Life Without Buildings

Life Without Buildings were a Glasgow, Scotland-based indie rock band.

For the song by the band Japan, see The Art of Parties.

Life Without Buildings
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
GenresIndie rock, post-punk, math rock, art rock
Years active1999–2002
LabelsTugboat Records, DCBaltimore2012, Gargleblast Records, Absolutely Kosher Records
Past members

Career

Named after a track by English new wave band Japan, Life Without Buildings formed during the summer of 1999. The band consisted mostly of ex-students of the Glasgow School of Art, Initial band members were Will Bradley (drums), Chris Evans (bass) and Robert Johnston (guitar). Painter Sue Tompkins (vocals) joined later in 1999. The band split writing duties, with Johnston, Bradley and Evans writing the music while Tompkins wrote the vocals.[1] Tompkins' "talk-sung" vocal styling eventually became the band's most famous attribute. Impressed after their first London gig, the Rough Trade-affiliated Tugboat label asked the band to record a debut single.

Released in March 2000, "The Leanover" b/w "New Town" secured the band a full deal with the label. "New Town" received some airplay on BBC Radio 1.[2] The band later released two more singles on the Tugboat label. The band's debut, Any Other City, recorded by Scottish producer Andy Miller at Chem19 Studios in Glasgow, was released in 2001 in the UK; label DCBaltimore2012 issued it months later in the United States.

Life Without Buildings were on the same bill as The Strokes in February 2001, during the latter band's first headlining gig. A popular legend sprung up that due to the Strokes' popularity, Life Without Buildings was bumped further down the bill. Band members disputed this, saying that while they had been scheduled to play the show, it was the result of a booking error, not anything intentional.[3]

In January 2002 Any Other City debuted at #49 on the CMJ Radio 200.[4] It stayed on the Radio 200 for eight weeks, peaking at #22.[5]

Break-up

The band broke up in 2002, after the release of Any Other City.[6] In a 2009 interview with Muso's Guide, guitarist Johnston stated the band broke up because Tompkins wanted to focus on her career as a visual artist. He went on to stress that none of the band members ever envisioned turning music into a career, and they felt pressure because something that had started "for a laugh" had become serious.[3]

In May 2007 a live album was released in Europe called Live at the Annandale Hotel on the Gargleblast Records label, and was subsequently released in North America in August 2007 on Absolutely Kosher Records. Recorded around December 2002 at Sydney's Annandale Hotel,[7] band members claimed to be unaware that the show was recorded, but were happy with the finished live record.[3]

Any Other City was reissued on vinyl in the United States for the first time on April 19, 2014 for Record Store Day.[8] The vinyl reissue included a 7", featuring rougher original versions of "The Leanover" and "New Town".[9]

As of 2009, the band has stated no desire to either re-form or play one-off shows. Johnson went on to work as a graphic designer. Bradley became a writer, while Evans and Tompkins work as visual artists.[3]

Discography

Albums

Singles

The band released three singles on Tugboat Records and one on Trifekta Records:

  • "The Leanover" / "New Town" (2000) (Double A Side)
  • "Is Is and the IRS" / "Lets Get Out (New Version)" (2000) (Double A Side)
  • "Young Offenders" / "Daylighting" (Double A Side)
  • "Love Trinity" / "Is Is and the IRS" / "Daylighting" (Australia only)

References
  1. Fronsacq, Julien (Winter 2008). "Portrait Sue Tompkins". Spike. 18. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. "Q&A with Life Without Buildings". Our Town. Strauss Media. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. "Life Without Buildings: the catch up interview". Muso's Guide. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. "CMJ New Music Report". January 21, 2002. 21 January 2002: 24. Retrieved 11 August 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. CMJ New Music Report. 70: 23. 11 March 2002 https://books.google.com/books?id=B3_QdrXyJ78C&q=life+without+buildings+cmj+radio+200&pg=PA23. Retrieved 11 August 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. "Unsung: The 100 Greatests Bands You've (probably) Never Heard". Spin: 72. August 2009.
  7. "Life Without Buildings Live at the Annandale Hotel". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  8. Manchester, Guy. "Rough Trade Mark The Start Of A New Reissuing Campaign By Releasing The Classic Debut Album By Life Without Buildings". Louder than War. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  9. Zoladz, Lindsay. "Life Without Buildings: Any Other City reissue review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
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