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Sunny Day Sets Fire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sunny Day Sets Fire
OriginLondon
GenresIndie pop
Years active2005–2009
LabelsIAMSOUND Records (USA); Wonderboat (UK), Brikabrak (UK)
Past membersMauro Remiddi
Onyee Lo
Max Zoccheddu
Ed Howat
Matthew Parker
Websitesunnydaysetsfire.com

Sunny Day Sets Fire were an indie psychedelic pop quintet from London. Although formed in London, the members come from different backgrounds such as Hong Kong, Italy, Canada and the UK.

History

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The band was formed in London in 2005 by the Italian-born Mauro Remiddi and Hong Kong-born Onyee Lo, who met while working at an art-house cinema in Chelsea.[1][2][3] The band's name was, according to the band themselves, suggested by an Internet band name generator.[2][4]

They initially worked as a duo but their first demo was recorded as a trio with guitarist Max Zoccheddu. As a three piece they released their first ltd. ed. 7" Brainless/Nations Underground for Bikabrak Rec. and played their initial handful of shows in London. One year later they started expanding their line-up, first with bassist Ed Howat (with whom they recorded the second single Wilderness) and then with drummer Matthew Parker.[1][3]

In early 2008, their US label, Iamsound, issued a remix EP featuring remixes of "Stranger", "Brainless", "Wilderness", and "Adrenaline" by CSS, XXXChange from Spank Rock, The Cool Kids, Baron von Luxxury, The Slips, and Mad Decent/Diplo.

Their debut album, Summer Palace, recorded and produced by the band itself, and mixed by Peter Katis (Interpol, Mercury Rev, Spoon, The National) was released in US by Iamsound in July 2008, and in the UK by Wonderboat Rec. in February 2009. It garnered good reviews from the major UK magazines, NME,[5] Uncut and Clash, The A.V. Club,[6] and the web-zines Pitchfork Media[7] and Drowned in Sound.[8]

"Adrenaline", the first single issued from the album, was named "single of the week" by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music. The song "Lack of View", from Summer Palace, was featured on the soundtrack of the film American Teen.[9]

The band split up in 2009 with Remiddi going on to work as a solo artist under the name Porcelain Raft.[10]

Matthew Parker is currently working on his own project Piano Rach, while Max Zoccheddu plays now with Diagrams (band).

Musical style and influences

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The band cited their influences as Wizard of Oz, Gummo, The Beatles and The Velvet Underground.[11] Their sound has been described as "a wild and volatile flood of gorgeous, exuberant pop".[12] Their sound is generally classed as indie pop.[13][14]

Members

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  • Mauro Remiddi (vocals, guitar, drums)
  • Onyee Lo (vocals, synths, percussion, drums)
  • Max Zoccheddu (guitar, baritone guitar)
  • Ed Howat (bass, synth)
  • Matthew (drums, keys)

Discography

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Albums

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  • Summer Palace (2008), Iamsound (US) – issued in the UK (2009), Wonderboat

EPs

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  • Brainless EP (2006), Iamsound (US) – issued in Australia (2007), Etch'n'Sketch
  • Stranger/Remix EP (2008), Iamsound (US)

Singles

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  • "Brainless" 7" (2006), Brikabrak (UK)
  • "Wilderness" 7" (2006), Wi45 (UK)
  • "End of the Road" 7" (2008), Brikabrak (UK)

References

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  1. ^ a b Healy, Topher (2007) "Sunny Day Sets Fire Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Rave, 10 April 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  2. ^ a b Thomson, Jin (2009) "Sunny Day Sets Fire – 'Summer Palace' (Wonderboat) 23/02/09", Gigwise.com, 13 February 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  3. ^ a b Valish, Frank (2006) "Sunny Day Sets Fire: Real People Like It", Amplifier. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  4. ^ McClintock, J. Scott "Sunny Day Sets Fire Biography", AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  5. ^ Patashnik, Ben (2009) "Album Review: Sunny Day Sets Fire Summer Palace", NME, 23 February 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  6. ^ Rizov, Vadim (2008) "Summer Palace", The A.V. Club, 14 July 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  7. ^ Harvey, Eric (2008) "Sunny Day Sets Fire Summer Palace", Pitchfork Media, 30 October 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  8. ^ Edwards, Tom (2009) "Sunny Day Sets Fire Summer Palace Archived 16 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Drowned in Sound, 18 March 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  9. ^ Snaith, Simone (2008) "Sunny Day Sets Fire & 'American Teen' @ The L.A. Film Festival Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine", LAist, 26 June 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  10. ^ Lester, Paul (2010) "New band of the day No. 875: Porcelain Raft", The Guardian, 27 September 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  11. ^ "Sunny Day Sets FireSunny Day Sets Fire", archive of http://www.iamsoundrecords.com/artist/sunnydaysetsfire, Internet archive. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  12. ^ Woods, Travis (2008) "Concert Review: Sunny Day Sets Fire w/ The Monolators @ Spaceland (6.24.08)", webinfront.net, 30 June 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  13. ^ Baynes, Chris (2008) "Sunny Day Sets Fire: Stranger/Remix EP", PopMatters, 28 February 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  14. ^ Mason, Stewart "Summer Palace Review", AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 1 May 2011
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