The High Llamas
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The High Llamas are a London-based musical project created by Irish-English guitarist and songwriter Sean O’Hagan after the demise of his group Microdisney. Although he writes and arranges the music and frequently uses the High Llamas moniker for his own personal musical efforts (e.g. remixes), the High Llamas are nominally a group, which usually includes Microdisney bassist Jon Fell and a rotating cast of others including keyboardist Marcus Holdaway and drummer Rob Allum.
Although the High Llamas’ output (including the eponymous debut album, technically credited to “Sean O’Hagan”) shows influences including pre-1950s American pop and folk, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova, film composers of the 1960s, and 1990s European electronic music, criticism of O’Hagan’s work most frequently includes references to Brian Wilson’s psychedelic period and/or kitsch lounge revival. Although O’Hagan sometimes expresses discomfort at reviewers’ claims of derivative works, he generally wears his influences on his sleeve, even naming several more recent songs after the composers and pop musicians who most inspired that particular track. (Examples: “Bach Ze”, “Pat Mingus”, “Shuggie Todd”.) The Beach Boys’ influence on O”Hagan is most obvious on the expansive, cinematic 1996 album Hawaii, a musical spaghetti western on themes of tourism and colonialism. It blended elements of Pet Sounds, Smile and Wild Honey so expertly that O’Hagan was even recommended by Bruce Johnston to produce an eventually mixed Beach Boys comeback LP.
Although the High Llamas’ output (including the eponymous debut album, technically credited to “Sean O’Hagan”) shows influences including pre-1950s American pop and folk, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova, film composers of the 1960s, and 1990s European electronic music, criticism of O’Hagan’s work most frequently includes references to Brian Wilson’s psychedelic period and/or kitsch lounge revival. Although O’Hagan sometimes expresses discomfort at reviewers’ claims of derivative works, he generally wears his influences on his sleeve, even naming several more recent songs after the composers and pop musicians who most inspired that particular track. (Examples: “Bach Ze”, “Pat Mingus”, “Shuggie Todd”.) The Beach Boys’ influence on O”Hagan is most obvious on the expansive, cinematic 1996 album Hawaii, a musical spaghetti western on themes of tourism and colonialism. It blended elements of Pet Sounds, Smile and Wild Honey so expertly that O’Hagan was even recommended by Bruce Johnston to produce an eventually mixed Beach Boys comeback LP.
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Hawaii
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Cold And Bouncy
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Snowbug
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Gideon Gaye
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Shoutbox
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applecloud wrote:
lovely!! ♥
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EddieZedd wrote:
Listening to Beet, Maize & Corn is most soothing and most entrancing. Highly recommended to any music fan. Next in line: Gideon Gaye and Talahomi Way
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MamaLuigi wrote:
Mars Audiac, Space Age Bachelor Pad, Emperor, Dots, Cobra, and Chemical Chords all count because Sean was on 'em (like dogs on legs)
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enjoybellwoods wrote:
Maybe Stereolab. But does that count?
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enjoybellwoods wrote:
I can't find anything I'd rather listen to.
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pupertron wrote:
Talahomi Way - yet another gem!
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the_jezmeister wrote:
Arctic Circle Radio were joined in the studio by the High Llamas back in April, you can listen to and download the session via http://www.jointhecircle.net/radio/?p=1527
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enjoybellwoods wrote:
High Llamas in general are one of the most addictive bands I know. I find their music entrancing.
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MamaLuigi wrote:
Talahomi Way is some addicting shit.
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zaynzaynzayn wrote:
♪♫ღ♥ \\ ( *-*) // ♥ღ♫♪ you got me so i can't sleep at night
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tidawilson wrote:
Talahomi Way is amazing!
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tidawilson wrote:
Yes, I agree, and also Cold and Bouncy, in my opinion. Well, I thought I'm the only one who noticed it :D
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MamaLuigi wrote:
...especially Hawaii and Gideon Gaye. Fairly certain several Italian composers have had some influence. ;)
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tidawilson wrote:
Is it just me or they sounded more like the master composer, Ennio Morricone? I can find quite a few hints of Morricone in most of their songs. But, I don't know.
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Conejo_stephns wrote:
It's the elevator music most beautiful.
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martagomes wrote:
so many happy songs! it's impossible not to be in a good mood listening to this.
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enjoybellwoods wrote:
I yearn for the approval of world famous blog Amplified Strawberry.
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Zondagavond wrote:
I am really sorry, but I wasn't really turned on by their new album, review published on Amplifiedstrawberry: http://amplifiedstrawberry.blogspot.com/2011/04/high-llamas-talahomi-way.html
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MamaLuigi wrote:
Hawaii is chocked full with colorful music, though it's a little lengthy the first couple of times.
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Machiventa wrote:
I'd start with either Gideon Gaye or Snowbug.
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tacozzrgood, trust_muse, ColorfulHyena and 6 other people added The High Llamas to their libraries. Friday evening
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nooneastern tagged The High Llamas with ‘the names’. last month
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andy9988 added The High Llamas to andy9988’s library. last month
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KuriousBanana tagged The High Llamas with surfs up and baroque pop. last month
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clivechildish, tomoatsucutie and dalbu added The High Llamas to their libraries. last month
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sing-sing wrote about The High Llamas in The Top of The Pop 2011. last month
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GerryFK and audiblevisuals added The High Llamas to their libraries. last month
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Regular_Mike tagged The High Llamas with ‘music i want to check out’. last month
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