Neil Carlill | |
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Neil Carlill in Berlin, 2009
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Background information | |
Born | 20 March 1967 |
Genres | Experimental rock, alternative rock, ambient, electronic |
Occupation(s) | Singer, lyricist, poet, guitarist |
Instruments | vocals, guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboards, synthesizer, harmonica |
Years active | 1993 – present |
Labels | Starfish, Viper, Island, Stilll, Herb Recordings |
Associated acts | Delicatessen, Lodger, Vedette, 5 Little Elephants, Shoosh, Me Me the Moth, Airport Studies, Chicanery, Harvey Mapcase, Three on a Match |
They're Only Gardening (2006) by Vedette (Official Video) |
In the Air Blind (2008) by Me Me The Moth (Official Video) |
Neil Carlill (born 20 March 1967 in Ripon, England), is an English singer, lyricist, poet, composer, and musician. He is known for his work with experimental and alternative rock bands including 1990s UK acts Delicatessen and Lodger, and more recently with bands and collaborations including Vedette, Shoosh, 5 Little Elephants, Me Me the Moth, Chicanery, and Three on a Match. His lyrics reflect the influence of DaDa and James Joyce, and his voice has a unique, multifaceted, "strangely alluring" character.
Carlill founded the group Delicatessen in Leicester, England in 1993, and joined the British supergroup Lodger in 1998. Both groups charted in the UK, with Lodger's single, I'm Leaving, charting in the top 40. Lodger disbanded after one album, 1998's A Walk in the Park. Delicatessen, having released three critically acclaimed albums, broke up in late 2002.
During the late 1990s, Carlill also contributed to TV Mania, a side project of Duran Duran members Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo.
Having relocated to the United States in 2000, Neil Carlill temporarily slowed his musical output until, in 2004, he resumed working with Warren Cuccurullo, this time on the eponymous debut album from the project titled Chicanery. During this period he also founded the bands Vedette, Shoosh, 5 Little Elephants, Me Me the Moth, and Three on a Match through collaborations with numerous musicians in the US and Europe.
He has also developed a solo project dubbed Airport Studies, and performs live under the pseudonym Harvey Mapcase. As Airport Studies, Carlill contributed a song for the Fire Records James Joyce Tribute album, Chamber Music (James Joyce). Under his own name Carlill was a featured vocalist on Lost-Wax (2008 Plush) by Lena and the Floating Roots Orchestra. Some of Neil Carlill's written work was also published in 2007 in Galleon (Volume 1, Number 1), a literary journal that features adventurous short fiction.