Hybrid (British band)

Hybrid

Hybrid are a British electronic music group based in Swansea, comprising Mike Truman and Chris Healings, with the addition of Charlotte James completing their 2010 lineup. They are primarily known as a progressive breaks act, although they overlap considerably with progressive house and trance. However, the band are now taking a more structured approach to song writing, with the addition of Charlotte James contributing to the writing process. The duo are considered pioneers of the electronic genre, and have produced three studio albums, all garnering critical acclaim. They are known for their cinematic approach to their production, specifically with the use of orchestral sounds. Most notably on their debut album Wide Angle when they collaborated with the Russian Federal Orchestra. Also over their 11 year career, they have produced over 100 remixes for over 40 artists. A fourth studio album, Disappear Here, was released on March 29th 2010. The band is selling the album together with self designed artwork and T-shirts at their official Web site [1].

History

Hybrid released their first album, Wide Angle, in 1999 - a combination of progressive house and nu skool breaks with vocals and symphonic textures. They hired the Russian Federal Orchestra for the string sections. Julee Cruise supplied many of the vocals for Wide Angle. The album was produced and written by the duo along with the third original band member, Lee Mullin. The music's cinematic feel and scope have led to comparisons with Massive Attack and Underworld. Hybrid also supported Moby during a live tour in 2000.

Hybrid released their second album, Morning Sci-Fi, in 2003. They added semi-permanent vocalists and guitarists, Adam Taylor and Tim Hutton (both on the album and when performing live) with a guest appearance from New Order alumnus Peter Hook. This album had a generally darker feel to it than Wide Angle, though still retaining the cinematic undertones for which Hybrid are known. In addition to this, Morning Sci-Fi features a more diverse range of influences than its predecessor — Chris Healings stating in an interview that, "We've been listening to absolutely anything other than dance music. I suppose that is because dance music is so ingrained into what we do naturally. We've been listening to stuff like Doves, Radiohead, Soulwax, New Order and lots of jangly indie guitar bands and classical music, particularly the work of Arvo Pärt and Alexander Gretchaninov."

In 2006, Hybrid released their third studio album, I Choose Noise, with 3 tracks featuring vocalists Kirsty Hawkshaw and Perry Farrell. The epic symphonic sound of these pieces seemed to confirm a return to the grand orchestral scope of Wide Angle.

Hybrid played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 29, 2006.

In July 2006, Hybrid collaborated with Perry Farrell's Satellite Party. Satellite Party made 3 tracks with Hybrid. "Wish Upon a Dogstar", a remix of "Dogstar" from I Choose Noise, "Kinky", a cover of "Dreamstalker" and "Awesome", a cover of Hybrid's unreleased track "Orbit". All of the tracks are featured on Satellite Party's debut album Ultra Payloaded.

On March 8, 2007, Hybrid kicked off their US Spring 2007 Live Tour in support of their third album I Choose Noise. Hybrid was joined by John Graham, Peter DiStefano and Charlotte James among others.

On October 22, 2007 Hybrid Remixed was released by Distinctive Records. It consisted of remixes of several compositions by Hybrid, however Hybrid themselves had nothing to do with the release of the album. This was Hybrid's last album with Distinctive, and they are now managed by Hope Recordings.

Hybrid's mix album Soundsystem 01 was released July 14, 2008 by Hope Recordings. The album is a double-disc mix collection with the first CD being based around actual film scores fused with ambient electronica, and the second containing more upfront, club-oriented music represented by remixes of music by the likes of Sasha, Quivver and Elite Force.

In 2008 Hybrid contributed the song "Komuru" to the Survival International charity album, Songs for Survival.

During the production of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film, Hybrid reported that they had been helping Harry Gregson Williams on the score. They also helped to collaborate on both the writing and sound design for the film.

After months of silence, their fourth album Disappear Here was finally finished and released on March 29th 2010. The album was made with Andrew Skeet and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. A video recording of the track from the forthcoming album, entitled "Break My Soul", was also released which was filmed and edited by the band. . The band are selling the album together with self designed artwork & T-Shirts at their | official website

Usage of Hybrid's music

Over the years, Hybrid's studio material from their first three albums and their singles, have been heavily used for television, film and video games. Hybrid composed the soundtrack for the 2007 movie Catacombs, and have also helped Harry Gregson-Williams score Man on Fire, Déjà Vu , and X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Other notable uses includes:

• Know Your Enemy, Out of the Dark, and Visible Noise were featured in the game In The Groove 2, released on June 18, 2005.

• In November 2006, All I Want was featured in an advertisement for the Channel 4 show Unanimous.

• The music of Hybrid has been featured several times in the motoring TV show Top Gear. Finished Symphony was used when Jeremy Clarkson raced a Bugatti Veyron across Europe against James May and Richard Hammond in a light aircraft (episode 5 of series 7) and Mr. Smith (aka. Ultimatum) was used in season 5 episode 4 and in the first episode of series 7 , when Clarkson roadtests the Aston Martin V8 Vantage on the Isle of Man.

• Finished Symphony was featured in the games SSX, SSX Tricky, and Juiced.

• Higher Than A Skyscraper is featured in the Xbox 360 game Crackdown.

• I Know was used as sample in the song Desnudame, from Achillea's second album "Amadas Estrellas."

• I Choose Noise was featured in an advertisement for the BBC's Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood.

• Cascade, from Scores was used as the bed for a Sky HD advertisement

• Dogstar from I Choose Noise was used by the BBC as title music for their coverage of the 2009 World Athletics Championships and 2010 European Athletics Championships.

• Finished Symphony was used by the BBC for their Boxing coverage.

• Kid 2000 was one of the tunes for Kevin and Perry go Large movie in year 2000.

• We Are In Control was used in Poland by Gellwe for their "Fitella" muesli advertisement, and has also been used in Top Gear a couple of times.

• If I Survive was used as the opening music in the game Kinetica.

• Five songs by Hybrid were used in the film Man on Fire.

• Parts of We Are In Control were used as background music for Disorderly Conduct: Video on Patrol

• I Know was used in Armin Van Buuren's six hour long set, Armin Only.

• Hybrid produced a track called "Komoru" for BBC's "Tribe" LP. It's set for release in September.

• Elements of "Zulu" were used as samples in the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots soundtrack. The Soundtrack was partly composed by Harry Gregson-Williams.

• The song "Choke" was used for the trailer for The Spirit; "Keep it in the Family" was used in a later trailer for the same film.

• "The Formula of Fear (Hybrid's Matrix Dub)" was featured on the soundtrack for Need For Speed: Undercover.

• We Are In Control has been used on the Australian version of Big Brother.

• I Know has been used in the show CSI: NY.

• Lamborghini used the song Ultimatum as the soundtrack for their website exclusive video featuring the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

• Several songs from Hybrid's unreleased album of scores have been used in taped segments on the ABC show Dancing with the Stars.

• Just for Today was used as the backing music for the 'Best in Britain' video clip the Alfa Romeo's website for the Prodrive-tuned Brera S coupe (breras.co.uk) which featured the car driving around Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, UK

• Early episodes of America's Next Top Model regularly used tracks from Morning Sci Fi

Discography

See also: Category:Hybrid albums and Category:Hybrid songs

Studio albums

• Wide Angle (1999) - later re-released as Wider Angle (2000)
• Morning Sci-Fi (2003)
• I Choose Noise (2006)
• Disappear Here (2010)

Remix albums

• Remix and Additional Production by... (2001)
• Hybrid Y4K (2004)
• Hybrid Re_Mixed (2007)
• Soundsystem 01 (2008)

Promo releases

• The Remix Collection (1996)
• Symphony (1996)
• Music from the Forthcoming Album Wide Angle (1998)
• Views from Wide Angle (1999)
• Scores (2005)

Singles

• Fall Out Of Love (1996)
• Finished Symphony (1999)
• If I Survive (1999)
• Kid 2000 (2002)
• Visible Noise / Know Your Enemy (2002)
• Gravastar / Celebrity Science (2002)
• True To Form (2003)
• Higher Than A Skyscraper (2004)
• I'm Still Awake (2004)
• I Choose Noise EP (2006)
• Dogstar / I Choose Noise (2006)
• Falling Down / Last Man Standing (2006)
• Dreamstalker / Just For Today (2006)
• Last Man Standing / Until Tomorrow Remixes (2007)
• I Choose Noise / Sleepwalking Remixes (2007)
• Hybrid Re mixed EP 1 (2007)
• Finished Symphony (Remixed) (2008)
• The Formula of Fear (2008)
• Break My Soul (2010)
• Can You Hear Me (2010)

Compilations

• Hybrid Present: Y4K (2004)

Bootlegs

• Remix And Additional Production Unmixed Version 01 (2002)
• Hybrid Club Collection Mixed (2004)
• Hybrid 1000 Original Hits Unmixed Best Remixes (2004)
• Bootlegs (2005)

Various Remixes

Main article: Songs remixed by Hybrid

Hybrid has produced over 100 remixes of more than 40 artists, including Radiohead, Alanis Morissette, U2, Filter, BT, DJ Rap, The Orb, Jean Michel Jarre, Gouryella, The Future Sound of London, UNKLE, Moby and The Crystal Method.

External links

• Band's official website
• Template:Discogs
• Up to date Discography of Hybrid productions with track times
• Hybrid biography from BBC Wales