LOOP
Originating from Croydon, London (UK), Loop featured Robert Hampson (vocals), his wife Bex (drums), and Glenn Ray (bass), who got together in 1986. Hampson claimed to know only four chords when the band formed, although this was not necessarily a drawback as a droning, dissonant sound was their trademark.

Along with Spacemen 3, they were the forerunners of a new sub-genre in the independent scene, which today finds bands such as Spiritualized and Mercury Rev achieving mainstream success.  Fuzz-laden repetitive guitar riffs, monotone vocals and hypnotic drum patterns combined in a blend of late '60's Detroit rock and the trance-like 70's space rock of Hawkwind.

'16 Dreams' kickstarted their recording output in 1987, with Bex replaced by John Wills soon after.  A second guitarist Scott Dowson was also added and the debut album 'Heavens End' was released in November, featuring reverb laden guitars giving it a modern psychedelic slant. 

New bassist John McCay joined in early 1988, in time for their Independent chart hit 'Collision', a blend of grinding distorted guitars and wah-wah effects, with an interesting cover version on the b-side, the Pop Group's 'Thief of Fire'.

2nd guitarist James Endicott departed, just before the band's 'Fade Out' album, with a sparser, more discordant sound than on previous releases which pushed them closer to a place on the UK album chart than any other release.

In 1989 things were quieter for Loop, with the powerful single 'Arc-Lite', featuring another new guitarist, again heading for the independent charts at the end of the year.

After denouncing their former label Chapter 22 for releasing 'Eternal', a compilation of the tracks from two singles, Beggars Banquet released 'A Gilded Eternity' in 1990, with less aggressive guitars and a more ethereal quality helping push the band still closer to commercial success.

A set of Peel Sessions under the title 'Wolf Flow' followed, but the band later called it a day.  A continuation of their sound followed on with a new band Main featuring ex-Loop musicians Hampson and Dowson, whilst Mackay and Wills reunited in the Hair and Skin Trading Company.

IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE LOOP: My Bloody Valentine, Spiritualized, Iggy & the Stooges, MC5, Spacemen 3, Ride, The Telescopes, Jesus & Mary Chain, Pink Floyd, Suicide.
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