James Cook - vocals, bass.
Jude Cook - guitars, vocals.
Steve Necchi - drums, percussion.
Influences
MUSIC:
Sitting comfortably? In alphabetical order then..
Ryan Adams, Antony and the Johnsons, Burt Bacharach, Chet Baker, Syd Barrett, John Barry, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Big Star, The Blue Nile, Blondie, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, James Brown, Jeff and Tim Buckley, Kate Bush, Buzzcocks, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, The Clash, Cocteau Twins, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Echo and the Bunnymen, Eels, The Go-Betweens, Golden Smog, Ed Harcourt, PJ Harvey, Lee Hazlewood, Murray Head, The House of Love, Ian Hunter, Bert Jansch, The Jam, Japan, The Jesus and Marychain, The Kinks, Iggy Pop, Led Zeppelin, Magnetic Fields, Manic Street Preachers, Mazzy Star, Joni Mitchell, New York Dolls, Nirvana, Pixies, REM, The Replacements, Jonathan Richman, Mike Scott, Nancy Sinatra, Patti Smith, Smokey Robinson, Sparklehorse, Spiritualized, Suede, David Sylvian, Roxy Music, Talk Talk, Television, The Triffids, The Velvet Underground, Scott Walker, The Waterboys, The Who, Wilco, The Woodentops.
ARTISTS, WRITERS, FILM-MAKERS:
Woody Allen, James Baldwin, Saul Bellow, William Blake, Peter Blake, Bill Brandt, Billy Childish, Stanley Cook, Bill Hicks, Kristof Kieslowski, Hanif Kureishi, Philip Larkin, Federico Garcia Lorca, Henry Miller, Ron Mueck, Paul Nash, Robert Newman, Pablo Neruda, George Orwell, Samuel Palmer, Dennis Potter, Powell and Pressburger, Eric Ravilious, Bruce Robinson, Nicolas Roeg, Stanley Spencer, Carel Weight, Irvine Welsh.
UNCUT MAGAZINE"...a fine album of rueful, reflective balladry..."
ROCK 'N'REEL"...eminently pleasurable listening...mellow, intelligent pop..."
NEW MUSIC FROM FLAMINGOES.
Twelve years after their debut album 'Plastic Jewels', twin brothers Jude and James Cook are reunited to record the follow-up, 'Street Noise Invades the House'. Written and produced by the twins, 'Street Noise Invades the House' is released on October 1st 2007 on Distort Boy Records via Cadiz Music/Pinnacle.
The album draws on their early influences - Beatles, Bowie, Punk and Power Pop but also persues the more reflective style begun on songs such as 'Absent Fathers, Violent Sons' and 'Winter'.
'Street Noise Invades the House' features guest appearances from One Little Indian artist Polly Paulusma (backing vocals) and the comedian/writer Rob Newman (Ukulele, Banjo-lele).
The artwork (above) was designed by Martin Andersen of Andersen M studios ( www.andersenm.com ). Martin, who started his career at V23 with Vaughn Oliver, has designed sleeves for Roger Eno and Piano Magic amongst others. He has also done cover photography for Flaming Lips, Air, Belle and Sebastian, and Four Tet for the Late Night Tales series.
ONCE UPON A TIME . . .
Flamingoes were formed in London in spring '93 by twin brothers James and Jude Cook. Originally from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the brothers had already spent several years honing their song-writing and studio skills before recruiting drummer Kevin Mathews from an ad in Melody Maker. The band was named after a line from Roxy Music's 'Sunset', "Horizon's appointment you'll keep/ for sunswept flamingoes must sleep". It was decided to use the English plural 'oes' rather than the more familiar American 'os'. Also, there would be no definite article. Flamingoes, like Sparks, Buzzcocks or Pixies.
Deborah Edgley, former head of press at 4AD, attended the band's first gig at the Charlie Chaplin pub in South London and offered to manage them. Soon after, the band won Gary Crowley's Demo Clash on BBC GLR Radio. The late publicist Philip Hall saw the band and got involved, creating interest in the group at a very early stage.
The legendary New Art Riot gig at the 100 Club in December ‘93 ensured media interest. In February '94 the first single, ‘The Chosen Few’, produced by Pat Collier, was released on the indie La La Land.
Extensive touring throughout '94 saw the band build a considerable following on the UK live circuit. The trio were picked up by A&R man Daniel Pope for Pandemonium, an indie offshoot of dance label Kickin’ records. A second single, ‘Teenage Emergency’ was released in June followed by 'Disappointed' in October, after which the band went into the studio with co-producer Dick Meaney (Jesus and Mary Chain). The result was debut album 'Plastic Jewels', released worldwide in February '95 (US: Big Pop, Australia: Mushroom/Festival; Japan: Tokuma; Europe: Pandemonium). It received widespread critical acclaim.
The release of 'Scenester' as a single in the same month was followed by two European tours – the first took in France, Belgium and Germany; the second a headline tour of Scandinavia, culminating in celebratory gigs in Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Around this time Flamingoes signed a publishing deal with Bug Music, home to Johnny Cash and Iggy Pop amongst others.
Later in 1995, the band and producer Charlie Francis (REM, High Llamas) recorded the song 'Water on the Brain' for the Hollies tribute album 'Sing Hollies in Reverse', and continued to tour Britain with second guitarist Adrian Stevenson. In December ’95, the brothers parted company with drummer Kevin Matthews; new drummer Steve Necchi is now a permanent member of the group.
In 2007 they signed a deal with Cadiz Music and played their first live shows for over ten years. The new album, 'Street Noise Invades the House' is produced by the twins and engineered by Tom Aitkenhead (Ben & Jason, Bloc Party, Babyshambles).
Thanks for the kind words. I actually saw The Flamingoes with Richard a fair while ago in the now extinct Boat Race in Cambridge. Good to hear your still about.
Hey, about time we said thanks for the add! Our new CD is available here at http://www. cdbaby. com/cd/grandaughters for a great discounted price. We'd love to hear from you anyways!
Hello James! Thank you very much for your comment. It will be great if you make new songs and I would like to listen to your new materials. Please let me know when you've done. Hope you can enjoy and make good ones in the studio. Have a good afternoon today. Take care and keep in touch. Matane(see you)!
Hello James and guys! How are you? Sorry for not writing you here sooner. I would like to say: 新年明けましておめでとう(ShinNen Akemashite Omedetou). A very Happy New Year! I wish your very best of 2009. I hope I can see your gig one day soon. Have a good week. Take care and keep in touch. Matane(see you)!
Hi James! Thank you very much for your comment! I would like to listen to your new songs. How are you? I hope everything is going well for you. Have a nice weekend! Matane(see you)!
Hello James! I've been really bury at work, as many foreign people visit to Edinburgh. How are you? I hope you will have a great weekend. Matane(see you)!
Hello guys! How are you? Sorry for not keeping in touch with you sooner. I hope everything is fine for you. It's nice to visit your site and listen to your music. Well, you know I like your CD. Have a nice day! Matane(see you)!
It was my pleasure to play "Peace Of Mind" on my weekly, 30-minute podcast featuring mainstream, independent music. The direct link to the show is: http://indiemusicsampler. com/2008/03/07/ims-088/.
Hi James, How's it going? A month late, your album finally arrived today. Glad to listen to the newest and the long awaited Flamingoes music. Ahh...I love all tunes, and there are good pop melodies. "Late Night Shopping" is my favourite at present. Keep up good work! xoxo Junko
wow youre not even gunna believe this...i tried this deal to receive an AUTHENTIC name-brand handbag through Coach totally FREE and it truly came!! since i KNOW its no joke now, i'm going to act real fast and snag more to send out as a gift..you ought to go get a few as well MWAHAH! isn't this 1 i got hot?
Hi guys, Thanks for adding me. Glad to catch you guys! Long years have passed since I hooked on "Plastic Jewels". Can't wait for your new cd to deliver. Hope all is well with you guys. Much love from oriental land xoxo
