Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi were a Welsh
indie rock group formed in 1996. The trio included Martin Bimrose on guitar, Richard Arnold on drums and Mike Carter on bass. Formed in 1996 when the members were studying
fine art at
Cardiff University
, latin_name =
, image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University
, motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord
, mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord
, established = 1 ...
, the band has released material under various record labels, including Soda, FF Vinyl, and V2.
The band's sound was described by ''
NME'' as being "as eclectic as their name is confusing". Likened to
Beck
Beck David Hansen (born Bek David Campbell; July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his Experimental music, experimental and Lo-fi music, lo-fi style, and became ...
,
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the b ...
and
Pavement, Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi have been reported as being "closer to
The Flaming Lips with overtones of
Bis and
ABBA". Their "punky garage" sound is evident on singles such as "Drop Jaw" and "Playboy", while a melancholic and perhaps more accessible side is demonstrated on "Names for Nameless Things".
The band's name is derived from ''Moho bishopi'', the scientific name of the
Moloka‘i ‘ō‘ō
Molokai , or Molokai (), is the fifth most populated of the eight major islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km) at its greatest length and width with a us ...
, an extinct bird known to have lived in
Hawaii. Martin Bimrose saw an article about the bird in the ''
Reader's Digest'' whilst waiting at the dentist's. He thought that with some imaginative punctuation, "the name could be as mad as he is".
Following the bands demise (the group has been inactive since 2002), Mike Carter and Richard Arnold went on to form The International Karate Plus but they have since also ceased to exist. Richard Arnold now plays in King Alexander, and Mike Carter was in
Heck with former members of the Cardiff band, Sammo Hung, before they split in 2017.
Discography
Albums
*''
Vague Us
''Vague Us'' is a 2001 album by the Welsh indie rock band Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi were a Welsh indie rock group formed in 1996. The trio included Martin Bimrose on guitar, Richard Arnold on drums and Mike Carter on bass. Formed in 1 ...
'' (10 September 2001)
Singles and EPs
*"Smoke Yourself Thin"/"Fingers For Eyes" (1999)
*''Two Tier Water Skier'' (1999)
*''Vitamin E(P)'' (31 January 2000)
*"Hear the Air" (19 June 2000)
*"Drop Jaw" (18 September 2000)
*"Playboy" (12 March 2001)
*"Names for Nameless Things" (21 May 2001)
*"Hear the Air" (3 September 2001)
Appearances on compilations
*"Kate is Cool" appears on ''Otter Than July''; Double 7" Vinyl EP / Compilation CD EP from
Fierce Panda (also contains tracks by Scribble, Fraff, Pop Threat, Hofman and
Rosita)
*"Vacuum" appears on ''Sold As Scene''; sampler compilation album from FF Vinyl (30 October 2000)
References
External links
Drowned in Sound*
AllMusic
{{Authority control
Welsh indie rock groups
British musical trios
Musical groups established in 1996
Musical groups disestablished in 2002
Welsh rock music groups