Geneva (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Headquarters | Aberdeen , Scotland |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Geneva is a rock ensemble originating from Scotland, established in Aberdeen in 1992. The band experienced moderate success on music charts before disbanding following their second album release. They reunited in 2018, excluding guitarist Stuart Evans, to gear up for a live tour scheduled for 2019.
Career
The group was initially formed by lead singer Andrew Montgomery and guitarist Steven Dora, later joined by guitarist Stuart Evans, bassist Keith Graham, and drummer Craig Brown (who was eventually succeeded by Douglas Caskie). Originally called Sunfish, one of their demos caught the attention of Suede’s label, Nude Records, leading to their signing in 1996. After a brief period performing under the name Garland, they adopted the name Geneva and released their first single "No One Speaks" that same year. In early 1997, they headlined NME's Bratbus tour showcasing emerging artists, coinciding with the launch of their second single "Into the Blue."
Musical style
Geneva’s music reflected the late Britpop era’s transition towards more introspective and refined sounds, standing apart from the more macho attitudes of bands like Oasis. Their style bore resemblance to contemporaries such as Gene and Strangelove, with Montgomery’s distinctive high-pitched vocals often compared to Brett Anderson of Suede.
Albums
Their first album, Further (released June 1997), blended energetic power pop with darker compositions and peaked at No. 20 on the UK Albums Chart. It included the NME "Single of the Year," "Tranquilizer," along with tracks like "Best Regrets," "No One Speaks," and "Into the Blue." Each of these four singles secured positions within the UK Top 40.
The second album, Weather Underground (March 2000), encountered release delays due to disagreements with their record label. It was preceded by the single "Dollars in the Heavens," which reached the UK Top 60, and followed by "If You Have To Go." Shortly after this album’s release, the band parted ways.
Post-Geneva careers
Following Geneva’s dissolution, Evans and Graham established 69CORP, issuing Our Present to the Future in 2005; currently, only Graham continues active involvement in this project.
Montgomery collaborated with American composer Ben Neill and Leeds-based electronic producer Overseer. He formed Amityville, which released the well-received Pacific Radio Fire EP in 2004 before disbanding in 2005. Afterwards, he created the duo St Famous with Keris Howard until its breakup in 2009.
Montgomery made an appearance on BBC’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2008. In July 2014, he revealed plans for his debut solo album, Ruled By Dreams, which was globally released on 5 October 2014 alongside a UK tour. This album featured contributions from Suede guitarist Richard Oakes and Norwegian vocalist Kate Havnevik and was produced and co-written by Sean McGhee, known for his work with Britney Spears and Alison Moyet. Later on, Montgomery collaborated with electronic duo Unify Separate (Us) for select recordings and tours.
By 2018, Geneva had reunited for the Star Shaped Festival tour and indicated intentions to release new material.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | ||
| 1997 | Further
|
20 |
| 2000 | Weather Underground
|
117 |
Singles
| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "No One Speaks" | 32 | Further |
| 1997 | "Into the Blue" | 26 | |
| "Tranquillizer" | 24 | ||
| "Best Regrets" | 38 | ||
| 1999 | "Dollars in the Heavens" | 59 | Weather Underground |
| 2000 | "If You Have to Go" | 69 | |
| "Cassie" / "Have You Seen the Horizon Lately?" (Promo) | – | ||
| "Musecone 1" (Promo) | – | ||
| 2020 | "Fault Lines"[1] | – |