Life Without Buildings
Country of origin:
Scotland
Type of music generally:
Alternative pop
Status:
The band broke up in 2002; most recent release Live at the Annandale Hotel (2007); sole full-length studio release, Any Other City (2000)
See also:
Life Without Buildings' site
Comparisons:
Mix Altered Images, Sugarcubes-era Björk's and Sleator Kinney. Then shake it up.
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
This band has an immediately distinctive sound. Sue Tompkins not-quite-baby voice belting out staccato (and interesting) lyrics with an energetic sound behind her, as though Altered Images were reborn in 2000 having lived through punk and come out the other side into pop, dragging their roots behind them. It's where pop and post-punk meet, and of course it's a Scottish band that delivers it.
Something in the style of Sue Tompkins' talk-singing reminds me of Claire Grogan of Altered Images, but the band's sound is more influenced by post-punk than that; something like Björk's Sugarcubes era or maybe Sleator Kinney. In fact, I've seen their sound described as what might happen if Sleator Kinney coerced Björk into singing for them. Add some great musicians. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Any Other City is their sole full-length release
Recordings:
Release info:
2000—DC/Baltimore 2012/Tugboat Records—DCB 003
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for any post-punk/pop fans
Group members:
Sue Tompkins—vocals
Will Bradley—drums
Chris Evans—bass
Robert Johnston—guitar
Produced by:
Andy Miller
Comments:
I love this album. The well-crafted songs have an impressive DIY energy. I'm not always in the right mood for this, but when I am there's nothing like it. Anyone who can sing the words "the right stuff" in so many different ways is all right by me. The whole album is full of great songs and intriguing lyrics. It's sad that this is their sole studio album. (Neile)
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