The High are a seminal but often overlooked fixture of the Manchester music scene, formed in 1989. The band's DNA is inextricably linked to The Stone Roses, as guitarist Andy Couzens was a founding member of that group before departing to form The High with vocalist John Matthews.
Their sound is a sophisticated blend of 1960s psychedelic pop influences (The Byrds, The Beatles) and the rhythmic 'baggy' aesthetic of the early 1990s. Their debut album, 'Somewhere Soon' (1990), produced by Martin Hannett and Dave Eringa, remains their definitive work, characterized by Couzens' shimmering guitar delay and Matthews' melodic, understated vocal delivery. Critically, they were often grouped with 'second wave' Madchester acts like The Wendys or Five Thirty, yet they possessed a more refined, pop-centric sensibility that leaned toward shoegaze textures. Despite a major label push and several charting singles like 'Box Set Go' and 'Up and Down', the band struggled to maintain momentum during the transition into the Britpop era, eventually disbanding after their second album 'Hype' (1992). They represent a crucial bridge between the psychedelic indie of the late 80s and the more structured guitar-pop of the mid-90s.
Shares hardcore punk, garage rock, noise rock (subgenres); screaming, intense, raspy (vocal style)
Shares aggressive, defiant, urgent (moods); lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style)
Shares lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style); basement_show, dive_bar, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares hardcore punk, noise rock (subgenres); basement_show, dive_bar, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style); screaming, intense, raspy (vocal style)
Shares hardcore punk, garage rock, noise rock (subgenres); lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style)
Shares lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style); hardcore punk, noise rock (subgenres)
Shares basement_show, dive_bar, urban_night (atmosphere); lo_fi, noise_textured (production style)
Shares lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style); screaming, intense, raspy (vocal style)
Shares hardcore punk, noise rock (subgenres); lo_fi, noise_textured, live_recording (production style)
Shares indie rock, garage rock, power pop (subgenres); lo_fi, analog_warmth, hand_played (production style)
Shares alternative rock, shoegaze, psychedelic rock (subgenres); dreamy, nostalgic, wistful (moods)
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