Grandadbob

Dave Johnson (b. 23 Might 1977, Darley Dale, Derbyshire, Britain; guitar, keyboards, consumer electronics, vocals) and Vanessa Robinson (b. 16 March 1972, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Britain; guitar/vocals) began operating together as Grandadbob in the past due 90s, making use of their 1st solitary of melodic home, ‘Mudwiggle’, showing up on Toko Information in 1999. Johnson worked well like a audio engineer inside a Sheffield-based studio room that was possessed by an ex-member of 80s electro pop pioneers ABC, and got to Robinson’s classically qualified vocals when she came to accomplish some session function. The two distributed a like of traditional pop and started to create and demo tracks as Grandadbob, a name influenced by Robinson’s grandfather. Early interviews and press recommended that Grandadbob was Johnson’s DJ alias. Nevertheless, by enough time of the launch of Waltzes For Weirdoes in August 2004 it had been clear how the name displayed a duo. The recording was released on Norman Make’s Southern Fried label, as well as the duo was consequently used on tour to aid Fatboy Thin in Japan. The sound for the recording was influenced by French home duo Daft Punk, and Robinson’s vocals recalled Beth Gibbons of Portishead popularity – particularly for the trip-hop monitor ‘Killed By Sweets’. Many drew evaluations with Sheffield-based dance pop clothes of such as for example Moloko and I Monster, however the kitsch ‘Kenny’ could have installed well on Foxbase Alpha, the 1991 debut with the London-based Saint Etienne. Written and documented within the Derbyshire countryside, 2006’s Backyard Of Pleasure was a stronger, pastoral and eclectic, much less dancefloor-orientated established. While lavish creation originated from Liam Howe of Trainer Pimps, Johnson today brought his vocals towards the forefront. Although unfairly derided by some critics to be too much like that of Ben Ottewell of Gomez, his tone of voice properly counterbalanced Robinson’s angelic shades. This was especially evident over the country-inspired opener, ‘Arrive With Me’ as well as the folk-based ‘British Summer months’, two of the finer monitors on the record.