Courting (band)
Courting | |
|---|---|
 Courting performing at Reading Festival 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | PIAS |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | courtingband |
Courting is a British electronic rock band based in Liverpool. The band is composed of Sean Murphy-O'Neill, Sean Thomas, Joshua Cope, and Connor McCann. [1]
History
Formation
The band formed in 2018 in Liverpool.[2] Throughout 2019 and 2020, the band released multiple singles including David Byrnes Badside and Football, both of which received a limited run double A-side 7" record via Nice Swan Records.
Grand National EP
On April 9, 2021, Courting released their debut EP Grand National, preceded by the singles 'Popshop' and 'Grand National'. On review aggregator, Album of the Year, Grand National received an average rating of 80 out of 100 based on three critic reviews.[3] Alex Cabré, writing for DIY described the EP as "heavy-handed with their influences but endearing enough to get away with it."[4] Cabré compared Courting heavily to compatriot band, Sports Team, saying that "frontman Sean Murphy-O’Neill is a pint-sized Alex Rice, a cavalier jabberer whose tone is an inch the right side of irritating as he rips into horse racing culture and Brexit Britain over an instrumental that should tick a few boxes for any Sports Team fan."[4] Jamie MacMillan, writing for Dork praised Grand National giving it a perfect five-star rating. MacMillan called Grand National an "exciting early sound of a band trying on different outfits to see what fits."[5]
Guitar Music
On April 5, 2022, Courting released the song Tennis as the lead single for their debut album Guitar Music. The single was described by NME as tongue-in-cheek, and playful. The band described "Tennis" as "“a paypig’s personal redemption narrative, set in "the city", and told in two parts: A twisted tale of two lovers' back and forth, bound by cricket, bodybuilding and money. A story as old as time".[6] The single saw regular airplay on BBC Radio.
The second single, "Loaded", was released on 25 May 2022.[7] On August 16, 2022, the band released the third single Jumper in promotion of the album. In an interview with DIY, the band described the song as "an outlier on the album". Sean Murphy-O’Neil further said of the album that it "is a gentle story of true unrequited love, meant to playout like a 2006 romcom. It is about growing old and believing everything will fall into place, the mundanity of doing dishes, and leaving oppositional film reviews.[8]
On September 23rd 2022, Courting released their debut album Guitar Music to critical acclaim. NME described the album as "a raucously fun debut that serves all aces." [9] The albums release was followed shortly by an extensive UK tour.
Upcoming Sophomore Album
Over the course of 2023, Courting played various one off 'roadtesting' shows around the UK and Europe, debuting many new songs live. On February 13, the band played a sold out show titled 'The Wedding'. Two live tracks from this session, versions of Tennis and Jumper, were later released on the groups Bandcamp page, as well as a cover of the Icona Pop and Charli XCX track I Love It. [10] The band also supported Circa Waves on their 2023 UK tour.
On July 7, 2023, Courting released the song Flex as the first single off of their upcoming second studio album.
Style & Songwriting Motifs
The band has been described as a clash of post-punk and hyperpop.[11] The band has also been described as indie rock,[12] and art punk.[13]
The band has become known for their frequent references to car parks throughout their songs, as well as having two of the groups biggest tracks (Football and Tennis) referencing sports in their titles. The band has also previously written about fame, British pub culture and falling in love with robot influencers.
Discography
Studio albums
- Guitar Music (2022)
Extended plays
- Grand National (2021)
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Not Yr Man" |
2019 | Non-album single |
| "Football" | 2020 | |
| "David Byrne's Badside" | ||
| "Popshop!" |
Grand National EP | |
| "Grand National" | 2021 | |
| "Tennis" | 2022 | Guitar Music |
| "Loaded" | ||
| "Jumper" | ||
| "Flex" | 2023 | Fuck Knows |
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Kuon Kuon Kuon" | 2020 | The Big Plan Compilation[14] |
References
- ^ "Signed vinyl on tour". Twitter. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Getting to know… Courting". Dork. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
AOTYwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
DIY reviewwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
dork reviewwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Campbell, Erica (6 April 2022). "Courting drop playful new track 'Tennis' and share tour dates for this fall". NME. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Loaded | Courting". Bandcamp. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Brex, Alex (16 August 2022). "Courting drop new track 'Jumper'". DIY. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/courting-band-liverpool-debut-album-guitar-music-review-radar-3315311
- ^ https://courtingband.bandcamp.com/track/flex
- ^ Mellen, James (22 September 2022). "Courting – Guitar Music". Clash. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Buchanan, Rhys (22 September 2022). "Courting – 'Guitar Music' review: a raucously fun debut that serves all the aces". NME. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Courting". Anchor.fm. Spotify. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "The Big Plan Compilation, by Various Artists". The Big Plan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.