With four well received studio albums and an ever-growing fan base, Bell X1 is rapidly becoming more recognized in places other than Ireland. They reached the top of the charts in their home country with Flock, their third album released in 2005, which established them as one of Ireland's best selling recording acts.
Now the band is ready for total world domination, in the music industry that is, with their fourth release Blue Lights on the Runway. This album features the track The Great Defector that has been their most successful single so far, and is gaining popularity, especially in the United States.
Bell X1 - A Brief Overview
Bell X1 is an Irish alternative rock band from North County Kildare, Ireland. The band is named after the Bell X-1, which was the first airplane to break the sound barrier. The band, originally known as Juniper, regrouped when frontman Damien Rice left over creative differences and morphed into Bell X1 by shifting drummer Paul Noonan into the frontman position.
The trio of members consists of Paul Noonan on lead vocals, percussion, guitar and kazoo; David Geraghty on lead guitar, electric piano, banjo and backing vocals; and Dominic Philips on bass guitar and backing vocals. The band is currently signed with Yep Rock records, and have released four exuberant studio albums.
Discography of Bell X1
- Neither Am I - The bands first album, released only in Ireland by Universal Music Ireland in 2000, was produced by Nick Seymour, the former bassist for Crowded House. This album, showed that the band still had much to offer it's fans, and featured a laid back, yet warm line up of tracks.
- Music in Mouth - This critically acclaimed second effort was released by Universal Island Records in 2003, and was produced by Jamie Cullum of Elcho. The band earned some recognition in the U.S. due to the song Eve, the Apple of My Eye which was featured in an episode of the hit TV show the OC.
- Flock - This third album, released in 2005 by Universal Island Records/Yep Roc Records hit number one on the charts in Ireland, and made Bell X1 one of Ireland's best-selling recording acts. The album was produced by studio veteran Roger Bechirian, who has produced albums for Elvis Costello and Squeeze.
- Blue Lights on the Runway - The band's fourth and latest effort, was released in March 2009 by it's own label Belly Up Records and Yep Roc Records. It includes their most successful single, The Great Defector, and was recorded using antique synthesizers in unusual locales such as a 400 year old Irish castle.
The tight, synth-based melodic tunes of Bell X1 are most often compared to the Talking Heads, the Doors and Radiohead, depending on the song. The band is gaining popularity via it's simultaneous worldwide release of Blue Lights on the Runway, having their songs featured on hit TV shows and doing appearances on late night television programs.
The vibe from Bell X1 is that they're just warming up, and can't wait to show the world what they can do. If the band consistently improves with each album as they have so far, music fans are in for something amazing.
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