The Take (Welsh band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Cardiff, Wales |
| Founder | Jim Williams, Paul Copner, Richard Crayford |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Cardiff , Wales, United Kingdom |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, demos |
The Take originated as a punk rock group from Cardiff, Wales, initially formed in 1996 under the name Fishtake. They were instrumental in shaping the South Wales hardcore scene, producing two full-length albums, a pair of extended plays, and one demo recording.
History
The band was founded by Jim Williams on drums, Paul Copner handling guitar duties, and Richard Crayford on bass. Their early days involved performing covers of Nirvana tracks within a warehouse located in Barry Island. In 1998, Charles Curran took over bass responsibilities from Crayford. Along with groups such as No Fit State and Public Disturbance, they became integral to the expanding South Wales hardcore movement, which drew inspiration from American hardcore acts.
Their demo Ensure This is Your Medicine was issued in 1999. Will Rees, previously part of Four Letter Word, joined as drummer, completing a lineup with Williams transitioning to guitar and vocals, Copner on guitar, Curran on bass, and Rees on drums. November 2000 saw the release of their self-produced EP Private Foul And Surface Water through The 23:59 Label. To support this release, they embarked on a UK tour in spring 2001 alongside Cardiff’s Douglas; during part of this tour, Pete Leakey from No Comply temporarily filled in for Copner.
In August 2001, they recorded their first album Propeller at Prism Studio with producer Sean Lowe. Following Copner’s exit, Leakey became an official guitarist. Around this period, the band adopted the name The Take. Curran handed their recordings to Katherine "Kafren" Vik of Household Name Records, who signed them and secured an opening slot for Dillinger Four in London. The album Propeller was launched on 4 November 2002 alongside the Gene Pool + 2 EP. The band supported these releases by touring with acts such as Capdown, the Lawrence Arms, and Belvedere.
On 15 January 2003, The Take performed a live session for BBC Radio 1’s "Bethan and Huw Show". That year saw Will Rees depart, with Nathan Phillips from Douglas stepping in as drummer. Returning to Prism Studio with Lowe at the close of 2004, they recorded new material; two tracks from these sessions appeared on a split EP released in 2005 with screamo group Night and the City of Broken Promises via Détournement Records. The remainder of these recordings formed their sophomore album Dolomite, released in 2006 through Leeds-based Bombed Out Records. To promote it, they toured alongside Yorkshire’s Calcutecs. Another live session for BBC Radio 1 was recorded on 4 October 2006.
The Take’s concluding performance took place on 6 April 2007 at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff. They briefly reunited in July 2010 for a tribute show honoring John Sicolo, owner of TJ's venue, performing alongside Douglas.
Musical style
Their sound has been described by critics as encompassing post-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, and raw punk elements. They blended aspects of hardcore punk with indie rock sensibilities. Their music balanced melodic structures with dissonant tones, featuring intricate instrumentation influenced by both progressive and pop music genres.
Among their inspirations were bands such as Jawbox, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Shootin' Goon, Public Disturbance, and Douglas.
Members
- Jim Williams – vocals and guitar (1999–2007, 2010), drums (1996–1999)
- Paul Copner – guitar (1996–2007, 2010)
- Richard Crayford – bass guitar (1996–1998)
- Charles Curran – bass guitar (1998–2007, 2010)
- Will Rees – drums (1999–2003)
- Nathan Phillips – drums (2003–2007, 2010)
Discography
Studio Albums
- Propeller (released in 2002)
- Dolomite (released in 2006)
EPs
- Gene Pool + 2 (2001)
- Night & The City / The Take (2005, split EP collaboration with Night and the City of Broken Promises)
Demos
- Ensure This is Your Medicine (1999)