The High Llamas

The High Llamas
The High Llamas performing in 2008. From left: Murcott (obscured), Holdaway, Allum, O'Hagan, Fell (obscured) and Aves.
The High Llamas performing in 2008.
From left: Murcott (obscured), Holdaway, Allum, O'Hagan, Fell (obscured) and Aves.
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years activec. 1991–present
Labels
Spinoff ofMicrodisney
Members
  • Sean O'Hagan
  • Jon Fell
  • Rob Allum
  • Marcus Holdaway
  • Dominic Murcott
  • Pete Aves
Past members
  • Anita Visser
  • John Bennett
Websitehighllamas.com

The High Llamas are an Anglo-Irish avant-pop band formed in London circa 1991.[5] They were founded by singer-songwriter Sean O'Hagan, formerly of Microdisney, with drummer Rob Allum and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. O'Hagan has led the group since its formation. Their music is often compared to the Beach Boys, a band he acknowledges as an influence, although more prominent influences were drawn from bossa nova and European film soundtracks.

O'Hagan formed the High Llamas after the breakup of his group Microdisney. The band initially played in a more conventional acoustic pop style, but after he joined Stereolab as a keyboardist, he was inspired to revamp the group's music closer to the electronic and orchestral sound he preferred. Their second album, Gideon Gaye (1994), anticipated the mid 1990s easy-listening revivalist movement, and its follow-up Hawaii (1996) nearly led to a collaboration with the Beach Boys.

  1. ^ Murray, Noel (6 December 2011). "A year in song (40 great tracks in 40 sentences)". The A.V. Club.
  2. ^ Carlin, Peter Ames (2006). Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. Rodale. p. 284. ISBN 978-1-59486-320-2.
  3. ^ a b Caldwell, Rob (18 January 2016). "The High Llamas: Here Come the Rattling Trees". PopMatters.
  4. ^ Rosen, Craig (25 May 1996). "Building A Perfect Ork-Pop Masterpiece". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1, 92. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference aboutus2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).