Sound Lovers Sad Lovers & Giants
Sad Lovers & Giants are a rock band from Watford, England who formed in 1980. Their sound blends post-punk, atmospheric keyboards and psychedelia which has been described as ‘pastoral Pink Floyd’ and to many they are the best kept secret of the 1980’s. Following their debut EP ‘Cle’ and the ‘Colourless Dream’ single, both issued in 1981, they released two studio albums, Epic Garden Music and Feeding the Flame before splitting in 1983. During this initial period they recorded a John Peel Session for the BBC and a live concert for the Dutch Radio Hilversum station in 1983 which was subsequently released as the album Total Sound in 1986. After the split they returned in 1987 with a new line up and released ‘The Mirror Test’ album that year. As interest abroad grew the band performed extensively in the Netherlands, Spain and France and headlined regularly at the old Marquee Club in London’s Soho. In 1990 they released their fourth studio album, ‘Headland’ followed swiftly by the often overlooked album, Treehouse Poetry in 1991, before splitting once again. 1996 saw the release of a best-of compilation called ‘E Mail from Eternity’ then things went quiet until the release of their last album ‘Melting in The Fullness of Time’ in 2002 with two gigs in Italy a year later. The current era began in 2010 with gigs in Italy and Greece and has continued with a handful of performances every year extending into Berlin and Spain. For the US Tour they will play warm up gigs in Lisbon and Porto with a rare London appearance on 5th March headlining at The Garage in Highbury & Islington. Their atmospheric and beautifully crafted set comprises songs from their extensive back catalogue but also from recording sessions for the new album. The band operates as a collective. Line up: Garce Tony McGuinness Ian Gibson Nigel Pollard Will Hicks The following other members have also played: Tristan Garel-Funk David Wood Cliff Silver