MKNZ Ilirska Bistrica, Friday, 18.10.2002 at 22h:

Hirameka Hi-fi (GB) + X-Sandra (Ilirska Bistrica)

Hirameka Hi-Fi formed in that long hot summer of 97. Tom Coogan and Chris Baldwin met whilst downing cheap alcohol at a ruined Roman wall in Colchester. The two had schooled together, and quickly found that they shared the desire to make music that was exciting, angular and accessible enough to buy them and the nascent Gringo Records a ticket out of Colchester.

The pair rehearsed with fanatic fervour. This was all they had. They would pass the days trading ideas and honest thoughts. Within weeks Lando men Dom Gentry and Steve Nice joined on drums and bass. Enthusiasm and morale were high. The four began work on a record, ruthless and eager. By late Autumn they were recording their debut 7" for Gringo.

That first record, 'Munchin', was released in January 1998. It's canny mix of shouty vocals, sugary car-alarm guitar riff and pounding rhythm may have owed a lot to contemporary influences like The Yummy Fur, Bis and Urusei Yatsura , but it also won the band support from both John Peel and Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 shows.

Soon afterwards the band played their first show, a sparsely attended affair in Chelmsford. Underehearsed and scattershot, nevertheless they made it through. Their second show, days later, was in support of Mogwai and Aerial M. Again the group were ramshackle, yet their spirit was obvious, and the kindly Dave Pajo of Aerial gave the guys props for their inventive tunings. (actually they were just out of tune!)

The live experience and early encouragement yielded a self-perpetuating confidence. Recorded in another scorching spring, the next Hirameka Hi-Fi release was an assured, expansive affair. The 4 track 'Play Hard EP' was released in September 1998, and stands up as one of the classic records to come out of the UK underground in recent times. It evoked the disparate spirits of Nirvana, Fugazi and Slint. Initial supporter Steve Lamacq got the band in to record a Session Unsigned. The diligent BBC engineers captured the band in raw, dambusting form. So powerful that, when Radio One aired them, it broke down and the emergency back-up tape cut in!

All this aroused the interest of Che Records who set up a new label, Extreme Sports, to release a Hirameka 7" and mini-album. The double A-side single 'No Pictures / Hold It Up' (imagine 'Goo'-era Sonic Youth meets Joy Division) came out in February 1999, leading to pieces in Melody Maker and i-D, a Peel session, live performances as much as university and college would allow, and a trip up to Scotland to record at Chemikal Underground's Chem 19 studios.

However, Dom had left on New Year's Day, unable to handle the growing musical differences within the band. The Hi-Fi advertised for a replacement. The only reply was from Ben Wright, who didn't even think all that much of these overhyped bratpoppers! Having needlessly covered up his love of 80s pop in his "audition", he was welcomed into the fold, swiftly proving himself to be a big-hitting adventurous drummer and a thoroughly awesome guy.

The mission to Scotland proved to be fatal for this incarnation. The rot had set in, and various members began rejecting material even as the tape was running. The even temper of Ben proved to be the rock on which the record was built, as Baldwin and Coogan were reconciled to make the best record they could. "A Proud Tradition Of Failure" was the result. Flawed but bold, it was the band's most diverse record yet.

Their swan song was the Radio 1 Peel Session, where the animosity between Coogan and Nice had reached fever pitch, and the latter didn't even appear on their final song, the prophetically titled "A Warning And An Ultimatum"

The fever broke in the rush of pre-release publicity. In their debut NME interview Nice hijacked the interview and Coogan rose to the bait. The ugly spat was jazzed up by the journo and the death knell of the band was crowed in print. Everyone thought Hirameka had split for good, and 'A.P.T.O.F.' was released without fanfare. Just how well it sold remains a mystery to this day. Apparently it did well around Europe. We cannot confirm or deny this allegation.

With Nice not in the band, Baldwin chose to devote himself to his studies. Coogan thought long and hard and decided that to stop now was to throw away all the work they'd done. Long-time Hi-Fi supporter, friend of Wright and incredibly nice chap Pete Heddle joined to play bass and swiftly proved himself to be exceptionally talented and innovative.

The new three piece Hirameka Hi-Fi throbbed with energy and enthusiasm. They also had something to prove. Months of practising led to the release of the defiant 'Hirameka Hi-Fi EP' on Extreme Sports, which melded sprightly melody with rigid noises to announce a new, tight focus. It rocked.

The band returned to their loyal friends Gringo, and swiftly issued a new 7", "The Imperfect Approach"/"Self-Starter" in September 2000, marking the three year anniversary of their birth. The band were back on the radio, and off on their first proper UK tour with labelmates Eska and Reynolds between September 7th and 20th.

Tom moved cities and wallowed in a job that drove him nuts. The only thing that kept him going was the thought of recording the first HHF album. As the time drew near, Ben and Pete came to stay for a month of intense songwriting. The result-a sparse cadre of tough songs, snapped up by The Electric Press in a matter of hours on the cusp of September.

Weeks later, Ben was departed for New Zealand, and Selah drummer Thomas Seston bravely stepped into his shoes for a UK tour with American chums Electro Group. At a triumphant homecoming show at Colchester Arts Centre, HHF were joined for the last song by one Chris Baldwin. He subsequently rejoined.

Sprezzatura was released in May 02.

Chris Baldwin - Guitar and Vocals
Tom Coogan - Guitar and Vocals
Pete Heddle - Bass
Ben Wright - Drums