The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental acid house/techno band, initially formed in… Read Full Bio ↴The Shamen were an experimental acid house/techno band, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland by Colin Angus (b. 24 August, 1961), Derek McKenzie (b. 27 February, 1964), Keith McKenzie (b. 30 August, 1961) and Peter Stephenson (b. 1 March, 1962) in 1985 as a psychedelia-influenced indie rock act. They found underground credibility as an acid house act and a pioneer of the dance/rock crossover, before moving on to international commercial success with Ebeneezer Goode and the Boss Drum album.
The Shamen were preceded by Alone Again Or, the Love-inspired name under which they recorded their first singles. After their name change, further singles picked up airplay from John Peel. Released in June 1987, The Shamen's first album Drop illustrated their love of 60s psychedelia, with influences such as Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to other indie dance groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF. However, the newfound sound proved too radical for co-founder and vocalist Derek McKenzie, who the left the band in late 1987 to study at university. The Shamen were suddenly one crucial player short. Help was at hand in the charismatic form of Will Sinnott (23 December, 1960 - 23 May, 1991), who joined the group in October 1987, on bass and keyboards, freeing up Colin Angus to handle vocal and guitar chores.
Knature of a Girl was the first record by the Shamen to feature Sinnott, but it wasn't until June's Jesus Loves Amerika single that the techno influence began to show. By this stage, Angus and Sinnott had become hooked on the acid house movement taking place in London, and its music and clubs were to exert a massive influence on the pair. Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson were less impressed by these new developments, and left the group the following summer, after the January 1989 release of the In Gorbachev We Trust album, which saw the group further enhancing their sound.
Angus and Sinnott relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr.C (real name Richard West). The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
In May 1991, The Shamen headed to Tenerife to film a video for Move Any Mountain. On May 23, Sinnott drowned in an accident off coast of La Gomera. However, with the Sinnott family's encouragement, the group decided to continue.
With Mr C now a full member of The Shamen, and Jhelisa Anderson providing guest vocals, the Boss Drum album followed in 1992. The LP featured a noted spoken-word collaboration, Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna, and The Shamen's biggest and most controversial hit: Ebeneezer Goode. Ebeneezer Goode was accused of promoting drug use owing to the refrain "Ezer Goode, Ezer Goode" - homophonic with "E's are good" ("E" being slang for the dance drug ecstasy) - and to double entendre drug references throughout the song. This echoed similar references in previous songs such as Synergy's "M D M A-zing... we are together in ecstasy". Despite - or maybe because of - the subsequent storm of publicity, the song stayed at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks.
Although the single was a commercial hit, it was considered a 'novelty record' and severely impacted on the 'underground' credibility of the band. Subsequent singles such as Boss Drum and Phorever People were chart hits, but some long term fans believed they paled in comparison to earlier singles.
However, The Shamen's new mainstream popularity enabled them to release an unusually large number of remix singles, EPs, and LPs during the Boss Drum era, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, and the On Air and Different Drum albums. On Air featured a series of popular tracks from En-Tact and Boss Drum as performed live on BBC radio; Different Drum was a remix album containing alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. The tracks Boss Drum, LSI (Love Sex Intelligence), Phorever People, Ebeneezer Goode, and Re:Evolution were all released as singles in their own right.
Axis Mutatis in 1995, with new vocalist Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson, did not make as much of an impact. Early special editions of this album featured a bonus disk, Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, a bizarre ambient album. The Shamen continued recording into the late 1990s, releasing two additional LPs with an increasingly experimental bent. Their penultimate studio album, the instrumental Hempton Manor, followed an acrimonious split with their label One Little Indian. It is alleged to have been recorded in seven days to conclude the recording contract with One Little Indian, and the first letter of each track spell out F**k Birket, referring to label founder Derek Birket, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory. UV, in 1998, was their last album. UV was released independently and marked a return to form with both modern techno production and classic Shamen song structures. Mr C. has since continued as an inspiring house DJ and become a successful night-club owner.
The Shamen were preceded by Alone Again Or, the Love-inspired name under which they recorded their first singles. After their name change, further singles picked up airplay from John Peel. Released in June 1987, The Shamen's first album Drop illustrated their love of 60s psychedelia, with influences such as Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to other indie dance groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF. However, the newfound sound proved too radical for co-founder and vocalist Derek McKenzie, who the left the band in late 1987 to study at university. The Shamen were suddenly one crucial player short. Help was at hand in the charismatic form of Will Sinnott (23 December, 1960 - 23 May, 1991), who joined the group in October 1987, on bass and keyboards, freeing up Colin Angus to handle vocal and guitar chores.
Knature of a Girl was the first record by the Shamen to feature Sinnott, but it wasn't until June's Jesus Loves Amerika single that the techno influence began to show. By this stage, Angus and Sinnott had become hooked on the acid house movement taking place in London, and its music and clubs were to exert a massive influence on the pair. Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson were less impressed by these new developments, and left the group the following summer, after the January 1989 release of the In Gorbachev We Trust album, which saw the group further enhancing their sound.
Angus and Sinnott relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr.C (real name Richard West). The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
In May 1991, The Shamen headed to Tenerife to film a video for Move Any Mountain. On May 23, Sinnott drowned in an accident off coast of La Gomera. However, with the Sinnott family's encouragement, the group decided to continue.
With Mr C now a full member of The Shamen, and Jhelisa Anderson providing guest vocals, the Boss Drum album followed in 1992. The LP featured a noted spoken-word collaboration, Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna, and The Shamen's biggest and most controversial hit: Ebeneezer Goode. Ebeneezer Goode was accused of promoting drug use owing to the refrain "Ezer Goode, Ezer Goode" - homophonic with "E's are good" ("E" being slang for the dance drug ecstasy) - and to double entendre drug references throughout the song. This echoed similar references in previous songs such as Synergy's "M D M A-zing... we are together in ecstasy". Despite - or maybe because of - the subsequent storm of publicity, the song stayed at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks.
Although the single was a commercial hit, it was considered a 'novelty record' and severely impacted on the 'underground' credibility of the band. Subsequent singles such as Boss Drum and Phorever People were chart hits, but some long term fans believed they paled in comparison to earlier singles.
However, The Shamen's new mainstream popularity enabled them to release an unusually large number of remix singles, EPs, and LPs during the Boss Drum era, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, and the On Air and Different Drum albums. On Air featured a series of popular tracks from En-Tact and Boss Drum as performed live on BBC radio; Different Drum was a remix album containing alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. The tracks Boss Drum, LSI (Love Sex Intelligence), Phorever People, Ebeneezer Goode, and Re:Evolution were all released as singles in their own right.
Axis Mutatis in 1995, with new vocalist Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson, did not make as much of an impact. Early special editions of this album featured a bonus disk, Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, a bizarre ambient album. The Shamen continued recording into the late 1990s, releasing two additional LPs with an increasingly experimental bent. Their penultimate studio album, the instrumental Hempton Manor, followed an acrimonious split with their label One Little Indian. It is alleged to have been recorded in seven days to conclude the recording contract with One Little Indian, and the first letter of each track spell out F**k Birket, referring to label founder Derek Birket, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory. UV, in 1998, was their last album. UV was released independently and marked a return to form with both modern techno production and classic Shamen song structures. Mr C. has since continued as an inspiring house DJ and become a successful night-club owner.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Shamen Lyrics
Adam Strange Something wonderfully right is going wrong with me Suddenly …
Asymptomatic Eschaton All of Arbor Bona Arbor Mala was instrumental except for…
Beamship Beamship, beamship, beamship, beamship Beamship, beamship, b…
Boss Drum Activate the rhythm, the rhythm that has always been within…
Boss Drum (Beatmasters 7" edit) Activate the rhythm, The rhythm that has always been within …
Boss Drum (Beatmasters Radio mix) Activate the rhythm, the rhythm that has always been within…
Boss Drum (Shamen 7 Inch Edit) Activate the rhythm, The rhythm that has always been within …
Boss Drum (The Beatmasters radio mix) Activate the rhythm, the rhythm that has always been within…
Boss Drum (The Shamen Dub Mix) Move any mountain, move any mountain I will not fail nor…
Boss Drum II Activate the rhythm, the rhythm that has always been within…
Cannabeo [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
Comin' On This here a special message goin out to every Man,…
Comin' On Strong Hey, hey Hey, hey Hey, hey yeah Hey, hey Hey, hey Hey, hey y…
Comin'on This here a special message goin out to every Man,…
Coming On Strong Hey, hey Hey, hey Hey, hey yeah Hey, hey Hey, hey Hey, hey y…
Coming On Strong (Beatmasters 7") Yes, strictly conscious business everytime This here track a…
Conquistador Ah conquistador is it only gold youre looking for Or may…
Destination Eschaton Ooh nobley born Let the mind be not distracted Though the …
Destination Eschaton (hardcore vocal mix) Ooh nobley born Let the mind be not distracted Though the ro…
Do What You Will The sparkling rain is scintillating We're positively glowin…
Ebeneezer Goode A great philosopher once wrote Naughty, naughty, very naugh…
Ebeneezer Goode (Beat Edit) Naughty, Naughty, Very Naughty (Ha Ha Ha Ha) There's a guy…
Ebeneezer Goode (Beatmasters A great philosopher once wrote Naughty, naughty, very naug…
Ebeneezer Goode (club vocal) There's a guy in the place who's got a bittersweet…
Ebeneezer Goode - Beat Edit Naughty, Naughty, Very Naughty (Ha Ha Ha Ha) There's a guy…
Ebeneezer Goode - Jolly Roger Vocal There's a guy in the place who's got a bittersweet…
Ebenezer Goode There's a guy in the place He's got a bittersweet face And…
El-fin [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
Eschaton Omega Oh nobley born, let the mind be not distracted Though the…
Four Letter Girl you're the mystery girl yeah many secrets you are defending …
Freya [Instrumental] Ok, before anybody says anything, this album…
Golden Hair Lean out your window, golden hair I heard you singing in…
Grim Reaper of Love Once he was happy, loved and protected Now he's abandoned, l…
Happy Days The face of a nation was split with a smile…
Heal Time was when we lay together But that was long before…
Hear Me Called back in time by the ancient winds Can't you recall…
Human NRG Human Energy, Power and Serenity Dream Time, Real Life, Vis…
Human NRG (Massey) Human energy Power and serenity Dream time, real life Vision…
Hyperreal Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Y-y-yeah, ye…
Hyperreal (Orbit Edit) Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Y-y-yeah, yeah …
Hyperreal Orbit Groovy Groovy Groovy Ahh Hyperreal Hyperreal feeling Ahh Hy…
Hyperreal Selector Hey Hyperreal Feeling, flowing Don’t give in You got keep g…
I Do Shamanise I do, shamanise I do Me manko inka I usko…
I Don't Like people are weaned on disinformation right from the start of …
In Gorbachev We Trust Put your fantasies in someone Say a prayer and hope to…
Indica [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
It's All Around Come sit beside the road, come take a long break Come…
Jesus Loves Amerika By radio wave, and satellite And computer print-out page The…
Kava [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
Knature of a Girl She's not the one and only pebble on the beach And…
L.S.I Love Sex Intelligence Love Sex Intelligence Love Sex Intelli…
L.S.I (Beat Edit) Oh I want your love, I need your love Yeah yeah…
L.S.I : Love Sex Intelligence Love sex intelligence Love sex intelligence Love sex intelli…
L.S.I. (alternative vocal) Oh I want your love, I need your love Yeah yeah…
L.S.I. : Love Sex Intelligence Love sex intelligence Love sex intelligence Love sex intelli…
Lightspan Life is never enough It's all you get Life is never enough I…
Long Gone She was long gone Long, long gone She was gone, gone The big…
LS.I Love sex intelligence Love sex intelligence Love sex intelli…
LSI (alternative vocal) Oh I want your love, I need your love Yeah yeah…
LSI (Love Sex Intelligence) Oh I want your love, I need you love Come on Love…
Make It Mine Make it, make it mine Make it mine, everytime Make it, mak…
Make It Mine (Beatmasters 12" Vocal) Make it, make it mine Make it mine, everytime Make it, make…
Make It Minimal Make it, make it mine Make it mine, every time Make it,…
Marca Huasi Marca,marca huasi o Marca,marca huasi o Above the andean…
Mercury Mercury ufo, the messenger, from the lord of zion Conveying…
Metatron Silently revolving Knowing where she'd been Exciting, reve…
Misinformation One line is smiling, the other telling lies We take their…
MK2A Just by the shoulder of Orion Bright Satellite outshone the …
Moment Heyawunaho energy flows where attention goes For the gift o…
Move Any Mountain I will not fail nor falter I shall succeed My perception…
Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit) Move any mountain Move any mountain I will not fail nor falt…
Move Any Mountain (Progen 91) Move any mountain, move any mountain I will not fail nor…
Move Any Mountain: Progen 91 I will not fail nor falter I shall succeed My perception…
Move Any Mountain: Progen 91 (Beat edit) Move any mountain Move any mountain I will not fail nor falt…
Move Any Mountian Move Any Mountain The Shamen Letras I will not fail nor f…
Omega Amigo Frozen moment, chosen time Here and now, forever mine Omeg…
Oxygen Restriction Oxygen restriction Oxygen restriction Oxygen restriction, l…
Passing Away Morning began And your head popped out with your heart…
Phorever People Keep Generating Joy Making Keep Dreaming on, Phorever People…
Phorever People (Beatmasters Heavenly edit) Keep generating, joy making Keep dreaming on phorever people…
Possible Worlds We can live together Love together Do whatever we want toget…
Possible Worlds (Shamen Live) Nothing is impossible We can live together, love together D…
Prince Of Popocatapetl Smile on Smile on eternal Like the prince of Popocatapetl…
Pro Gen Move any mountain, move any mountain I will not fail nor…
Pro-Gen Move any mountain, move any mountain I can move move move…
Pro>Gen Move any mountain, move any mountain I will not fail nor…
Progen Move any mountain, move any mountain I can move move move…
Progen 91 Move any mountain Move any mountain I can move, move, move a…
Raptyouare The texture of your skin is wonderful And you're covered in…
Raspberry Infundibulum Growing large in a small room, with a sickly air I…
Rausch [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
RE:Evolution "If the truth can be told so as To be understood…
Serpent Emissary of the crystal Who makes the sign of the serpent …
Something About You Set like jewels in eternity Stars are hanging in a canopy Pr…
Space Time Spacetime, A fusion between the concepts of space and time …
Strange Days Dream For she is like an empty shell, her mouth is…
Sweet Young Thing I know that something very strange is happening to my…
Synergy When I look into your eyes, opache to all illusion Magnifie…
The Other Side if this day got any worse i'd be dropping a…
Through My Window first time i saw your face i knew your name before…
Through With You Such a complicated creature, such a strange configuration A …
To Be With You Such a complicated creature Such a strange configuration A f…
Transamazonia Transamazonia Transamazonia keep searching seeking you got …
Transcendental Head up to the stratusphere Cos I need some altitude To cl…
Universal Universal, nat-nat-nat-nation Univer-vers-sal nat-nat-nat-na…
Urpflanze [Instrumental] If you're confused, read the note I put in t…
Velvet Box wait, shall we wait till the sands run out? time, time…
War Prayer Oh lord our God Help us to tear their soldiers to…
Where do You Go Mm baby, mm baby, where do you go When you've left…
World Theatre They're staging a show in the theatre world All the crowds…
Yellow Cellophane Day Facing up to the medicine On the streets of Toytown After …
Young 'till Yesterday Once upon a long long time, everything was black or…