Grasscut

'''Grasscut''' are a musical group featuring composer/producer Andrew Phillips and musician/writer [[Marcus O'Dair]]. Phillips writes and produces all Grasscut music; he also sings and plays various instruments including guitar and keyboards. O'Dair manages the act and contributes keyboards and double bass. They are based in [[Brighton]], England. [[File:Grasscut.jpg|thumb|320px|Grasscut (2009)]]

== History == Grasscut have released two albums on [[Ninja Tune]], ''1 inch: 1/2 Mile'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=Grasscut 1 Inch / ½ Mile Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cm4z|website=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> and ''Unearth'' (2012).<ref>{{cite news|title=Album: Grasscut, Unearth (Ninja Tune)|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-grasscut-unearth-ninja-tune-7939007.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> Their third album, ''Everyone Was a Bird'', was released by [[Lo Recordings]] in 2015. Contributors to Grasscut's albums include [[Robert Wyatt]], [[John Surman]], [[Adrian Crowley]], [[Gazelle Twin]], [[Seb Rochford]], [[Oddfellows Casino]], and Elisabeth Nygård. Grasscut have remixed artists including [[Bonobo (musician)|Bonobo]], [[Coldcut]] [[Jaga Jazzist]], [[Leo Abrahams]], and [[John Metcalfe (composer)|John Metcalfe]]; in turn, they have been remixed by [[Bibio]] [[Nathan Fake]] and [[Penguin Cafe]].

===1 Inch: ½ Mile=== Following the release of ''1 Inch: ½ Mile'', [[Clash magazine]] described Grasscut as ''"genuinely daring electronica artists"'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Ones To Watch: Grasscut|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/ones-to-watch-grasscut|website=Clashmusic.com|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> with the album appearing as [[Mojo magazine]]’s electronica album of the month, one of [[iDJ]]’s debut albums of the year and one of the top ten pop albums of the year according to the [[Sunday Telegraph]]. Speaking to the Quietus website, [[Tom Robinson]] of [[BBC 6 Music]] named it one of his top 13 albums of all time<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jenkins|first1=Lisa|title=Too Good To Be True: Tom Robinson's Favourite Albums|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/13005-tom-robinson-favourite-albums?page=13|website=Thequietus.com|accessdate=2 September 2014}}</ref>

===Unearth=== According to Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'', Grasscut's second album, ''Unearth'', should have been on the Mercury list.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gill|first1=Andy|title=Mercury Prize 2012: the albums that should be heard|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/mercury-prize-2012-the-albums-that-should-be-heard-8113428.html?action=gallery&ino=8|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=2 September 2014}}</ref> Both records won 5-star reviews from ''[[The Telegraph (UK)|the Telegraph]]''; support has also come from the ''[[Sunday Times]]'', ''[[Word Magazine|Word]]'', ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'', ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' and ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]''. They have had airplay from [[BBC Radio 1]], 2, 3, [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and [[BBC Radio 6 Music]], and have played sessions on 6Music and [[XFM]].

=== Everyone Was a Bird === In May 2015 Grasscut released their third studio album titled ''Everyone Was a Bird''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Murray|first1=Robin|title=Premiere: Grasscut - 'Curlews'|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/premiere-grasscut-curlews|publisher=Clash|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> The album has been described by [[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] as "an engrossing, artful work",<ref>{{cite web|title=Their Library: Grasscut|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/features/their-library-grasscut|publisher=Clash|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> and by [[The Quietus]] as "that rare slab of post-rock that uses the genre's textures and general ethos of exploration to create new sounds instead of rehashing old ones".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brusse|first1=Bryan|title=Reviews, Grasscut, Everyone Was A Bird|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/17928-grasscut-everyone-was-a-bird-review|website=The Quietus|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> The album features guest vocals from [[Adrian Crowley]] and [[Seamus Fogarty]] and strings by Emma Smith and Vince Sipprell. The liner notes were written by acclaimed landscape writer [[Robert Macfarlane (writer)|Robert Macfarlane]] and were premiered on the website Caught by the River in April 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Macfarlane|first1=Robert|title=Everyone Was A Bird|url=http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2015/04/07/robert-macfarlane-landscape-grasscut/|website=Caught By The River|accessdate=19 November 2015|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120060514/http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2015/04/07/robert-macfarlane-landscape-grasscut/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Everyone Was a Bird - Remixed === In March 2016, online magazine [[The Quietus]] announced Grasscut's fourth album was to be a remix album.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Abdallah|first1=Rudi|title=LISTEN: Mira Calix Remixes Grasscut|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/19948-listen-mira-calix-remixes-grasscuts|website=The Quietus|accessdate=29 March 2016}}</ref> The album includes remixes from artists including Mira Calix, John Metcalfe, Leo Abrahams and [[Penguin Cafe]], and was released on [[Lo Recordings]] in the UK and Sounds et al. in the US.

== Live show == Since opening the main stage at the [[Big Chill Festival|Big Chill festival]] in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|title=Big Chill @ Eastnor Castle 2009|url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/bigchill/2009|website=EFestivals.co.uk|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> Grasscut have performed at [[Cecil Sharp House]], [[Union Chapel, Islington|Union Chapel]], the [[ICA, London|ICA]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ninja Tune night @ ICA - 10th July - Daedelus, Dj Food + More|url=http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4188639|publisher=Drowned In Sound|accessdate=5 September 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074902/http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4188639|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Koko (venue)|Koko]] and [[Tate Britain]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Grasscut At The Tate Britain|url=https://theheavy.co.uk/jp/article/2009/mar/31/grasscut-at-the-tate-britain#.VAm-8RZH3lI|website=Theheavy.co.uk|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> as well as in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland and Slovakia. They have shared stages with the likes of [[Kronos Quartet]], [[Silver Apples]], [[Caribou (musician)|Caribou]], [[Fink (singer)|Fink]] and [[Bonobo (musician)|Bonobo]]. Although they performed early shows as a duo, Grasscut have usually been joined onstage by drummer Aram Zarikian (Andreya Triana) and string player Emma Smith (Geese, Elysian Quartet, [[Jon Hopkins]], [[James Yorkston]], [[Imogen Heap]], [[Hot Chip]]). They are also known for their use of visuals, originally developed with As Described ([[Portishead (band)|Portishead]], [[Cinematic Orchestra]]).

== Link to landscape == Grasscut are known for their landscape-based concepts, usually emerging in collaboration with Pedr Browne (also responsible for the Grasscut artwork). 1 Inch: ½ Mile came with a map detailing a walk through the ‘lost’ village of [[Balsdean]], just outside [[Brighton]]. An audio clue, contained within a downloadable track, provided details of the location of a hidden artefact: a unique recording on a cassette.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grasscut: One Fell Swoop|url=http://yatesyswhinelodge.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/grasscut-one-fell-swoop.html|website=Yatesyswhinelodge.blogspot.co.uk|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> This idea was extended on Grasscut's second album, Unearth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grasscut - Unearth (Ninja Tune)|url=http://www.dmcworld.net/reviews/entry/albums/grasscut-unearth-ninja-tune.html|website=Dmcworld.net|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> Each track was reimagined by Phillips, and these ‘shadow’ versions – again on cassette – were secreted, each with a Walkman, in specific locations around England and Wales.

== Use in media == Grasscut's music has been used on the soundtracks of [[The New Pope]]'', '' [[Waterloo Road (TV series)|Waterloo Road]], and [[Continuum (TV series)|Continuum]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-02-07|title=Soundtrack Album for HBO's 'The New Pope' Released|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/02/07/soundtrack-album-for-hbos-the-new-pope-released/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Film Music Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title="Waterloo Road" Happy Ever After (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3296212/soundtrack|access-date=2020-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Music by Grasscut|url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/grasscut|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Tunefind|language=en-us}}</ref> Their music has also been used by [[BBC]], [[Channel 4]], and in major advertising campaigns worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About|url=https://grasscutmusic.com/about/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Grasscut Music|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Grasscut's hit single "The Lights - M25 Version" was featured in K-Mart's annual Christmas commercials and advertising during the 2012 holiday shopping season.

== Discography ==

=== Albums === * 1 Inch: 1/2 Mile ([[Ninja Tune]], 2010) * Unearth ([[Ninja Tune]], 2012) * Unearth Shadow Version ([[Ninja Tune]], 2012) * Everyone Was A Bird ([[Lo Recordings]], 2015) * Everyone Was A Bird - Remixed ([[Lo Recordings]]/Sounds et al., 2016) * Overwinter ([[Lo Recordings]], 2021) * Haunts ([[Lo Recordings]], 2021)

=== Singles === * High Down (Ninja Tune, 2009) * The Door in the Wall (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Muppet (Ninja Tune, 2010) * From Towns & Fields (Ninja Tune, 2012) * Pieces (Ninja Tune, 2012) * Catholic Architecture (Lo Recordings, 2014) * Curlews (Lo Recordings, 2015) * Radar (Lo Recordings, 2015)

=== Remixes by Grasscut === * Voluntary Butler Scheme – Trading Things In (2009) * Bonobo ft Andreya Triana: The Keeper – Bitter Peace remix (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Jaga Jazzist: Toccata (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Coldcut: Sound Mirrors (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Crewdson: Mime (Slowfoot, 2010) * Spokes: 3, 4, 5 (Counter, 2011) * Brasstronaut: Hearts Trompet (Tri-Tone, 2011) * Zoon Van Snook: Shall He? Shanty (Mush Records, 2012) * Tim Bowness: Smiler at 52 (There Were Days Grasscut Remix) (Inside Out Music, 2014) * Nick Nicely: London South (Lo Recordings, 2015)

=== Remixes of Grasscut === * Nathan Fake: Muppet (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Bibio: The Door In The Wall (Ninja Tune, 2010) * Prdctv: The Door In The Wall (Ninja Tune, 2010)

=== Other === * Blink In The Night: Ninja Tune XX box set (Ninja Tune, 2010)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|grasscutmusic.com}}

[[Category:English electronic music duos]] [[Category:English post-rock groups]] [[Category:English rock music duos]]