The Gentle People
The Gentle People | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1992–2011 |
| Labels | Rephlex |
| Past members | Dougie Dimensional Laurie LeMans Valentine Carnelian Honeymink |
The Gentle People were a Los Angeles-based band formed in 1995 by a multinational group of musicians performing under the names Dougie Dimensional, Laurie LeMans, Valentine Carnelian, and Honeymink.[1] Their sound explored kitschy lounge and easy listening aesthetics of the 1950s in the context of 1990s club culture.[1] They signed to the UK electronic label Rephlex Records in 1995 and released two albums: Soundtracks for Living (1997) and Simply Faboo (1999).[1]
Career
The Gentle People were signed to Rephlex Records (co-run by Richard D. James a/k/a Aphex Twin), despite the group's "relaxed brand of sugar-coated, vocal-based easy listening" being quite different from "the typically abrasive lo-fi machine music of that label."[1] The signing occurred after they mailed a demo and postcard.[3] Their 1995 track "Journey" was their first release.[3] The band released their 1997 debut album Soundtracks for Living on the label. It received a positive review from Select, which claimed that "just when you thought easy listening was played out in a welter of zany student discos, the elegantly multinational Gentle People come to reaffirm la dolce vita."[2]
The group has worked with artists such as Pizzicato Five, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and Deee-Lite.[3] They attracted an international following in the UK, Japan, and US, where they appeared on various lounge and exotica compilations.[1] Their work was also remixed by labelmates such as Aphex Twin and Luke Vibert.[1]
Discography
- Soundtracks for Living (1997, Rephlex)
- Simply Faboo (1999, Rephlex)
