich” and “Blood” and the following year received a Mercury Prize nomination.
Editors’ own variation of dark indie guitar rock draws on influences from both older and contemporary bands. Their influences include Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, the Strokes, the Walkmen, Elbow, and R.E.M. The band draw their musical style particularly from the latter two bands’ debut albums Asleep in the Back and Murmur. Smith has commented that “we’re dark and moody so yeah we build on the sound of the likes of Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Chameleons… Obviously we were too young when these bands came out, so it’s only more recently that we discovered them.” Upon Editors’ first appearances in the British music scene, they were also heavily compared to American indie band Interpol.
Press play, dive in and welcome to Wednesday.
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