Fixers are a five-piece experimental music/psychedelic pop band from Oxford. The band consists of Jack Goldstein, Jason Warner, Christopher Dawson, Roo Bhasin and Michael Thompson and formed in 2009. The debut album, We'll Be the Moon, was released in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2012.[1]
Fixers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Genres | Psychedelic pop, dance, experimental |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Dolphin Love/Universal |
| Members | Jack Goldstein (vocals, electronics) Jason Warner (bass, sampler) Christopher Dawson (guitar) Roo Bhasin (samplers, electronics) Michael Thompson (percussion and electronics) |
| Website | Official website |
The band cites their influences as Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Steve Reich, J-Pop and Vanilla Fudge.[2]
Biography
editThe band made their debut radio appearance in August 2009, when the track "Amsterdam" was played on BBC Oxford Introducing. Increasing support from BBC Introducing followed, with the band's first release, a cassette entitled "Amsterdam" seeing release in late 2010.
The band released a 7" vinyl of the track "Iron Deer Dream" through independent record label, Young & Lost Club, on 21 February 2011 – before signing a record deal with Mercury-division Vertigo Records. Fixers' first official single, "Crystals", was released on 1 April 2011[3] – preceding the release of the extended play, Here Comes 2001 So Let's All Head for the Sun; which saw release on 6 May through Vertigo Records.[4]
A second single, "Swimmhaus Johannesburg" was released on 31 October,[5] with a second extended play succeeding it. The EP, entitled Imperial Goddess of Mercy was released through Vertigo Records on 17 December,[6] including early tracks "Evil Carbs" and "Majesties Ranch"; the latter of which was performed as part of BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 15 January alongside a cover of "What's My Name?" by Rihanna.[7]
The band headlined the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2011.[8]
NME described the Oxford band as "the most capable of thinking their way to break-out success with their avant-garde take on The Beach Boys".[2]
We'll Be The Moon was released on 18 June 2012 to critical acclaim. Michael Hann of The Guardian wrote that the album was 'proof that psychedelia need not be an exercise in retro genre pastiche – a terrific album' and Raplh Moore proclaimed in Mixmag that 'Your favourite new band may well have arrived'. The album was The Times album of the week, calling it 'an album so beautiful and devastating as any record company could hope to release in 2012. It is the melancholia underlying We'll Be The Moon's sonic beauty that proves, ultimately, overwhelming'.
The band released their long-awaited second album, titled 'The Sun, The Moon, The Wind, The Sea', on 7 May 2021. The album was released both digitally and as a limited edition gold coloured 12" vinyl. Louder Than War reviewed the album, saying that ‘Fixers have triumphed again, serving up a gloriously optimistic psychedelic salad to take away the four walls of the present, a wet dream for nightmarish times. Well worth the wait.’
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK | ||
| We'll Be The Moon |
|
162 |
| The Sun, The Moon, The Wind, The Sea |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Here Comes 2001 So Let's All Head for the Sun |
|
| Imperial Goddess of Mercy |
|
Singles
edit| Single |
|---|
| "Amsterdam" |
| "Crystals"[3][a] |
| "Schwimmhaus Johannesburg"[5] |
| "Iron Deer Dream"[1] |
| "Really Great World"[1] |
Music videos
edit| Song | Year | Director | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Amsterdam" | 2010 | — | [9] |
| "Crystals" | 2011 | — | [10] |
| "Swimmhaus Johannesburg" | — | [11] | |
| "Majesties Ranch" | — | [12] | |
| "Evil Carbs" | — | [13] | |
| "Iron Deer Dream" | 2012 | — | [14] |
Footnotes
edit- ^ The single "Crystals" also appeared on the four-track extended play, Here Comes 2001 So Let's All Head for the Sun (2011).
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Fixers Confirm Album Details". DIY. 24 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Radar Band of the Week – Number 30 – Fixers". NME. 11 December 2010.
- ^ a b "Fixers 'Crystals' – Digital Download". Amazon. 1 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Fixers 'Here Comes 2001 So Let's All Head For The Sun' – Extended Play – Digital Download". Amazon. 6 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Fixers 'Schwimmhaus Johannesburg' – Digital Download". Amazon. 31 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Fixers 'Imperial Goddess of Mercy' – Extended Play – Digital Download". Amazon. 17 December 2011.
- ^ "Fixers in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge". BBC. 15 January 2011.
- ^ "Reading + Leeds Festival 2011 – Line-up". BC. 31 August 2011.
- ^ "Fixers 'Amsterdam' – Music Video". YouTube. 17 October 2010.
- ^ "Fixers 'Crystals' – Music Video". YouTube. 3 May 2011.
- ^ "Fixers 'Swimmhaus Johannesburg' – Music Video". YouTube. 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Fixers 'Majesties Ranch' – Music Video". YouTube. 18 November 2011.
- ^ "Fixers 'Evil Carbs' – Music Video". YouTube. 1 December 2011.
- ^ "New Music: Fixers 'Iron Deer Dream'". The Guardian. 27 January 2012.