MARK HEFFERNAN ~ Guitar, Backing Vocals and lyrics. LEIGH SWINN ~ Vocals and Lyrics. ADAM KNIGHT ~ Bass. JOEY SMOUT ~ Drums.
Influences
Henry Blofeld,
Oscar Wilde,
Patrick Moore...
Sounds Like
"...the wonderful Remodel. Think a mixed up Jam playing with Syd Barrett's toys" - Dave Goo (Sounds Underground/Shusssh!)
Remodel are a London based band dressed in suits and in the case of the lead singer Leigh a bowler hat. The drums were loud but not too overbearing so that vocals could be heard. I was reminded of north eastern bands such as Maximo Park and The Futureheads with a slightly slower tempo. They saved their best song for last with British Racing Green. - Dom Chalk "The Music Guru" - www.studentguru.co.uk
"...we love Remodel so much that even if we saw them carrying suitcases, puckering up and deferring to The Man, we'd (try and) resist screaming "Bellboy!" at them" - Steve Horry (586)
"Rocking a Kaiser Chiefs frontage thru Joy Division, Wire and indeedy Blur!" - Bugbear Promotions.
"here you'll find the cut 'n' thrust powerised post punk pop of Remodel who do a neat like in C-81 stylising on 'British racing green' though in our opinion check out the superior Stranglers like 'formula.'" - The Sunday Experience
REMODEL LIMITED EDITION 7" VINYL STILL AVAILABLE HERE: THE SADGNOME WEBSITE OR DOWNLOAD FROM ITUNES!!!!
Our new Video for our new single, Formula which is out NOW!!
Far far ago in a land a long long time away there lived two young men of the age old persuasion in a county to the south of the north just outside the Prince of Wales. With a warble and a twang they made sounds from a tender age muchly pleasing to the eye, once weasled into the noggin, of many of the townsfolk of the large small village of Great Drangtown-upon-the-Market (not of the stock variety naturally, although much was sold in paper bonnets to the world famous locals, large and wide). With many a haa and a who the two young men (yes, all three of them) were packed into boxes and posted first class (such was the locum’s belief in their existence; “I believe in their existence, this Marv and Leon.” He said, and he did) to the mythical land of Londinywhoo.
In the meantime, at the same time, and yet, maybe not, further former sproglodite of the same old streets pickled up his baggage’s and headed, footing it, similarly in direction to that same great city upon the river in search of knowledge. “To Loondown!” he cried to his friends and relativelies as he boarded up his aero train, which is luckily being since this was where he landed, at the station of Youston-we-have-a-problem (they’d run out of track) and so tiny little short but lanky Hadoom disembarkled this railroad vehicle and settled into life as a student, studying, as students do, when they’re studying.
Now once one day upon a Hackneyed bustle, our previously mentioned Marv spotted the Hadoom sitting sittedly upon a luggage rack and vaguely recognising his face (“That’s a face” he said, oh yes he did, it’s true, I know because I wasn’t there) approached him tentatively (you can’t be too careful with these small lanky types) with an aim to making conversation, talkedly upon the first initial on the subject of Hadoom’s T-shirt displaying the wonderful Division of Joy that Hadoom had borrowed from a passing tramp in exchange or a blue button, a hairpin and half a pound of paperclips. “Play bass with us oh home town boy!” Cried Marv, and, with only six fingers in his back pocket Hadoom decided that this four-strung box variety was much moor suitcased than a six string strung with chilblains and agreed.
After playing about (with much serious and fun) in many small, large and variegated avenues throughout the city with a multitudinous supply of drum thumpers (including the original Thumper from Bambi; every fictitious character needs something to fill the time after Disney, I did, that’s why I’m writing this) all of whom boiled away into a puddle of their own reverberations, exploded or occasionally disappeared up their own existence, they discovered a young man called Joobhay by many (mainly because this was his name… or maybe it was) who liked to play at the Queen and was a regimented shoulder in his part time real life. In an extricable cosinky-dink it turned out that this young man came from a larger smalliest village named Oswald’s-upon-the-Cherry (is he? Kick him off!) In the similar same old up down outside the Whales county as our previous bhoys (lovely little freckles, all of them) and so they hit it upside greatly and the fantabulous Remodel, as it lives and breathes was born from the soup (and those things they make everything from on Blue Peter).
The rest as they say is History, well, future history anyway, the rest is yet to come and the best will surely follow. The world is changing (no one look, it will get embarrassed!) and I will ride high in a vest for world domination!! (oh, erm, no, sorry ignore that ignorribly if it pleases, what I meant to say was) and Remodel are here to stay!
I will write no more, my hands have fallen off, sit back, relax and henjoodle this wonderful rubber band! I hope you like them, I do.
This moment of inspired madness is by Remodel’s favourite poet/story writer in chief Mr Simon Cartlidge
Remodel are a guitar band, this is obvious by virtue of the fact they have a guitar player. They are also a pop band, but pop in the sense of bands like the Who, The Smiths and blur. Like all classic British pop bands they are a fourpiece.
Frontman Mr Leigh Swinn is quite tall and dark, the sort people see in crystal balls. Always smartly attired and often caustic with his words.
Guitarist Mr Mark Heffernan is small and angry. He likes noise and cricket. He is also fond of tea.
Mr Adam Knight, bass, is a skyscraper, he is the young buck of the band. He uses his height to great advantage and is easily found in a crowd. Often he depends on the kindness of strangers.
Mr Joey Smout plays a mean drumkit and spends days gazing at the sky under northern clouds, prophesising the end of the world?
Exiled Salopians to a man, they plough their own Elysian Fields and wait for their seeds to germinate.
Joey is the newest, hardest, biggest and best member of the band.
Marks specialist mastermind subject would be early modern warfare
Leigh has been known to sneeze up to 20 times in a row
Adam has been trying to give up smoking for 4 and a half years
Leigh has the hairiest known legs in Christendom
Mark drinks 14 cups of tea a day
Adam used to play viola in the Shropshire County Youth Orchestra. And hated it.
Joey has been known to smuggle himself in to the ranks of the Grenadier Guards, all for the love of beating his drum for Her Majesty’s Pleasure.
Our First Single is a Double A side of British Racing Green
And That Obscure Subject Called Desire.
Available at Rough Trade | Sister Ray | On The Fringe| Rhythm Online | Search and Destroy &
IMPO Record Shop (Taiwan)
What People Are Saying...
British Racing Green / That Obscure Subject Called Desire:
They’ve come a long way since I first saw them many moons ago. London based Remodels debut single was recently released on Sad Gnome Records. It features a tune that is almost their signature tune ’British Racing Green’ and ’That Obscure Subject Called Desire’. The first track opens up with a deep baseline that slowly progresses with drum and guitar. It’s a delightfully punchy sound that is complimented by crisp clear vocals (provided by Leigh Swinn). The level of the vocal in this number would be best compared to The Rakes. With catchy lyrics discussing the delights of getting away from it all in a British Racing Green car! It then builds up to a frantic finish with a frenetic drumbeat and racing guitars. A fine example of Indie music on offer by Remodel. The second A-side shows the diversity of the band with a different sound that reminds me more of northeastern bands. This however does not mean it differs in the punchy sound that ’British Racing Green’ does. With slick lyrics and a catchy guitar riff its one that’s been on my favourite play list recently. I was really impressed by this and despite receiving the vinyl free I popped on to Itunes and purchased the mp3’s of the songs. Well worth a listen (check out their myspace) and bob on to itunes to listen to and perhaps purchase a fine piece of Indie pop.
Dom Chalk
I typically don’t fall for the double A-sided single concept - singles are naturally meant to have an A-side and a b-side (and whether the band contributes a solid song or a throwaway on the b-side is up to them). This record is one of many double A-sided singles I’ve seen, but they actually provided an alternate sleeve design for each side, so I guess that were it not for the A/AA markings on the record’s label, either side is worthy to be considered the lead track. The music itself is mod-inspired pop in the vein of Sportique and the Higher Elevations, with a pair of energetic and catchy songs. I don’t know much else about this London band - most importantly, how I can hear more from them), but I’d certainly love to!
http://www.indiepages.com/reviews/index.html
Formula / Cognoscenti
Remodel are a Shropshire born band who are now residing in London and from listening to thiks double a-side offering they have every chance of making it in the big smoke and beyond.
Both Formula and Cognoscenti are written in the best traditions of British punk, vitriolic, pacey and with a real edge to them, musically it’s probably nearer to new-wave than punk and the lead singer (Leigh Swinn) has a touch of the Joe Strummer in his vocals, which is no bad thing.
It’s a promising release from a band that are well worth keeping an eye out for, especially if they are playing live as I imagine they put on a good show.
http://www.thebeatsurrender.co.uk/daily/recordbox/formula-cognoscenti-remodel/
Remodel are a band that I had not, until the CD landed on my doorstep that is, come across and are a four piece, London based post-punk pop outfit. They have a excellent energetic style that gives there sound that little something to stand out above the others!
Formula is a fast paced, energetic number that has been masterfully put together with some retro styling’s, it has hints of 60’s pop in there too which gives it a very unique sound. This is certainly a track that you’d be happy to hear come on in a club as it would get everyone going!
Cognoscenti is another faced paced number, this track displays a urgency to their music along with some guitar playing that if it wasn’t for the rest of the band playing a singing you would swear it was a guitar solo. When you listen to this track you can hear the urgency in the lyrics and playing makes a fuller and more wholesome sound that relates back to there punk rock routes.
A Fabulous display of musical talent, releasing more of this these guys are sure to make a splash in the musical pond!
Paul Richards - http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2008/03/remodel-formula-cognoscenti-single.html
Glad you had a good time at our little garden party "Castlefields". Any photos or film you got, chuck up on- www. theoberonproject. com & join facebook group the oberon project. I'm gunning for the next festival now but need a show the powers that be the numbers who want it... ...pass it on ;o)
Well, Andy Lee is one talented guy. That was a great video. Well done. Things here are going pretty well. Wowzee. tv and I are trying our best to get my videos up ASAP. But right now we just have a few things to fix. Sorry it's taking so long to get your stuff up lol. So, how are things with you guys?
I'm doing great, thanks. Wowzee. tv says the video should be up in a week. So, that's pretty exciting. How are you doing? The formula video is amazing! You boys sure do look snazzy in it. I love the Remodel buttons in the backround. Very nice. Did you guys direct that yourselves? Anyways, hope all is well in Remodel Land. - Melanie
No worries mate! It was a good gig, but the two hour detour because of M11 road issue wankery made it all a bit of a chore....rock n' roll I guess... See you soon, let me know when the next Remodel gig is- it must be coming up now... Dan x
Belated Happy Birthday Adam! Loving the single (and video - I spotted Samantha!) Hope you guys manage to fit a Glasgow gig in soon, would be good to see you x
I know not of this "Pennfest" you speak of- it's a Club McGriff night if that helps.... We're on at 9.30. Hope you can make it old bean, if not, we'll see you soon! Dan x
Alright Mark and his gang of Remodel ninjas, We're playing at Lennards in Clerkenwell on Saturday night if you're interested? Would be nice to see your cheeky little faces. Dan x
Hello Mark! Things are ok. No acting work at the moment so that's getting me down but I'm sure something will turn up. How's life treating you these days. Good, I hope. K.x
It's next week, and we would be delighted to see you there! It's the Dry Bar on Long Lane, Barbican- no idea what the place is like but should be a lot of fun. Take care and hopefully see you next week, Dan x
Hello you crazy Remodellers, a happy New Year to you too! We're good, playing at a bar in Barbican next Saturday if you're interested? How about you lot? You well? Playing Naaaaaaaaaaarwivh any time soon? Dan x
Hi,
hope you're having a good new year :) only 50 more
weeks till 2009 I guess ;) anyway, just wanted to
wish you well and say hello :)
:) indiana gregg
(this is a wee animated video... the poor bunny
runs out of time at the end...but, he's really
cute)...:)
