{{short description|Welsh band}} {{EngvarB|date=December 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ectogram | image = | origin = Bangor, Wales | genre = {{hlist|Experimental rock|psychedelic rock|post-rock|space rock}} | years_active = 1993–2015 | label = Ankstmusik<br />Pure Pop For Now People<br />Klangbad<br />Ochre<br />Ankst<br />Atol | website = {{url|ectogram.co.uk}} <br />[http://www.myspace.com/ectogram myspace.com/ectogram] | current_members = Ann Matthews<br />Maeyc Hewitt<br />Alan Holmes }}

'''Ectogram''' were a Welsh band from Bangor, Wales.

Ann Matthews and Alan Holmes were previously members of Welsh language post-punk band Fflaps between 1987 and 1993, touring Europe, releasing three LPs, and recording two John Peel Sessions during that time. When the band's drummer Jonny Evans left in 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://link2wales.co.uk/north-wales-a-m/north-wales-e/|title=North Wales: E – link2wales.co.uk}}</ref> they recruited old friend Maeyc Hewitt and morphed into the quite different sounding Ectogram.

The band initially recorded two singles for the small Welsh independent label, Atol, before being signed to the more well-known Ankst label, for whom they recorded an album and two EPs. When that label dissolved in 1998, Ectogram stayed with Ankstmusik, the label set up by one of the former Ankst partners.

Their music combines conventional rock elements such as repetitive rhythms and vocal melody with atonal discord and improvisation. Their style has been influenced by bands such as Sonic Youth, Faust, Pere Ubu, My Bloody Valentine and Acid Mothers Temple.<ref>{{cite web|title = Ectogram {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ectogram-mn0002310398|website = AllMusic|accessdate = 26 December 2015}}</ref> BBC Radio Wales DJ, Adam Walton described their guitar style as 'Egoless textures and exploratory sonics.'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesmusic/2012/04/wales-best-guitarists.shtml|title = BBC - Wales Music: Wales' best guitarists}}</ref>

All three members of Ectogram were also members of the experimental rock supergroup The Serpents, who released an album on the Ochre label in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|title = North Wales: Sa – Sn {{!}} link2wales.co.uk|url = http://link2wales.co.uk/north-wales-n-z/north-wales-sa-sn/|website = link2wales.co.uk|accessdate = 26 December 2015}}</ref>

During 2005, Ectogram played a series of gigs with krautrock group Faust, at times joining them on stage for a collaborative performance, and in 2012 they acted as a backing band for a performance by ex – Can member Damo Suzuki.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Damo Suzuki, Ectogram, Y Niwl play CeLL, Blaenau Ffestiniog {{!}} link2wales.co.uk|url = http://link2wales.co.uk/2012/gigreviews/damo-suzuki-ectogram-y-niwl-play-cell-blaenau-ffestiniog/|website = link2wales.co.uk|accessdate = 26 December 2015}}</ref>

In late 2015, Gigwise listed Ectogram as one of their 27 Greatest Welsh Bands Of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/photos/104035/the-greatest-welsh-indie-bands-from-stereophonics-to-manics|title = The 27 greatest Welsh bands of all time}}</ref>

Drummer Maeyc Hewitt died of cancer 2 October 2015 and the band's website suggested that this was possibly the end of Ectogram as a band.<ref>{{Cite web|title = ECTOSCOPE|url = http://www.ectogram.co.uk/|website = ectogram.co.uk|accessdate = 26 December 2015}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== *1996 ''I Can't Believe it's not Reggae! – (Ankst)'' *2000 ''All Behind the Witchtower – (Ankstmusik)'' *2002 ''Tall Things Falling – (Ankstmusik)'' *2005 ''Electric Deckchair – (Ankstmusik)'' *2006 ''Concentric Neckwear – (Pure Pop For Now People)'' *2007 ''Fluff on a Faraway Hill – (Klangbad)'' *2012 ''Exo-Celestial – (Turquoise Coal)''

===Singles and EPs=== *1994 ''Spio Trwy Tylla – (Atol)'' *1995 ''Mary – (Atol)'' *1995 ''Spoonicon EP – (Ankst)'' *1997 ''Eliot's Violet Hour – (Ankst)'' *1998 ''Spitsbergen – (Ochre)'' *1999 ''Evanescence – (Ochre)'' *2006 ''Y Lleill EP – (Ankstmusik)''

===Split Releases=== *1998 ''Stolen Ecstasy – (with Flowchart) (100 Guitar Mania)'' *1998 ''Spitsbergen Part 4 – (with The Land of Nod) (Ochre)'' *2001 ''Füxa vs. Ectogram – (with Füxa) (Ochre)'' *2007 ''Split CD'' – (''with Klaus Kinski) (Giant Hammer)''

===Compilation Appearances=== *1995 ''S4C Makes Me Want to Smoke Crack – (Atol)'' *1995 ''Triskadekaphilia – (Ankst)'' *1996 ''Plan Boom – (What's That Noise)'' *1997 ''Angels With Big Wings – (Ankst)'' *1999 ''Floralia Vol 3 – (Wot 4)'' *1999 ''Croeso 99 – (Ankstmusik)'' *1999 ''Through the Square Window – (Blue Flea)'' *2000 ''Yr Agog – (Oggum)'' *2001 ''The Stooges – (Snowdonia)'' *2003 ''Radio Crymi Playlist Vol. 1 (1988-1998) – (Ankstmusik)'' *2007 ''Nødutgang 2007 – (Go To Gate)'' *2007 ''Klangbad Festival 2007 – (Klangbad)'' *2008 ''Radio Crymi Playlist Vol. 2 (1998-2008) – (Ankstmusik)'' *2008 ''Mind Expansion Compilation 2 – (Mind Expansion)'' *2009 ''Andy – (Pure Pop For Now People)'' *2009 ''50 And Up – (Barbelo)'' *2011 ''Past - Present - Future – (Pure Pop For Now People)''

===Film=== * Ectogram recorded the soundtrack for Emyr Glyn Williams's feature film ''Y Lleill'', which won the Bafta for best film at the 2004 Bafta Wales awards. The film was also shown at the ICA.<ref>"{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000741/http://www.ica.org.uk/Y%20Lleill%20(The%20Others)+12592.twl]}}" </ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.ectogram.co.uk/ Ectogram's official website] *[https://www.youtube.com/user/ectogram/videos Ectogram's official YouTube channel] *[http://www.ankst.co.uk/ Ankstmusik's official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055315/http://www.ankst.co.uk/ |date=28 September 2007 }} *[http://www.klangbad.de/ Klangbad's official website] *[http://www.myspace.com/ppfnp/ Pure Pop For Now People's official website] *[http://www.myspace.com/anolog/ Ann Matthews' official myspace] *[http://www.turquoisecoal.com Turquoise Coal's official website]

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Category:Welsh alternative rock groups Category:Welsh experimental rock groups Category:Welsh psychedelic rock music groups Category:British post-rock groups Category:British space rock musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1993 Category:1993 establishments in Wales