I Like Trains (previously styled as iLiKETRAiNS) is an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film
* ''The Alternative ...
/
post-rock
Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs. Post-rock artists are often instrumental, typically combining rock instrumentation with ...
band, formed in
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
,
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...
. It draws its inspiration from historical failings and a pessimistic world view.
I Like Trains has had its music used in Hollywood film trailers, advertisements and television, including an episode of ''
CSI: Miami
''CSI: Miami'' (''Crime Scene Investigation: Miami'') is an American police procedural drama television series that ran from September 23, 2002 until April 8, 2012 on CBS. Featuring David Caruso as Lieutenant Horatio Caine, Emily Procter as Dete ...
''.
History of I Like Trains
Beginnings and debut album : 2004–2008
I Like Trains was formed in 2004 and consists of David Martin (lead vocals, guitar), Guy Bannister (guitar, synthesisers and vocals), Alistair Bowis (bass guitar, synthesisers and vocals) and Simon Fogal (drums). That year, they self-released a single called "Autumn 2004". In 2005, the band self-released another single, "Stainless Steel", and its first official single, "Before the Curtains Close", on
Dance to the Radio
Dance To The Radio is a British independent record label, based in Leeds, England.
History
It was named after the refrain of the Joy Division song "Transmission". The label launched with the release of a compilation album 'Dance To The Radi ...
limited to 500 copies on 7" vinyl. In June 2006, its first
EP, ''
Progress Reform'', was released by
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass. Fierc ...
and the song "Terra Nova" was released as a single which went to number 132 in the UK Chart. In 2007, a first album, ''
Elegies to Lessons Learnt'', was released by
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records is a British independent record label. Beggars Banquet started as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin and is part of the Beggars Group of labels.
History
In 1977, spurred by the prevailing DI ...
, with the songs on the album based on tragic historical events and figures, created after thorough research and study. Three singles were released from the album, "Spencer Perceval", "The Deception" and "We Go Hunting". ''Elegies to Lessons Learnt'' then went to number 17 in the
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...
. In late 2008. the band released its second EP, ''
The Christmas Tree Ship''.
''He Who Saw the Deep'' and ''The Shallows'' : 2009–2012
Having been dropped by the record label, Beggars Banquet, the band founded its own label ILR (I Like Records) in 2009 and released a second album, ''
He Who Saw The Deep'' in 2010 which had two singles, "Sea of Regrets" and "A Fathers Son". The crowd-funding platform
PledgeMusic
PledgeMusic was an online direct-to-fan music platform, launched in August 2009. It was started to facilitate musicians looking to pre-sell, market, and distribute projects; such as recordings and concerts. It bore similarities to other artist p ...
was used to raise money to produce and release the album.
In 2012, a third album, ''
The Shallows'', was released.
Tenth anniversary
To celebrate ten years in existence and also the centenary of the
Brudenell Social Club
The Brudenell Social Club is a live music venue and social club in Hyde Park, Leeds, England. While being a social enterprise, it retains the "community atmosphere of its origins as a working men's club". The club is split into three areas†...
, I Like Trains performed a special gig at the venue in Leeds wher, for the first time, ''Progress Reform'' was performedin full. ''Progress Reform'' was also remastered and re-released on 4 November 2013 as a 500-copy limited edition vinyl album.
''A Divorce Before Marriage''
''A Divorce Before Marriage'', a film about the band by Matt Hopkins and Ben Lankester, was released in 2016. It had been in production since the recording of ''
The Shallows''. An album with the same title accompanied the film.
''KOMPROMAT''
On 6 May 2020, the band announced another album ''KOMPROMAT'', and released the single "The Truth" as well as its video. It was released on 21 August 2020 on a new label, Atlantic Curve.
Gallery
Deutzen
Deutzen is a village and a former municipality in the Leipzig district, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 July 2014, it is part of the municipality Neukieritzsch
Neukieritzsch is a municipality in the Leipzig district, in Saxony, Germany. On 1 April ...
" widths="180" heights="180">
I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 02.jpg, Singer David Martin
I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 06.jpg, Guitarist Guy Bannister
I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 01.jpg, Bass guitarist Alistair Bowis
I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 07.jpg, Drummer Simon Fogal
I Like Trains Nocturnal Culture Night 13 2018 03.jpg, Guitarist Ian Jarrold
* "Stainless Steel" (Early 2005)
* "Before the Curtains Close Pts 1 & 2" (4 July 2005)
* "A Rook House For Bobby" (17 October 2005)
* "Terra Nova" / "Fram" (29 May 2006) UK Chart No. 132
* "Spencer Perceval" / "I Am Murdered" (26 March 2007) UK Chart No. 195
* "The Deception" (10 September 2007) UK Chart No. 164, UK Indie Chart No. 9
* "We Go Hunting" (21 April 2008)
* "Sea of Regrets" (12 October 2009)
* "A Father's Son" (10 September 2010)
* "Mnemosyne" (22 May 2012)
* "The Truth" (6 May 2020)
* "The Spectacle" (15 September 2022)