Lisp (band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | East London , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Lisp was a trip hop ensemble originating from East London, England. Established in 1995, the group secured a deal with Mind Horizon Recordings, an imprint under London Records. They released their only album, Cycles (2000), which included the radio-friendly tracks "Flatspin" and "Long Way to Climb".
History
Lisp came together in 1995 in East London with a lineup featuring ex-Disco Inferno bassist Paul Willmott on keyboards, vocalist Johnnie Gordon, guitarist Brad Rubinstein, bassist Jason Hall, and drummer Adam Rich.
In 1999, the band was signed by Pete Tong to Mind Horizon Recordings and debuted with the single "Flatspin" in September. Their next release, "Long Way to Climb", received considerable airplay on XFM. That November, Lisp performed live at the Scala venue in King's Cross, London. Their full-length album Cycles was released on 17 April 2000.
The group disbanded in 2001, partly due to Rubinstein’s deepening involvement with Orthodox Judaism, which restricted his participation during religious observances. Following the split, Rubinstein moved to Israel and co-founded the Jewish hip hop/rock band Shtar alongside rapper Ori Murray.
Musical style
Lisp’s sound combined a rock base with additional layers such as a string quartet and electronic textures provided by Paul Willmott. Their singles "Flatspin" and "Long Way to Climb" invited comparisons to artists like Massive Attack and Portishead. AllMusic characterized Cycles as "trip-hop Depeche Mode," highlighting its complex song arrangements. Their live shows ranged from minimal acoustic performances to elaborate productions featuring strings and visual elements.
Members
- Jonathan Gordon – lead vocals, songwriting
- Brad Rubinstein – guitar, songwriting
- Paul Willmott – keyboards, synthesizers
- Jason Hall – bass guitar
- Adam Rich – drums
Discography
- Albums
- Cycles (2000, Mind Horizon)
- Singles
- "Flatspin" (1999)
- "Long Way to Climb" (1999, London Records)