Union Kid

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Union Kid
OriginBraintree, Essex UK
GenresIndie rock
Alternative rock
Years active1997-2001
Labels1970 Recordings
Associated actsThe Prodigy
Jellicoe
Past membersSean Touhy
Simon Dobson
Mark Keates

Union Kid were a British indie rock group formed in Braintree, Essex in the late 1990's by Sean Touhy (guitar/vocals), Mark Keates (drums), and Simon Dobson (bass).

History[]

Established in 1997, Union Kid described Braintree as the "punk rock capital of the world",[1] partly in reference to the burgeoning local music scene at the time, and also because of the attention Braintree's The Prodigy had brought the town following their 1996 breakthrough.[2]

Union Kid's musical style has been compared to The Replacements and Fugazi, with their sound described by the NME as "taut, tight, tense and superbly overmuscled post-hardcore punk rock’n’roll."[3] The trio released material under their own record label, .

They came to the attention of the music press in 1999 with the release of their debut single "Fort Disney", which the NME called a "a twisted tribute to The Beach Boys’ ‘California Girls’ with extra souped-up guitars and a chorus the size of Weston-Super-Mare".[1] They released two further EPs that year: "Here Comes Chunk...", and "He Is Mono".[4] 1999 additionally saw the first of two Peel Sessions, recorded at Maida Vale Studios and broadcast on BBC Radio 1.[5] They also appeared on Steve Lamacq's Evening Session.

Union Kid released their only album, the self-produced Candy Falls Here in August 2000.[6] Recorded at the Cookie Palace and again released on 1970 Recordings,[7] the album received positive reviews from NME[8] and Drowned In Sound, who called it "possibly one of the debuts of the year so far."[9] Candy Falls Here appeared on NME's Highest Rated Albums of the 2000s list.[10] The album spawned three singles, "3% Seattle", "The Test",[11] and "Triple A".

The band split after recording their second John Peel session[12] in 2001.

Discography[]

Albums[]

  • Candy Falls Here (2000)

Singles and EPs[]

  • "Fort Disney" (1999)
  • "Here Comes Chunk..." (1999)
  • "He Is Mono" (1999)
  • "3% Seattle" (2000)
  • "The Test" (2000)
  • "Triple A" (2000)

Appearances on Compilations[]

  • "Incoming + Convert" appears on Essex; 7" double vinyl compilation EP from Plastic Cowboy Recordings (2000)[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Union Kid : Fort Disney". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  2. ^ "Keith Flint: Braintree statue campaign for Prodigy singer". BBC News. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  3. ^ "London Notting Hill Arts Centre". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  4. ^ "Liverpool Lomax". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  5. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 06/04/1999 Union Kid". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  6. ^ Candy Falls Here - Union Kid | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-05-12
  7. ^ "Union Kid - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  8. ^ "Candy Falls Here". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. ^ "Album Review: Union Kid - Candy Falls Here". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  10. ^ "NME's Best Albums of the 2000s". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  11. ^ "University of Surrey Students Newspaper - Single Review" (PDF). University of Surrey Students Union. 9 November 2000 [2000]. p. 10.
  12. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 07/01/2001 Union Kid". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  13. ^ Essex by Various Artists - RYM/Sonemic, retrieved 2021-05-12

External links[]

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