John Parish

John Parish is an English musician and producer best known for his work with singer and songwriter PJ Harvey [ [http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2003/03/13/38249 Parish from the earth.] Minnesota Daily. March 13, 2003. Accessed June 26, 2008] , though he has also worked with Eels, Tracy Chapman, and Giant Sand, amongst others.

History

In the 1980s he worked under the name of his band Automatic Dlamini, with a changing line-up which included Harvey from 1988 until 1991. Automatic Dlamini recorded three albums: "The D is For Drum" (1987), "Here Catch Shouted his Father" (1990 - unreleased but available as a bootleg), and "From A Diva to a Diver" (1992). During this period Parish also began his career as a record producer working with UK bands including The Chesterfields and the Brilliant Corners, before co-producing PJ Harvey's "To Bring You My Love" (1995), on which he also played guitar, drums, percussion and organ.

Parish toured with Harvey during 1995, and in 1996, they recorded "Dance Hall at Louse Point" together. In 1997 he produced 16 Horsepower's album "Low Estate". During '97-98 he also played on PJ Harvey's next album "Is This Desire" (1998), and in 1998 he wrote and recorded the film soundtrack for Belgian director Patrice Toye's film "Rosie", for which he won the Jury Special Appreciation prize at the Bonn International Film Music Biennale in 1999. The soundtrack to "Rosie" was released as a CD in 1998, and includes one song ("Pretty Baby") sung by Alison Goldfrapp. He toured the soundtrack music with a seven piece band under his own name in 1999.

The following year he produced Giant Sand's "Chore of Enchantment" (2000) and guested on Goldfrapp's album "Felt Mountain". He went on to co-write the Eels album "Souljacker" (2001), and to produce Sparklehorse and Tracy Chapman. He has worked with a number of European artists, producing albums for the French artist Dominique A, the Belgian pop band Thou, the Swiss Magic Rays, and Italian bands including After Hours, Cesare Basile, and the Italian diva, Nada.

At the same time he has recorded and toured his own music, working with an 11 piece band (including Portishead's Adrian Utley) for his album "How Animals Move" (2002), and a four piece band of Italian and French musicians for "Once Upon A Little Time" (2005).

In 2006-7 he returned to the studio to work on PJ Harvey's album "White Chalk". Another collaborative album between the two is due for 2008. In 2007, he also contributed a cover of Califone's song "Vampiring Again" to a Thrill Jockey Records release commemorating the label's 15th birthday. For the compilation, bands were asked to cover a song by any other act on the label's roster. Howe Gelb covered Parish's song "Boxers."

Partial Discography

As Solo Artist

* "Once Upon A Little Time" (2005)
* "How Animals Move" (2002)
* "Rosie" (2000)

Other releases

* PJ Harvey - "To Bring You My Love" (1995): Producer, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Drums
* John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey - "Dance Hall at Louse Point" (1996): Producer, Various Instruments
* Spleen - "Soundtrack To Spleen" (1997): Co-writer, guitar, percussion
* 16 Horsepower - "Low Estate" (1997): Producer, Various Instruments
* PJ Harvey - "Is This Desire?" (1998): Various Instruments
* Spleen - "Little Scratches" (1998): Co-writer, guitar, percussion
* Giant Sand - "Chore of Enchantment" (2000): Producer
* Goldfrapp - "Felt Mountain" (2000) : guitar, drums
* Eels - "Souljacker" (2001): Producer, co-writer, various instruments
* Dominique A - "Auguri" (2001): Producer, various instruments
* Morning Star - "My Place in The Dust" (2001): Producer
* Sparklehorse - "It's a Wonderful Life" (2001): Co-Producer, Various Instruments
* Tracy Chapman - "Let it Rain" (2002): Producer
* Thou - "I like Girls in Russia" (2004): Producer
* Morning Star - "The Opposite is True" (2004): Producer
* Jennie DeVoe- "Fireworks and Karate Supplies": Producer
* Nada - "Tutto l'amore che mi manca" (2004): Producer
* M. Ward - "Transistor Radio" (2005)
* Dionysos - "Monsters in Love" (2005): Producer
* PJ Harvey - "White Chalk" (2007): Producer
* Tom Brosseau - "Cavalier" (2007): Producer
* Afterhours - "I Milanesi Ammazzano il sabato (14 ricette di quotidiana macabra felicità)" (2008): Co-Producer
* Jennie DeVoe- "Untitled Fourth Studio Album": Producer

References

External links

* [http://www.johnparish.com/ Homepage]
* [http://catonthewall.net/johnparish.html Interview on catonthewall.net]