Biography

Introduction

Tracer AMC is a Northern-Irish post-rock band formed in Bangor, Northern Ireland in 1999. The band consists of:

Jonny Ashe (Guitar)
Alex Donald (Bass)
Michael Kinloch (Guitar)
Keith Winter (Drums)

History

Formation

Formed in Bangor in 1999 by schoolfriends Jonny Ashe and Alex Donald, and joined quickly by Keith Winter, Tracer AMC released their first single "A Song for Amber and Red" on We Love Records in May 2000.

A Song For Amber and Red

Tracer AMC gained moderate popularity throughout 2000 when their double A-side 7" single, limited to 500 copies and now sold out, was played occasionally by John Peel.

Pelican

In 2001 Tracer recorded a follow up, another 7" single called the Pelican E.P. It was released by Errol Records, and was reviewed favourably by Drowned in Sound ("magical") and Record Collector ("brilliant"). One of the b-sides, Elmwood Avenue, went on to feature on a number of compilation albums, including the annual Belfest CD (2002) and collections by Liberty Blue (2003) and Ballroom of Romance (2003). In the same year, they recruited Michael Kinloch (formerly of Antrim band Mushpuppies) as a second guitarist, and toured intermittently in the UK.

BBC Sessions

The band have recorded two sessions for the BBC. In 2003, for Across the Line on Radio Ulster they recorded Flux & Form, Nineteen, Don't Be Soft, and a cover of The Shadows' "Apache" (retitled "I'm an Apache, You're an Aeroplane, I Don't Think We Stand A Chance"). The first three were released on Flux & Form, with Don't Be Soft renamed Copenhagen. The next year, for Radio 1's Session in Northern Ireland, they recorded Flux & Form, Some Electric, The Russian Threat, and a cover of The Jesus & Mary Chain's Just Like Honey. The last two were notable for being the first time Tracer had recorded vocals, with Michael singing both. The Russian Threat was later released on the In Rivers 12" E.P.

Flux & Form

In 2004, Tracer AMC released their first album, Flux & Form, launching the album at a gig in Auntie Annie's, Belfast. Another co-release with Errol Records, prestigious indie gospel The Wire said of Flux & Form "the group [display] an impressive mastery of the epic."

12" E.P.

In June 2005 Tracer released a 12" E.P., featuring new tracks In Rivers and The Russian Threat, and two acoustic version of Blue Thread (from Flux & Form), originally recorded for the Tom Robinson radio show on BBC 6 Music.

Islands

Flux & Form was followed in late 2005 by the band's second full length collection, Islands. It was quickly picked up by Thomason Sounds, and re-packaged and re-released in Japan. It went on to sell more copies there than in the UK, and they toured Japan with labelmates Miaou in late 2006, notably playing to a full house in Shibuya's famous O-Nest.

Live shows

Tracer AMC have played with June of 44, Windsor for the Derby, Oceansize, The Lapse, Six by Seven, Cinerama, Fugazi, Spiritualized, The Album Leaf, 65 Days of Static and toe. Kerrang! magazine said recently: "Tracer AMC, returned from a successful jaunt across Japan, show the hometown crowd how they’ve won Tokyo’s heart. Immediately more developed and daring, they skip through movements in four songs that need no lyrics to augment an accomplished grace." Stuart Bailie of NME once said "the music sounds holy and true".

Related bands

Michael and Keith play in Not Squares. Jonny plays in Julip and Eisberg and Resnick. Michael previously played in Mushpuppies, Heliopause and Julip. Keith previously played in Dreams of 4 and Julip. Jonny and Alex played in Kidd Dynamo (now Radial Nerve) and Joss Mills.