Coldharbourstores

{{Short description|British experimental ambient pop band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Coldharbourstores

| origin = London UK

| genre = Ambient Pop / Dream Pop

| years_active = 1999-Present

| label = Rocketgirl Records Fire Records Enraptured Records

| current_members = Lucy Castro, David Read, Michael McCabe, Liam Greany

| past_members = Daniel Bowling, Samuel R. Laws

| website = https://www.coldharbourstores.com

}}

Coldharbourstores are a British experimental ambient pop band.

History

Original members David Read and Michael McCabe formed Coldharbourstores in 1998 with original singer Daniel Bowling and drummer Samuel R. Laws. The band, which now includes singer Lucy Castro and drummer Liam Greany, has released singles, albums and collaborative works across various labels including Rocketgirl, Enraptured and Fire Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/coldharbourstores-mn0000091026|title=Coldharbourstores - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213002317/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/coldharbourstores-mn0000091026|archive-date=2017-02-13|url-status=live|access-date=2018-06-12}} Their first album, More Than The Other, was released on the Rocketgirl label in 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2002/0416/448683-coldharbour/|title=Coldharbourstores - More Than the Other|date=2002-04-16|website=RTE.ie|language=en|access-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183856/https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2002/0416/448683-coldharbour/|archive-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live}}

They have worked with musicians and producers such as Graham Sutton, Bark Psychosis, Fuxa and American author Scott Heim.{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/coldharbourstores-wilderness|title=Coldharbourstores: Wilderness - Album review - The Skinny|access-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183900/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/coldharbourstores-wilderness|archive-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live}}

The band has twice musically interpreted the poems of James Joyce, in 2008 as part of the Chamber Music: James Joyce (1907). 1-36. album for Fire Records, and again in 2017 for the online project Waywords and Meansigns Opendoor Edition setting James Joyce's Finnegans Wake to music.{{Cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/waywords-and-meansigns-recreating-finnegans-wake-premiere-2495393342.html|title=Waywords and Meansigns - Recreating Finnegans Wake (premiere)|date=2017-05-05|work=PopMatters|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183901/https://www.popmatters.com/waywords-and-meansigns-recreating-finnegans-wake-premiere-2495393342.html|archive-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live}}(see image)

Their third album, Wilderness, was released in 2017 by Enraptured Records.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thequietus.com/articles/21798-coldharbourstores-wilderness-album-review|title=The Quietus - Reviews - Coldharbourstores|work=The Quietus|access-date=2018-06-12}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/premiere-coldharbourstores-genie|title=Premiere: Coldharbourstores - 'Genie'|work=Clash Magazine|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183900/https://www.clashmusic.com/videos/premiere-coldharbourstores-genie|archive-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live}} It received a Metacritic score of 77 from 100 based on four reviews indicating generally favourable reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/wilderness/coldharbourstores|title=Wilderness by Coldharbourstores|work=Metacritic|accessdate=15 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183857/https://www.metacritic.com/music/wilderness/coldharbourstores|archive-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live}} The record sleeve, designed by Martin Andersen, was included in "Pop Music 1967-2017. Graphics and Music" at Echirolles Centre Du Graphisme, France, an exhibition to celebrate the most iconic record sleeves (1967–2018). The exhibition re-opened in Paris in June 2018.

A new studio album, 'Vesta', was released in 2019 by Enraptured Records.{{Cite web|url=http://freq.org.uk/reviews/coldharbourstores-vesta/|title=Coldharbourstores - Vesta|work=freq.org.uk|access-date=2019-07-06}}

'Dearly Devoted', the band’s fourth album, again produced by Graham Sutton was released in November 2020. The album was preceded by first single 'Z E R O' which premiered at www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk, and was followed by second single 'Big Deal'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.backseatmafia.com/album-review-coldharbourstores-dearly-devoted-gorgeous-dreampop-fourth/|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Coldharbourstores – ‘Dearly Devoted’: gorgeous dreampop fourth|date=23 November 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2020/09/29/exclusive-coldharbourstores-unveil-new-animated-video-for-z-e-r-o/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Coldharbourstores Unveil New Animated Video For 'Z E R O' - God Is In The TV|first=Bill|last=Cummings·News·|date=29 September 2020}}

A 500 copy limited-edition album 'Coldharbourstores Remixed' was released for Record Store Day 2022, featuring remixes of songs from Vesta and Dearly Devoted, by Pete 'Bassman' Bain (Spacemen 3), Windy & Carl, Gabe Knox, Yellow6, L-Shape, Hyper Ex-Machina & L-Shape/CHS. {{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-store-day-2022-the-full-list-of-exclusive-music-releases__35233/|title=Record Store Day 2022: The full list of exclusive music releases|date=23 April 2022|website=Official Charts}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/andersenmstudio/p/CNcqvZ2MDK2/?img_index=1|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}

Between November 2024 – February 2025, four of the band’s album sleeves designed by Martin Andersen, were selected and showcased at The Rock Pop Underground exhibition, an international graphic design festival in Hungary, GraphicPécs, celebrating the history and influence of rock, pop, and underground graphic design from 1950 to present day.{{Cite web|url=https://graphicpecs.hu/rock-pop-underground/|title=Rock Pop Underground|website=GRAPHICPÉCS 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/martin_masai_andersen/p/DDR1pxtKC6T/|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}

Select discography

  • More Than The Other (2002)
  • Chamber Music: James Joyce (1907). 1-36. (2008)
  • Wilderness (2017)
  • Vesta (2019)
  • Dearly Devoted (2020)
  • Coldharbourstores Remixed (2022)

References

{{Reflist}}