I Like Trains (previously styled as iLiKETRAiNS) is an English

alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...

post-rock Post-rock is a subgenre of experimental rock that emphasizes Texture (music), texture, atmosphere, and non-traditional song structures over conventional rock techniques. Post-rock artists often combine rock instrumentation and rock stylings wit ...

band, formed in

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...

. It draws its inspiration from historical failings and a pessimistic world view. I Like Trains has had its music used in Hollywood film trailers, advertisements and television, including an episode of '' CSI: Miami''.

History

Beginnings and debut album : 2004–2008

I Like Trains was formed in 2004 and consists of David Martin (lead vocals, guitar), Guy Bannister (guitar, synthesisers and vocals), Alistair Bowis (bass guitar, synthesisers and vocals) and Simon Fogal (drums). That year, they self-released a single called "Autumn 2004". In 2005, the band self-released another single, "Stainless Steel", and its first official single, "Before the Curtains Close", on

Dance to the Radio Dance To The Radio is a British independent record label, based in Leeds, England. History It was named after the refrain of the Joy Division song "Transmission". The label launched with the release of a compilation album 'Dance To The Radi ...

limited to 500 copies on 7" vinyl. In June 2006, its first EP, '' Progress Reform'', was released by

Fierce Panda Records Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-s ...

and the song "Terra Nova" was released as a single which went to number 132 in the UK Chart. In 2007, a first album, '' Elegies to Lessons Learnt'', was released by

Beggars Banquet Records Beggars Banquet Records is a British independent record label. Beggars Banquet started as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin and is part of the Beggars Group of labels. History In 1977, spurred by the prevailing D ...

, with the songs on the album based on tragic historical events and figures, created after thorough research and study. Three singles were released from the album, "Spencer Perceval", "The Deception" and "We Go Hunting". ''Elegies to Lessons Learnt'' then went to number 17 in the

UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the ...

. In late 2008. the band released its second EP, '' The Christmas Tree Ship''.

''He Who Saw the Deep'' and ''The Shallows'' : 2009–2012

Having been dropped by the record label, Beggars Banquet, the band founded its own label ILR (I Like Records) in 2009 and released a second album, '' He Who Saw The Deep'' in 2010 which had two singles, "Sea of Regrets" and "A Fathers Son". The crowd-funding platform

PledgeMusic PledgeMusic was an online direct-to-fan music platform, launched in August 2009. It was started to facilitate musicians looking to pre-sell, market, and distribute projects, such as recordings and concerts. It bore similarities to other artist pa ...

was used to raise money to produce and release the album. In 2012, a third album, '' The Shallows'', was released.

Tenth anniversary

To celebrate ten years in existence and also the centenary of the

Brudenell Social Club The Brudenell Social Club is a live music venue and social club in Hyde Park, Leeds, England. While being a social enterprise, it retains the "community atmosphere of its origins as a working men's club". The club is split into three areas— ...

, I Like Trains performed a special gig at the venue in Leeds wher, for the first time, ''Progress Reform'' was performedin full. ''Progress Reform'' was also remastered and re-released on 4 November 2013 as a 500-copy limited edition vinyl album.

''A Divorce Before Marriage''

''A Divorce Before Marriage'', a film about the band by Matt Hopkins and Ben Lankester, was released in 2016. It had been in production since the recording of '' The Shallows''. An album with the same title accompanied the film.

''KOMPROMAT''

On 6 May 2020, the band announced another album ''KOMPROMAT'', and released the single "The Truth" as well as its video. It was released on 21 August 2020 on a new label, Atlantic Curve.

Gallery

Deutzen,

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

" widths="180" heights="180"> I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 02.jpg, Singer David Martin I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 06.jpg, Guitarist Guy Bannister I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 01.jpg, Bass guitarist Alistair Bowis I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 07.jpg, Drummer Simon Fogal I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 03.jpg, Guitarist Ian Jarrold

Discography

Albums and EPs

* '' Progress Reform'' (EP; 26 June 2006) * '' Elegies to Lessons Learnt'' (album; 1 October 2007) UK Indie Chart No. 17 * '' The Christmas Tree Ship'' (EP; 24 November 2008) * '' He Who Saw The Deep'' (album; 4 October 2010) * '' This Skin Full of Bones'' (EP (CD+DVD); 22 November 2011) * '' The Shallows'' (album; 2 April 2012) * ''

Beacons A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location. A common example is the lighthouse, which draws attention to a fixed point that can be used to navigate around obstacles or into port. More mode ...

'' (EP; 15 October 2012) * '' A Divorce Before Marriage'' (album; 2 December 2016) * ''Kompromat'' (album; 21 August 2020)

Singles

* "Stainless Steel" (Early 2005) * "Before the Curtains Close Pts 1 & 2" (4 July 2005) * "A Rook House For Bobby" (17 October 2005) * "Terra Nova" / "Fram" (29 May 2006) UK Chart No. 132 * "Spencer Perceval" / "I Am Murdered" (26 March 2007) UK Chart No. 195 * "The Deception" (10 September 2007) UK Chart No. 164, UK Indie Chart No. 9 * "We Go Hunting" (21 April 2008) * "Sea of Regrets" (12 October 2009) * "A Father's Son" (10 September 2010) * "Mnemosyne" (22 May 2012) * "The Truth" (6 May 2020) * "The Spectacle" (15 September 2022)

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control English post-rock groups Alternative rock groups from Leeds Fierce Panda Records artists Beggars Banquet Records artists