{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Electric Sound of Joy | image = | years_active = 1994–early 2000s | origin = Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England | genre = {{hlist|Post-rock|indie electronic}} | label = Earworm, Foundry | associated_acts = | current_members = | past_members = Greg Kurcewicz<br />Ben Rodgers<br />Scott Nicholas<br />Dan Hayhurst<br />John Revill }} '''Electric Sound of Joy''' were an English post-rock group formed in Chesterfield in 1994. They released an eponymous album in 1999 and also recorded a Peel Session.
==History== The group was formed in 1994 by Greg Kurcewicz (vocals/Guitar), Ben Rodgers (keyboards), Scott Nicholas (guitar), Dan Hayhurst (bass guitar), and John Revill (drums).<ref name="Strong">Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, {{ISBN|1-84195-335-0}}, p. 726</ref> After two limited-edition singles on the Earworm label and a November 1997 session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show,<ref name="KIP">"[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1990s/1997/Nov25electricsoundofj/ Electric Sound of Joy]", Peel Session details, ''Keeping It Peel'', BBC</ref> Kurcewicz left the band in 1998, and they shifted to a more electronic instrumental sound that has been compared to Cluster and Stereolab.<ref name="Strong" /><ref name="Ilic" /> The band were described by the ''NME'': "Like Air, they manage to be chic and cheerful, allowing a potentially icy groove to melt into a fantastic fanfare of sizzling synths",<ref name="NME">"[https://www.nme.com/reviews/name/218 London Highbury Grange]", ''NME'', 9 September 1998</ref> and by ''The Independent'' as "dark, broody instrumentals with a distinctive hook; spiritually morose, yet full of zeal and strangely uplifting".<ref name="Ilic">Ilic, Velimir Pavle (1998) "[https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/review-living-in-a-bottle-1161330.html Review: Living in a bottle]", ''The Independent'', 6 May 1998</ref> They performed at the Reading Festival in 1998 and signed to Foundry Records the same year. After an EP in late 1998, the band's eponymous debut album was issued in September 1999.<ref name="Strong" />
The band also remixed Hefner's "The Greedy Ugly People", which was released on a 7-inch single and on the expanded edition of ''We Love the City''.
Kurcewicz and Hayhurst later collaborated with The Sonic Catering Band, and Hayhurst played on the latter's live album ''Live in Linz – Popkorn'' (2008). he also played in Echoboy, They Came from the Stars, and Sculpture.
Greg Kurcewicz still works as a musician on various projects, a fine artist and curator of artists' film.
Scott Nicholas produces moody lo-fi psychedelic folk-rock under the Venus Willendorf moniker.
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Electric Sound of Joy'' (1999), Foundry
===Singles, EPs=== *"Total Turn" (1997), Earworm *"Play Away" (1997), Earworm *''Food of the Range'' EP (1998), Foundry *''Daughters of Destruction'' EP (2000), Foundry
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Electric+Sound+Of+Joy?noanv=1 Electric Sound of Joy] at Discogs.com *Wittmershaus, Eric "[http://www.flakmag.com/music/esoj.html ''Electric Sound of Joy'' review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203082826/http://www.flakmag.com/music/esoj.html |date=3 December 2008 }}", ''Flak magazine''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Electric Sound of Joy}} Category:English post-rock groups Category:English electronic music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1994 Category:1994 establishments in England