Tindersticks

Originally formed under the moniker Asphalt Ribbons, the band had a wide line-up that included Stuart Staples on vocals, Dave Boulter on organ and accordion, Neil Fraser on guitar, Dickon Hinchliffe on guitar and strings, Al Macauley on drums, and John Thompson on bass. Thompson soon left and Mark Colwill took his place now under the name Tindersticks.

After recording a series of demo tapes and starting their own label Tippy Toe Records, Tindersticks released their debut single “Patchwork” along with “Marbles” in 2003. Following the release the band signed to This Way Up records through which they issued their infamous self-titled debut. The album released in 2003 earned rave-reviews and critical acclaim after which Tindersticks became a notoriously well-received live band and released the live album “Amsterdam” in 2004.

After the re-release of their eponymous debut album in the U.S., the band released their sophomore untitled album, which much like their first found its way onto many Best-of album lists of the year. The album was followed by another live release titled “Bloomsbury Theatre” in November 1995.

1996 was spent recording and releasing the soundtrack to the Claire Denis film “Nénette et Boni” featuring both old and new material and the re-worked track “A Marriage Made in Heaven”, which appeared on their third studio album “Curtains” (1997). Its follow-up “Simple Pleasure” (1999) was strongly influenced by soul music and featured female backing vocals on a number of tracks.

Following the release came a new record deal with Beggars Banquet through which the band released “Can Our Love…” (2001) which adopted the same soulful approach and was followed by providing the soundtrack to another Claire Denis film “Trouble Every Day”. After releasing their stripped-back sixth studio album “Waiting for the Moon” lead singer Staples went solo and released two albums.

During this period members Hinchcliffe, Colwill and Macauley left the group, and were replaced by Terry Edwards and a handful of other musicians who contributed to the band’s seventh LP “The Hungry Saw” in 2008. The album was followed-up by “Falling Down a Mountain” in 2010 with another revised line-up and tour of the UK in support.

In 2011 Tindersticks were asked to provide the permanent soundscape to a commission by the In Flanders Fields World War One Museum in Ypres, Belgium, which ended up as the album “Ypres” in 2014. “The Something Rain”, the band’s ninth studio album was released in February 2012, featuring the notable first single “Medicine” and followed by another collaboration with Claire Denis for the soundtrack to “Les Salauds”.