Pram
 

I've only heard one of their albums, but "Dark Island" really gives off a Stereolab vibe (if not all of their albums, I don't know). I've looked around for "North Pole Radio Station" and can't seem to find it, could I get an up/link please and if not what album should I get next?

Give me a bit and I can help you out. I'll warn you though, it's not nearly as good as Dark Island. It leans less in the direction of "atmospheric" and more in the direction of "annoying".

Alright, thank you. It sounds like it might be a challenging listen... and I like challenges.

Pram
 

I must admit, my favourite experimental band has to be Birmingham-based UK band Pram. 'Helium' and 'Dark Island' being the best albums!

Yeah, Dark Island got a lot of play from me when it came out. I've never heard Helium though. Is it similar?

It's quite different. A lot more nightmarish lyrics about being a child. A lot less soundtrack sounding and more tribal in places. A lot more experimental! 'My father the clown' and 'things left on the pavement' are definitely songs to check out off Helium :)

Also, have you got 'Museum of Imaginary Animals'? that is an AMAZING album.

No. The only other Pram album I have aside from Dark Island is North Pole Radio Station, and I have to say I found that album to be such a letdown that I never really got around to checking out any of their other albums. I should though. I'll have to give a listen to the two you mentioned.

Cool! I love 'Sleepy Sweet' off North Pole Radio Station, but that's about it!

Brilliant! Try out 'Mermaid's Hotel' off 'Museum of Imaginary Animals' if you like Hawaiian sounds, slide-guitars and theremin sounds

Pram love! :love: Museum of Imaginary Animals is great. Doesn't Tim Gane from Stereolab think they're the best band in the world or something?

I have Gash and I wasn't really that impressed. I may have just not been in the mood for something so experimental, so I'll gladly give it another listen. Or maybe I should check out a different album, from the sound of it.

Yes you're right!! :) Also, Rosie Cuckston, lead singer of Pram is with Laetitia Sadier's side project Monade. For their first album Socialisme ou Barbarie: The Bedroom Recordings :)

Yeah, check out Dark Island.

I've been into Pram for awhile, but "Dark Island" is probably still one of my favorite albums put out by Rosie and the gang. I have the "Omnichord" single which is ten times better than the version on "North Pole Radio Staion". I can upload it for anyone that may be interested.

I saw Stereolab live 2 years ago on the Chemical Chords tour, and Monade opened. I wonder if Rosie was part of the band. Not having seen Pram live, I don't know what Rosie looks like, and in most pics I've seen, she's wearing a mask, or if not wearing a mask, the photo caption doesn't indicate which one's Rosie. If she was on stage w/ Letitia, I wouldn't have known.

Who knows if Rosie is still with Laetitia though... as she's gotten rid of the moniker "Monade".

Indeed, Rosie didn't appear on any of Monade's other albums though, only the 1st one

I saw Pram play at The Town hall, Birmingham in 2007. It was the last time Rosie toured with the band, they just do instrumental songs when they play live now, without her. Not sure if she'll go back to the band when they do a new album, but I hope she does!

I took photos of a Pram gig at the Custard Factory in Birmingham, 2006.
You can see what Rosie looks like in it, as I captioned it :)

Its on my blog post about Leon Theremin:

sounddiverge.blogspot.com/2010/12/leon-theremin-greatest-electronic.html]Sound Diverge: Leon Theremin, the greatest electronic instrument inventor

I've only just heard Sargasso Sea today - and it kinda sounds like Stereolab mixed with Portishead. A very interesting listen for sure. Not sure how it will hold up with repeat plays though. We shall see...

Their albums definitely vary. The Museum of Imaginary Animals and Across the Meridian are my favorite. Also check out the new Vanishing Twin album.

I only know Helium and Sargasso Sea, plenty of good music on either

Nothing beats Broadcast in my eyes but Pram is part of the quality bands that do that sound.

I like what little of Broadcast I know but do they have records as adventurous as this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axGyvx2edWc

I mean, Broadcast has stuff that's almost straight noise/musique concrète. So, yes, haha.

Those would be Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age and the Berberian Sound Studio soundtrack.

Interesting, will check out

I'll be sure to check those out. I listened to their debut today but wasn't as impressed with that one.

Shockingly this is a band that whatshisface tried to troll me with and I ended up really liking them. Specifically:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVzfCTAHNds

who's whatshisface?

Ahh, I remember making this thread. I had one of those 160gb iPods with a pretty awful copy of Sargasso Sea that made the cymbals on the entire album sound like ****. It was the only copy I could get a hold of at the time. I also remember teaching myself how to play Paper Hats on guitar, good times. I really need to get back into them as I've been revisiting Broadcast and Seafeel, no lie it's been too long.

You were Farfisa? Why did your account get disabled?

I wasn't good at dealing with things going on in my life, and asked to have it disabled.

I thought I'd be able to remember his name and I'd just edit it in, but I can't. The guy with the avatar that has a guy...I don't know, standing up or something.

Edit: Neapolitan!

Oh ****, didn't know that was Broadcast. Love how uncanny that film is.