The Telescopes — Cassette

Intro

The Telescopes create a sound that feels like being submerged in a warm, vibrating ocean of electricity. It is music that prioritizes texture and immersion over traditional song structures, using layers of distorted guitar and buried vocals to create a sense of infinite space. There is a heavy, almost physical quality to their noise, yet it remains strangely melodic and inviting for those who enjoy losing themselves in a mix.

What sets them apart is their commitment to the 'revolution of the psyche.' Unlike many of their shoegaze peers who leaned into pop sensibilities, Stephen Lawrie has consistently pushed the band toward more experimental, avant-garde territory. The lineup is fluid, sometimes featuring dozens of musicians, which results in a sound that can shift from a delicate whisper to a deafening roar within a single track. It is the sound of a band constantly deconstructing and rebuilding the idea of a rock song.

For those new to their expansive catalog, the self-titled 1992 album (often called the 'Higher' album) is a perfect entry point for their more melodic side. If you prefer the darker, more abrasive edge of their sound, dive into their later work like 'As Light Return' or 'Hidden Fields.' These records showcase their mastery of the slow-burn, noise-rock aesthetic that has influenced everyone from Radiohead to The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

The Telescopes are an English noise, space rock, dream pop and psychedelic band formed in 1987 by artist, composer, and musician Stephen Lawrie, with band members David Fitzgerald and Joanna Doran joining later. The band's line-up is in constant flux; there can be anywhere between 1 and 20 members on a recording. Some of the initial influences on Lawrie as a songwriter were The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Neil Young, Einstürzende Neubauten, Can, Faust, Lydia Lunch, Sonic Youth and Sun Ra. By the time The Telescopes were formed, influences were drawn from artists such as The Velvet Underground, Suicide, The Stooges and The 13th Floor Elevators. The Telescopes have influenced the shoegaze, space rock and neo-psychedelic movement including artists such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Füxa, The Warlocks, Revolver, Whipping Boy, Vanishing Lines, Seefeel, Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, Frances Bean Cobain, Portishead, Mogwai and Radiohead. In recognition of their ongoing influence on a new generation of artists, a tribute compilation titled Anticipating Nowhere, A Homage To The Telescopes was released in 2016 by The Blog That Celebrates Itself Records. The album featured 17 Telescopes tracks covered by various artists from the Flavor Crystals, Jaguwar and One Unique Signal. The Telescopes have been described by the British music press as "more a revolution of the psyche than a revolution of the sidewalk"; a thread consistent throughout a body of work spanning over 30 years. The band has released 16 studio albums across various music labels including but not limited to Creation Records and Tapete Records with their most recent album Growing Eyes Become String out now on Fuzz Club Records. A new album is currently being recorded for Tapete. As a live band, they are considered to be unique even in their niche, with positive reviews from publications such as Isolation (UK), "The Telescopes are such an important band. Such an important concept. They walk where other bands fear to tread and refuse to compromise their art. This is what makes them so vital on record and unmissable on stage." Original guitarist David Fitzgerald died of cancer on 17 December 2020, aged 54. In a statement provided to NME, Lawrie wrote, "As a noise guitarist David was born beyond the realm of natural vision, a true original, in a field of his own."

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