Not Squares
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Not Squares | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Electronic |
| Labels | Richter Collective Teto Records Strange Brew |
| Members | Ricki O'Rawe Michael Kinloch Keith Winter |
Not Squares was an Irish electronic dance-punk band from Belfast. Known for their energetic live performances and fusion of danceable beats with punk rock sensibilities, the band grew out of the alternative music scene that flourished in Northern Ireland in the years after the Good Friday Agreement.[1]
History
[edit]Not Squares formed in Belfast in 2008, initially as a four-piece consisting of Michael Kinloch (vocals, bass, synths), Keith Winter (vocals, drums, synths), Ricki O’Rawe (vocals, bass, synths), and Rachel Keenan (vocals, synths) The band quickly gained attention for their high-energy shows and genre-blurring sound, which combined elements of punk and dance music, a sound captured on their early E.P. ‘WROK’ and their debut album ‘Yeah OK’. When Keenan left the band in 2010, the band moved in a more electronic direction, a shift that culminated in the poppier club tracks that make up ‘Bolts’.[2]
Yeah OK
[edit]Not Squares debut album Yeah OK was released by Dublin-based cult label the Richter Collective in November 2010. In the UK the reception was mixed[3][4] , while the album was well received in Ireland [5] [6][7][8]. The album was released in Japan by Teto record with three remixes included in the tracklisting by David Holmes, Clone Quartet, and label mates Miaou.[9]
Bolts
[edit]The bands second album ‘Bolts’ was released on Strange Bew on 30th March 2015 and was favorably received[10], with The Thin Air describing it as 'a long overdue but triumphant return'[11]. 'Bolts' was shortlisted for the Northern Ireland Music Prize for Best Album.[12][13]
Radio Live Sessions
[edit]The band recorded a number of sessions for the BBC. In 2009 they recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale Studios, which was broadcast on the Huw Stephens show. In 2010 they recorded a session for the RTÉ show Arena, while in 2015, they recorded a full electric session for Across the Line on Radio Ulster, recording tracks from 'Bolts' and a cover of the Dinosaur L's 'Go Bang'.[14]
Live shows
[edit]Not Squares are renowned for their live performances, which often blur the line between concert and dance party.[15] Between 2008 and 2015 the band toured across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and Asia, and played major festivals across Ireland and the UK, including Glastonbury[16], Reading and Leeds[17], Latitude[18], and Electric Picnic[19].
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Yeah OK (2010)
- Bolts (2015)
E.P.s
[edit]- WROK (2009)
References
[edit]- ^ "Not Squares, Little Big Tent". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Not Squares: Sonic Shapeshifters". Red Bull. 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Album Review: Not Squares - Yeah Ok". Drowned in Sound. 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Not Squares – Yeah OK". The Line of Best Fit.
- ^ "Not Squares". The Irish Times.
- ^ "A very good year: the best Irish acts 2010". The Irish Times.
- ^ Byrne, Niall (November 25, 2010). "Stream: Not Squares – Yeah OK". Nialler9.
- ^ Murphy, Celina. "Yeah OK". Hot Press.
- ^ "Teto Records - Releases".
- ^ Murphy, Lauren (June 28, 2015). "On record: Not squares". www.thetimes.com.
- ^ "Not Squares - Bolts". The Thin Air. April 24, 2015.
- ^ "2015". NI Music Prize.
- ^ "BBC Blogs - Across the line - Shortlist Announced for 2015 Northern Ireland Music Prize".
- ^ "BBC Radio Ulster - ATL Introducing: In Session, Not Squares in Session". BBC. April 13, 2015.
- ^ Blog, N. M. E. (August 26, 2009). "Radio 1's Huw Stephens' Guide To Reading And Leeds". NME.
- ^ https://it.ra.co/events/197458
- ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Reading & Leeds Festival - Not Squares". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Reporter, News (May 12, 2009). "Patrick Wolf and Amazing Baby join Latitude line-up". NME.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Electric Picnic 2012 lineup and stage times". GoldenPlec.