Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller (Summer Rain)".

1999–2003

The band was started by longtime friends Knights and Paridjanian. The two met at a young age and spent much of their childhood together. Although they split after Knights went to film school and Paridjian attempted to form a band in Toronto, Canada, they soon reunited and collaborated on what would later become their first EP, The Door, which was eventually released through Anvil Records in 1999 as a limited vinyl release. This led to the band attracting the attention of larger record labels. Source Records would eventually release two more EPs, The State of Things EP and Fight or Flight, prompting NME to proclaim "Turin Brakes inhabit a space which is entirely their own, fully-formed and brutally emotive... give them the devotion they deserve."^{[citation needed]}

Source reissued the song "The Door" before releasing their first album, The Optimist LP, in 2001. The album, which was released in the United States by Astralwerks, was greeted with critical praise, spawned two modestly successful UK singles, "Underdog (Save Me)" and "Emergency 72", and received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. A planned tour of the United States opening for the Stereophonics and Matthew Jay, was canceled due to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Their second album, Ether Song, was a departure from the acoustic sound that had brought them success with their first album. Recorded in Los Angeles, California, it was popular enough to reach number 4 in the UK Albums Chart upon its release in 2003. The album produced several UK hit singles, including "Long Distance" and "Pain Killer", their first (and so far, only) Top 5 single in the UK, peaking at #5. The album also created some tension between the band and their label, as the album was re-released four times during its lifespan , and received various bonus discs between regions and versions. The band was on record as being unhappy with the way the record company was treating them and the fans regarding the release.

2004–2007

Following the success and stress of Ether Song, the band took a short break, but not before releasing the non-album single "5 Mile (These Are the Days)" (which resulted in another re-release of "Ether Song") and releasing a DJ mix album for Azuli Records' Late Night Tales series. The mix album (2004) was a collection of some of their favorite songs, and also contained The Rolling Stones song "Moonlight Mile" as a cover. The band have done some DJ sets in the London area over the years.

Their third album, Jackinabox, was released to critical acclaim much like their prior efforts when it was released in early June 2005. Preceded by the single "Fishing For A Dream," which did not do as well as the band hoped (charting at 35). Despite the lack of airplay or a hit single JackInABox still sold quite well, entering the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart in its first week. The album was supported by the group's first full-band tour of the United States, as well as the single "Over and Over," which was serviced to U.S. radio.

Following the success of Jackinabox and its subsequent tour, a download-only album, Live at the Palladium, recorded in London was released in November 2005. Released one day after the concert took place in London, it was available on the band's website. Later it also got a release on iTunes and did well in the download charts. In the October / November 2005 tour, the band also sold the Red Moon EP. This acoustic EP featured a new (acoustic) version of "Red Moon", two new songs and the Red Hot Chili Peppers-cover "Breaking The Girl" (recorded at KCRW).

The band spent the first half of 2006 writing new songs, occasionally performing both new and old work at small gigs across the UK. The band did an intimate tour in November 2006 to try out new material. In January 2007 the band entered a recording studio in London to record their fourth album with producer Ethan Johns. After three weeks the band took a break (on 29 January Paridjanian's wife gave birth to a daughter), but the sessions were resumed several weeks later in a bigger studio (also in London). On the last day of March 2007 the band announced that they had finished the recording sessions, and recorded 17 songs.

The new album, Dark on Fire, was released in the UK in September 2007, preceded by a download-only single. "Stalker". On 14 January another download-only single was released: "Something In My Eye". The b-side was a cover version of Cat Stevens' "Here Comes My Baby".

2008–present

In spring 2008, the band were special guests on the Hotel Cafe Tour hosted by Tom McRae. Also, the band did an acoustic tour in Germany. During the Summer of 2008 the band played various summer festivals. As of November 2008, the band are back in the studio recording new material. Also, the band have been working with and writing for Take That, resulting in the bonus-track "Here" on 2008's The Circus. They also worked with Pete Lawrie, Andy Steele, Dido and Lisa Mitchell.

In March 2009, the band announced they would make their live return later in the year with two acoustic shows at Folk in the Barn in Canterbury in May. In June 2009, it was announced that the band would be releasing a Best Of album, to mark the 10th anniversary of their debut single "The Door", along with a festival slot at Latitude in late-July and a headline performance at London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane the following September.

During the performance at Theatre Royal on September the 13th, the band played brand new songs off the untitled forthcoming album which they hinted at coming out in February 2010.

Turin Brakes have often been compared to many of the new acoustic movement bands spawned in the late 1990s such as Elbow, Starsailor, and the Norwegian band Kings of Convenience, whose 2001 album entitled Quiet Is the New Loud is a helpful indicator of the band's first album.^{[citation needed]} Each record, Turin Brakes try to change their sound. While the first album features a lot of acoustic guitar, Ether Song featured more electric guitar and was in total a lot darker. The third album Jackinabox can be seen as a combination of the first two, with some funk influences.^{[citation needed]}

• The pair were part of the chorus on the Band Aid 20 single.
• Their music has been featured numerous times on teen dramas such as Hollyoaks in the UK, The O.C., Gossip Girl and Smallville.
• The duo have toured with various members of their original backing band formed at the release of their debut album, consisting of High Llamas drummer Rob Allum, 'Little' Phil Marten and Eddy Myers.
• American singer Jason Mraz played a cover version of their song "Future Boy" at Schuba's Tavern, Chicago on 15 January 2003.
• A sample of "Fishing a Dream" is currently used as the theme music in the Special K television advertisement shown in the UK.

Albums

• 2001 - The Optimist LP - Source/Astralwerks CD/LP
• 2003 - Ether Song - Source/Astralwerks CD/LP
• 2005 - JackInABox - Source/Astralwerks CD/LP
• 2005 - Live at the Palladium - Source/Astralwerks (Digital download)
• 2007 - Dark on Fire - Source/Astralwerks CD

Compilation albums

• 2009 - Bottled At Source - The Best Of The Source Years - Source/Astralwerks CD

Mix albums

• 2004 - Late Night Tales: Turin Brakes - Source/Azuli Records CD/LP

EPs

• 1999 - The Door EP - Anvil 7"/CD
• 2000 - The State of Things EP - Source 7"/CD
• 2000 - Fight or Flight - Source 7"/CD
• 2005 - NapsterLive - Napster (Digital download)
• 2005 - The Red Moon EP - Source 7"/CD
• 2007 - Something Out Of Nothing EP - Source CD

Singles

Compilations

Turin Brakes tracks have appeared on the following compilation CDs:

• Official website
• Ether Site - extensive fansite
• Turin Brakes le fanclub - French fansite