The Contrast

-- The Drum and Bass act High Contrast released a single (Days Go By/What We Do) under this name. Otherwise, these two artists should not be confused.

The Contrast is a indie rock/power pop band based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. They were formed in 1999 by David Reid and have since released six albums.

Like many bands, The Contrast have had their fair share of name changes, line-up changes, bad management deals, major label interest and time-wasting blind alleys over the years. Singer-songwriter and guitarist David Reid formed the band with the not-so-simple idea of writing great pop songs that he would get a buzz from hearing. Luckily Jim McGarry at Rainbow Quartz got a buzz from it too, when he heard them the following year.

The band, signed to the Rainbow Quartz label in spring 2000, and immediatelybegan work on their debut album, ‘MYSTERY#1’, with Andy Hawkins at the mixing desk and a three piece band in the recording booth. This was followed in 2002 by 'WIRELESS DAYS’ the band now augmented four piece featuring David Reid on vocals and guitar, James Crossley on drums, Richard ‘Angus’ Mackman on bass and Spencer Hart on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. The same line up followed this album with the critically acclaimed rocker 'FADE BACK IN'.

Since the release of Wireless Days their music has been regularly played by Little Steven on his Underground Garage radio show. Little Steven once described them on air as "One of the best bands on the planet – and England too" and consequently invited them to play the Underground Garage Festival on Randall's Island in 2004.

2005 saw the band return with their best effort yet. Both Crossley and Hart departed to pursue other projects. Thus, Reid brought in long time collaborator Andy Hawkins to fill in on drums while a permanent replacement was sought, Richard Mackman returned on bass and Matthew Zilch took on the rhythm guitar and backing vocals. The resulting recording was nothing short of majestic. 'FORGET TO TELL THE TIME' takes The Contrast's manifesto that was stamped out in their debut and reimagines it. Each member of the band makes their presence felt and manages to inject the energy of their live performances into the recording.

The since 2006 the line-up features David Reid on vocals and guitar, Richard Mackman on bass Kieran Wade on rhythm guitar and backing vocals and Thorin "Fozzy" Dixon on drums.

In May 2007 they released a new album called "Underground Ghosts" also on Rainbow Quartz that has since been regularly featured Little Steven's Underground Garage show. In November 2007 the band released their first album for Little Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records entitled 'PERFECT DISGUISE: INTRODUCING THE CONTRAST'. This release is a compilation featuring songs formerly featured on the Underground Garage radio show and also contains new and unreleased tracks. A brand new album on Wicked Cool is expected in 2009.

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