PIANO MAGIC



Summer 1996				Glen Johnson and Dick Rance begin experimenting with instrumental music in Rance’s North London flat. They are later joined by Johnson’s flatmate, Dominic Chennell and Raechel Leigh, who sings on two tracks, “I Have Loved A Suicide” and “Wrong French.”

Autumn 1996				Johnson remixes and revamps the Summer recordings and persuades another friend, Hazel Burfitt, to sing on 3 more tracks, “To Be Swished,” “Non-fiction” and “Speed.” Johnson sends a 3 track demo to Che Records.

November 1996				Che release Piano Magic’s first record, a 12” vinyl, “Wrong French,” on their “i” imprint - home to their more experimental output. The record is awarded Single Of The Week in Melody Maker (the UK’s second biggest music magazine at that time).

December 1996				Piano Magic play their first concert at the legendary Wag Club in Soho, London, supporting 3rd Eye Foundation. The line-up consists of Glen Johnson (bass), Dick Rance (guitar), Dominic Chennell (keyboards, radio), Paul Tornbohm (drums). The set is entirely instrumental.

January 1997				Rance leaves the band.

February 1997				London concert.

March 1997				Piano Magic’s second 12” EP, “Wintersport,” is released on “i.”

June 1997				A third single, a 7”, “For Engineers,” is released on the highly collectible Wurlitzer Jukebox label. Johnson and Chennell record a side each. London concert.

September 1997				Through an advertisement in Melody Maker, Johnson and Chennell meet Alexander Perls, an American music student. Perls drafts in his fellow students, Jen Adam and Ezra Feinberg to complete the band who retain the Piano Magic moniker.

October 1997				Debut album, “Popular Mechanics,” a largely electronic affair recorded predominantly by Johnson and Chennell, is released on “i.” It picks up several plays on the esteemed John Peel BBC radio programme and numerous positive reviews.

November 1997				Chennell leaves Piano Magic. Johnson, Perls, Adam and Feinberg record 3 tracks towards a new 12” EP in a small garden shed studio in Mornington Crescent, London. The record, far more melodic and guitar-based than previous outings, is intended for release on Wurlitzer Jukebox but the label suddenly folds. London concert.

December 1997				London concert before Perls, Feinberg and Adam return to the States. Johnson completes the 12” EP (”The Fun Of The Century”) with Martin Cooper, a former musical accomplice, at Cooper’s home studio in Nottingham (Johnson’s city of birth).

February 1998				Johnson contributes a minuette of automated electronica, “Music For Rolex,” towards a 7” split with Matmos on the Lissy’s label.

April 1998				“The Fun Of The Century” released on Piao! Recordings. Johnson and Cooper contribute “The Biggest Lie” to the “Will Our Children Thank Us” compilation on Foundry Recordings.

May 1998				Piano Magic, now consisting of Johnson, Charles Wyatt (formerly of Che band, Dart), Matt Simpson (later of Icebreaker International, alongside Alexander Perls), Chris Ovenden and Paul Tornbohm support Low in London and Brighton. Johnson and Cooper contribute “How Does It Feel?” to an album of Spacemen 3 cover versions on Rocket Girl.

August 1998				New French label, Debut, release a split single with Icebreaker. “French Mittens,” was recorded by Johnson and Martin Cooper, again, at the latter’s home studio. Caroline Potter, an ex-housemate of Johnson’s, makes her vocal debut.

Summer 1998				Johnson, Wyatt, Simpson record a contribution to Darla Records’ “Bliss Out” series at Simpson’s home studio in Gospel Oak, London.

October 1998				“Sleep At The Bottom,” a collaboration between Low, Piano Magic and Transient Waves, is released on Rocket Girl Records, a new label set up by Vinita Joshi, formerly of Che. “A Trick Of The Sea” released on Darla (USA).

December 1998				“Music For Annahbird,” 3 experimental electronic tracks by Johnson, released on the Bad Jazz label.

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