The Computers

The Computers are a British rock band from Exeter, England. Their sound initially fused hardcore punk and garage rock and progressed to a less heavy sound incorporating blues and soul. As of 2014, The Computers have released one mini-album (You Can't Hide From the Computers, 2008) and two full-lengths, This Is the Computers (2011) and Love Triangles Hate Squares (2013) which registered 70 and 75 points, respectively, on the Metacritic rating scale.^[2]

Band history

The band was formed in the mid-2000s by singer/guitarist Alex Kershaw, bassist Nic Heron, guitarist Sonny Crawford and drummer Will Wright. They played their first show in August 2006 at The Cavern in Exeter with American hardcore punk band Paint It Black. Will Wright was replaced in 2009 by drummer Aidan Sinclair. Guitarist and pianist Fred Ansell joined in 2011. In February 2014 Nic Heron and Sonny Crawford announced their departure from the group. Guitarist James Mattock (formerly of Sharks) and bassist Thomas McMahon joined in 2014.

BBC Radio 1 Punk Show host Mike Davies invited them to play a live session on the show after having been a band for less than a year and soon The Computers, then a Black Flag-influenced hardcore punk band,^[3] signed to Fierce Panda, who released their debut mini-album You Can't Hide From the Computers in 2008,^[4] described by Kerrang! as "stylish UK hardcore" and "punk'n'roll that wants to dance as well as it does break stuff."^[5]

In 2010 the quartet recorded their debut full-length, This Is the Computers (11 songs, 24 minutes), with producer John Reis of Rocket from the Crypt, in just four days at his home in San Diego (straight to tape, without any computers involved).^[6] Preceded in February by the single "Group Identity", the album was released on June 21, 2011, by One Little Indian.^[7] The band rounded up the year by touring Britain with Gay for Johnny Depp.^[8]

The sophomore full-length Love Triangles Hate Squares which came out on May 16, 2013, took a more eclectic approach than their earlier work^[4] and received a mainly positive response. Some critics lauding Alex Kershaw's singing and the way the band's writing had "developed, with many of these witty, catchy songs recalling Elvis Costello and the Hives" (according to Allmusic).^[9] Other reviewers claimed the change of direction was derivative and showed its influences too clearly ^[10] - "Love Triangles Hate Squares is a forceful blast of passion-fired pastiche, but never quite escapes feeling like a cheap holiday in other people's history" according to Classic Rock. DIY said "for all of the frontman’s dynamism, he can’t save a frustratingly slow, out-of-date computer".^[11]

In March 2015 the band entered the studio to begin recording their third studio album with producer David McEwan.

Band members

• Alex Kershaw – lead vocals, guitar
• Fred Ansell - guitar & piano
• James Mattock – guitar
• Thomas McMahon – bass guitar
• Aidan Sinclair– drums

Previous Members

• Nic Heron - bass
• Sonny Crawford - guitar
• Will Wright - drums

Discography

• Track Four/Is it Just Me? (Freakscene, double A-side single, 2007)
• Teenage Tourettes Camp/Welcome To The Working Week (Elvis Costello cover)/Rebel Girl (Bikini Kill cover) (Freakscene, 7" single, 2008)
• You Can't Hide From the Computers (Fierce Panda, mini-album, 2008)
• This Is the Computers (One Little Indian, 2011)
• The Computers Are Misfits (One Little Indian, Black Friday Ltd edition 10" of The Misfits covers, 2012)
• Love Triangles Hate Squares (On Little Indian, 2013)
• Elvis Vs Elvis (One Little Indian, Record Store Day Ltd Edition 10" compiled of Elvis Costello and Elvis Presley covers, 2013)
• Live & Inconsolable (One Little Indian, Record Store Day Ltd edition Live album, 2014)

References