Past

I've done a few bits and bobs with music over the years. And, as is only fair, music has done a few bits and bobs with me.

Bok

In the late 1990's I was in Bok and wrote their songs. We played a lot of gigs, received some quite complimentary critical acclaim and were even played on the radio a bit. Steve Lamacq played Airport on BBC Radio 1, for example.

Sadly, polite acclaim coupled with the razzmatazz of radio made us a bit giddy. So we split up.

I know what you're thinking, 'Such an epic adventure story couldn't possibly be true. Could it?'

Well, yes it could. And here's the proof.

Read for yourself Music Week's review of our Ain't No Venn Diagram, Baby e.p.

"[A] four-tracker from Bok whose first EP is called Ain't No Venn Diagram, Baby. The song to check is the opening six minute tune Airport (not a cover of the Motors hit, by the way). It rambles in like an early Stone Roses song, riding on the back of a Mani-esque loping bassline, and then crashes into action after three minutes with an edgy but nicely desperate-sounding guy shouting lyrics about cigarettes and mouthwash and living in an airport. To up the anti (sic) the band comprise a railwayman, a bookpacker, a ballet pianist and a painter and decorator. I'll keep you informed of any live dates."
Steve Lamacq

and Kerrang's 3-star (out of 5) assessment of our Alarm in the Beehive e.p.

"Batley's Bok are named after an Indonesian tribe of cannibal women who eat their male counterparts. Not the most appropriate appelation for four fellas from the depths of West Yorkshire, granted, but then Bok are hardly the most conventional of bands. 'Alarm In The Beehive' boasts the muscular exuberance of Ash with shed-loads of unconventional artistry, head-spinning high velocity twists and turns, and a gnashingly delivered lyric of utter lunacy. In short, this is a mind-warp of soul-stinging genuis and definitely worth a look."

Intrigued? Why not listen to the music that inspired these words. And if you find this noise pleasurable, you can buy it here. Then you can dance to Bok wherever you like – not just in front of this computer.

Bok: Seton Daunt (guitar), Andrew Holdsworth (bass, keys), Richard Young (drums), and me (guitar, voice)

Seton's doing okey-dokey with his band Fiction Plane. They're on Amercian telly all the time, don't you know. Andrew continues to plough many a musical furrow with Method and Madness Production. Richard runs a nice little design studio in Canada. And I am writing this.

Alpenglow

Alpenglow was an attempt to play some nice music for nice people in the 2000s. Unfortunately, there weren't very many nice people around, so we split up. We did, however, record an e.p. (yes, another one) called Indian Country before we went our separate ways. Hear here or buy by clicking here.

Alpenglow: Jason Hall (bass), Andrew Holdsworth (keys), Richard Young (drums), and me (guitar, voice)

Jason is currently very busy indeed in Kent. See him with his Big Red L car here.