Mother and the Addicts
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Mother and The Addicts was an indie rock ensemble originating from Glasgow, affiliated with Chemikal Underground Records, and established in 2003. They produced two full-length albums during their active years.
History
Their initial sound drew inspiration from groups such as Dr. Feelgood and The Modern Lovers, but over time, they incorporated diverse influences including funk, rock and roll, and Krautrock, resulting in a more intricate musical style. The band's first single, "Who Art You Girls?", debuted in December 2004. This was succeeded by "Oh yeah, You Look Quite Nice" in July 2005, and their inaugural album, Take The Lovers Home Tonight, was released in August of the same year. Later, in August 2007, they issued a double A-side single titled "Watch the Lines/Are Other?".
Extensive touring saw them sharing stages with bands like Sons and Daughters and the 1990s. Although the band originated at the Glasgow School of Art, only Douglas Morland and Kendall Koppe were original members from that institution. All members hailed from Glasgow except for Mother (also known as Sam Smith), who grew up in the Orkney Islands. Kendall Koppe departed in 2005 to focus on a career in photography. In 2006, the group operated mainly as a quartet for live shows while Mother took charge of composing most tracks for their second album, Science Fiction Illustrated, which was recorded through the winter months and finalized by January 2007. From May 2007 onward, Timothy Dyer joined their live lineup handling keyboards and samples.
Musical style
Their music is characterized by a fusion of "white funk", disco, krautrock, and pub rock, often earning comparisons to bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Dr. Feelgood, The Violent Femmes, and Roxy Music. The songwriting and vocal delivery of Mother have been likened to those of Mark E. Smith and Jarvis Cocker.
Break up
On 17 July 2008, the band announced their dissolution via their official website, stating: "A quiet front has existed for some time now but the group have now disbanded, da da for now. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?"
Post-breakup, guitarist Douglas Morland collaborated with Glasgow-based acts Big Ned and The Leather Corridor. In September 2009, he launched a solo 10" EP under the moniker Older Lover through Glasgow's Optimo Music label and continues to produce music under this name. Former member Sam Smith transitioned into production and engineering roles, contributing to Alasdair Roberts' 2009 release Spoils (Drag City) as well as Remember Remember's debut album (Rock Action). Additionally, he serves as a director at The Green Door Studio.
Singles
- "Who Art You Girls?" (2004)
- "Oh Yeah, You Look Quite Nice" (2005)
- "Watch The Lines"/"Are Other?" (2007)
- "Attraction"/"So Tough" (2007) promo
Albums
- Take The Lovers Home Tonight (2005) Chemikal Underground
- Science Fiction Illustrated (2007) Chemikal Underground