Northern Picture Library was a British
dream pop
Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such ...
group, formed in 1993 by Bobby Wratten and Anne Mari Davies, both former members of
The Field Mice. They were soon joined by former Field Mice drummer Mark Dobson.
The group adopted a more abstract, ambient and
synthesiser
A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
-based sound than the more guitar
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
approach of The Field Mice. Their debut single, "Love Song For The Dead Che", was a
cover
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of c ...
of a song by 1960s psychedelic group
United States of America
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...
. Both it and the following album, ''Alaska'', won critical acclaim, however sales were poor even compared to The Field Mice's records. The group members' personal problems (various members succumbed to depression, stagefright and substance abuse) made touring difficult and thus also made it difficult for the group to promote their records effectively. Two more EPs followed before the group dissolved. Wratten later went on to form
Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars was the London-based band music project of Robert Wratten, started in 1996. Later consisting of Harvey Williams, Jonathan Akerman, Keris Howard, Michael Hiscock, and Beth Arzy who replaced Annemari Davies in 2000. Initially ...
with Davies also joining the group in a later incarnation.
In 2005 the entire Northern Picture Library back catalogue was released on two CDs on the
LTM label.
Discography
Singles
*"Love Song for the Dead Che" (12"/CD, Vinyl Japan, September 1993)
*"Blue Dissolve EP" (12"/CD, Vinyl Japan, June 1994)
*"Paris EP" (CD,
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a British independent record label active in Bristol between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop, which it released mostly on 7" singles. On reaching the catalogue number SARAH 100, the label celebrated i ...
, September 1994)
The "Paris EP" was also issued as two separate 7" singles, "Paris" and "Last September's Farewell Kiss".
Albums
*''Alaska'' (1994)
*''Still Life'' (singles compilation, 2000)
*''Postscript'' (singles and out-takes, 2004)
References
{{Authority control
English pop music groups
Sarah Records artists