About Me
This is a fan/tribute page for a very special band.
We just couldn't imagine MySpace without Ganger.
Ganger split in April 2000. Some of their records are still available @ Domino & Merge.
Don't miss 'em!
James, Natasha & Stuart
- taken from the band website:
Ganger formed in march 1995 i think, in Glasgow, with the idea of doing a kind of krautrock thing - lots of folk were listening to 'can', 'neu', 'kraftwerk' etc. at the time. We started with 2 basses (Stuart & Graham), 2 drummers (James & Steven), keyboards, guitar and clarinet (Lucy). Over the last few years the line-up has changed a few times to include Martin (bomber) on keys and Caroline on sax.
In june '97 we played our last gig with the original line-up, supporting 'squarepusher' in stirling's 'albert halls' (great gig) and a few months later, settled again with a new line-up : Craig B (guitar, vocals), Natasha (bass, vocals), James (drums) and myself, Stuart (bass, keyboards). The music has changed a bit since then as well, hopefully for the better. both craig and natasha deny 'krautrock' as an influence - thought i better stick that in there for my own safety. (since writing this, Craig has left ganger for his other band, Aereogramme. a very tall, pleasant young chap from Edinburgh, going by the name of Chris, has now joined our ranks).
Our first few releases went out on 'Vesuvius' (a local Glasgow label) and 'planet records' in Bristol. The 'Domino' deal happened soon after that with a 'series 500' 12" release and then the 'fore' compilation which brought together most of our previously released tunes.
There followed a belated single on wurlitzer jukebox and a trilogy of 12" remixes by 'd', 'Two Lone Swordsmen' and 'the Underdog', early in '98. Another Domino 12" and our first proper album 'Hammock Style' were released later that year and that's been about it, other than a few tracks appearing on compilations here and there. Check out the 'discography' page for all our releases.
Although most of our music is instrumental, we're still up for using vocals where appropriate but often keep them within the music, rather as another instrument than a focal point. The tag 'postrock' has been thrown at us from so many directions now, to the point where apparently we've actually missed the 'postrock party'. If that's the case then we're quite glad of it - the term is so overused and vague in its description of a genre that it's probably best not to be party to it at all. Our tunes just happen as a matter of course with very little forethought or planning. If an idea sounds good, we keep it - that's about it really. hopefully you enjoy listening to them as much as we enjoy playing them. when that stops, we'll chuck it all in for butterfly farming or urban myth development - what?......whatever!
Stuart
- taken from the Merge website:
There must be something in the water around Glasgow. In recent years, western Scotland has exported such diverse acts as Mogwai, Arab Strap and Belle & Sebastian. We at Merge very excited to have worked wiht the post-rock-noir of GANGER.
Ganger's music is as heartfelt as it is complex. By combining innovative structures with concise delivery, this Glaswegian quartet tries out new things without forgetting that dynamism is what makes a rock song great. The songs integrate male and female vocals, which weave whispering through the arrangements, with the endless possibilties of a two bass/guitar/drum setup. Ganger's music remains fresh and exciting.
"Cats, Dogs & Babies Jaws" provides an uptempo start to the album, stretching quiet passages in ways only done previous by Th' Faith Healers. On "First Thing In The Morning," the group maintains a sprightly progression at low volume, continually adjusting the notes as if the members were completely filling in a small piece of the musical spectrum. "Capo (South of Caspian)" mixes Noramly's whispered vocals with smooth bass runs before building to a frenzied tempo. Throughout, the enthusiasm stays constant, providing a welcome substitute to the pained post-prog angst of many bands today.
Ganger doesn't try to move mountains. It rebuilds them.
After releasing a slew of singles and twelve inches in Europe (most of which were compiled onto a CD called Fore), Hammock Style was the band’s first full length release, followed by the ep, Canopy.
DISCOGRAPHY
Half Nelson [ep] (Vesuvius) 1996
The Cat's In The Bag...The Bag's In The River [ep] (Planet) 1996
Hollywood Loaf [ep] (Domino UK) 1996
Fore [compilation] [cd/dbl-lp] (Domino (UK)) 1997
Geocities / Alessandra [7"] (Wurlitzer Jukebox) 1998
With Tongue Twisting Words [cd/ep] (Domino UK) 1998
Hammock Style [cd/lp] (Merge/Domino) 1998
"Blaufest" on Oh, Merge comp. [cd] (Merge) 1999
Canopy [cd-ep] (Merge) 1999
"Standing on the shoulders of giants (live)" on Currents And Directions comp. [cd] (Meridien/Pehr995) 1999
