The Winston Giles Orchestra
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The Winston Giles Orchestra | |
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| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock, psychedelic rock, neo-psychedelia, space rock |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | MGM Playup music |
| Members | Winston Giles Dorian West CJ Dolan |
| Website | http://www.winstongilesorchestra.com/ |
The Winston Giles Orchestra is an Australian band formed in 2004 by Australian singer-songwriter Winston Giles (Atari Baby, Floor 13). In 2005, the band released two albums and embarked on tours across Australia, the US, and Europe.
Currently, the Winston Giles Orchestra consists of Winston Giles (vocals, guitars, piano, beats, and samples) and Dorian West (trumpet, flugelhorn, and keyboards). The band often features guest musicians who make regular appearances. The themes explored in their music include the rejection of war and intolerance, as well as the celebration of love, happiness, cultural diversity, and a simple, carefree life.
Although the Winston Giles Orchestra takes an indie rock and post-punk approach to rock music, the band is also known for their psychedelic arrangements, spacey lyrics, and unconventional song and album titles. They have gained acclaim for their live shows, which incorporate video projections, complex stage-light configurations, acrobatics, hula hoop and dancers.[1]
History[edit]
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Winston Giles spent eight years fronting an art-punk band called Floor 13. After this, he worked with DJs and producers in Australia and released albums, remixes and videos under the name "Atari Baby".
In early 2004, Giles met local producer C.J. Dolan, who was behind the electronica outfit, Quench. In 2004, they began recording and mixing the debut album, Soundtracks for Sunrise. It was released in Australia in December 2004.[2]
The second album, A Magnificent Beautiful Day, featuring eleven songs written by Giles, was released in 2005.
During live performances, the band lineup includes Winston Giles on guitars and vocals, and Dorian West on horns, keyboards, and beats.
In 2006, the band embarked on their first overseas tour, at festivals and clubs across the UK and the US.
Sound[edit]
The sound of The Winston Giles Orchestra has been compared to The Flaming Lips, Lemon Jelly, and Pink Floyd.[citation needed] Their music is often described as a fusion of electronica, downtempo, psychedelic and rock with heavy ambient influences.[citation needed] Since the release of their debut album Soundtracks for Sunrise in December 2004, the Winston Giles Orchestra has been presenting a sound that has permeated through to fans of all styles of music.[citation needed]
The orchestra sound is filled with many different sounds and varying moods. While the presence of beats and the influences of dance music lend a modern bent to the sound, familiar licks of guitar-based bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin present themselves, but are not obvious, but are subtly incorporated into the modern electronic sound.[citation needed]
Band members[edit]
As of 2007, The Winston Giles Orchestra consisted of:
Core members[edit]
- Winston Giles (lead vocals, guitars, producer)
- Dorian West (trumpet and lead vocals; recorder and resonator)
- CJ Dolan (producer
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
- Magnificent Beautiful Day (2004)
- Soundtracks for Sunrise (2005)[3]
Singles[edit]
- "Welcome to the Hotel" features on Chris Coco's electroacoustic compilation (2006).
References[edit]
- ^ "The Winston Giles Orchestra - A magnificent beautiful day". Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ "The Winston Giles Orchestra 'Soundtracks For Sunrise'". www.femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Brody, Daniel. "Winston Giles Orchestra: Soundtracks for Sunrise. Record Review". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.