The band has a cult following in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, although the eclectic and unique sound Tindersticks possesses never made significant inroads in the mainstream.
Personnel
* Stuart Ashton Staples, born 14 November 1965 - Lead voice, guitar, melodica
* Dickon James Hinchliffe, born 9 July 1967 - violin, guitar, voice, piano, string and brass arrangements
* Neil Timothy Fraser, - born 22 November 1962 - lead guitar, vibraphone
* David Leonard Boulter, born 27 February 1965 - keyboards, percussion
* Alasdair Robert De Villeneuve Macaulay, born 2 August 1965 - drums, percussion, trumpet
* Mark Andrew Colwill, born 12 May 1960 - bass guitar
The band formed in late 1991, Staples, Boulter, Frazer, Macauley and Hinchcliffe having previously been members of Asphalt Ribbons. The final band line-up for the "old horse" mini-LP (1991) was: Stuart Staples (vocals) Dave Boulter (organ & accordion) Neil Fraser (guitar) Dickon Hinchliffe (Guitar & strings) Al Macauley (percussion & drums) John Thompson (bass). Mark Colwill was recruited when John Thompson left the Asphalt Ribbons, but it is not sure if he played any gigs under the Asphalt Ribbons name. Then they changed their name to Tindersticks after Stuart A. Staples discovered a box of German matches on a Greek beach.
Tindersticks started recording demo tapes in 1992, and were signed by Tippy Toe Records who released their first single, "Patchwork".
Their self-titled first and second albums established their signature sound and received widespread critical acclaim. Their live performances, often augmented by large string sections and even, on occasion, a full orchestra, were rapturously received. (The live album Bloomsbury Theatre 12.3.95 is a recording of one such concert.) By the time of the third album, Curtains, however, it was clear that a change of direction was called for. There was a certain ennui to the songs, and the lengthy "Ballad of Tindersticks" was a weary swipe at the pressures of being a touring band.
The fourth album, Simple Pleasure, lived up to its title with a series of snappy, direct songs influenced by soul music. The female backing vocals on several tracks, and the respectful cover of Odyssey's "If You're Looking For A Way Out", signalled the band's wish to move towards lighter, more soulful material. However, the inner sleeve's documentation of the number of takes each track went through was evidence that the band continued to adopt a painstaking approach to recording.
The fifth album, Can Our Love, continued the band's soulful direction, in particular evidence on the tender "Sweet Release" and in the nod to the Chi-Lites in the title of "Chilitetime".
The sixth and most recent album, Waiting For The Moon, was more stripped down and introspective in nature, particularly on the harrowing "4.48 Psychosis" (based on the play of the same name by the British playwright Sarah Kane) and "Sometimes It Hurts". Only the bouncy "Just A Dog" lightened the otherwise melancholy mood of the album.
In 2005 Staples embarked on a solo career and there was resultant speculation that the band had split. Staples has so far produced two solo albums, Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04 and Leaving Songs. The title of the second album, and Staples' notes on it, indicate that Tindersticks may indeed be at an end: "These are songs written on the verge of leaving the things I loved and stepping into a new unknown life, both musically and personally. I was always aware that these songs were the end of something, a kind of closing a circle of a way of writing that I started so long ago and I knew I had to move on from."
In September 2006, the band played a one-off concert at London's Barbican Centre, performing their second album in full with a nine-member string section and two brass players, including former collaborator Terry Edwards on trumpet. This concert brought the band's members back together. A new recording process in 2007 resulted in a new album, The Hungry Saw, which was released on April 28th 2008.
In the meantime, in July 2007, Island Records had released The BBC Sessions, a double CD compilation of the band's sessions for BBC radio programmes. Also in 2007, a stripped-down line-up of three of the original band, Staples, Boulter and Fraser, spent time writing and recording in a newly-equipped studio in Limousin, France. They were joined by Thomas Belhom on drums and Dan McKinna on bass, with Ian Caple engineering. The resulting album, The Hungry Saw, was released on Beggars Banquet in April 2008. Tindersticks played a number of other European dates during the summer festival season and also announced a winter 2008 European tour.
In 2010, the eighth album Falling Down a Mountain was released on 4AD / Constellation Records with a changed band line-up, with Earl Harvin replacing Belhom on drums and David Kitt, a solo artist in his own right, joining the band on guitar and vocals.
The group's ninth album The Something Rain was released in February 2012.
As well as their nine studio albums, the band has produced the soundtracks for four films by the French director Claire Denis: Nenette et Boni,Trouble Every Day, 35 Rhums and White Material
They recorded a cover of the Four Tops song, "What Is A Man", for the theme to the British TV series The Sins.
The Tindersticks song Tiny Tears was featured prominently in the Series 1 episode "Isabella" of HBO's The Sopranos. Additionally, a version of "Running Wild" was played during the ending credits of the penultimate episode of the series, "The Blue Comet". In the Season One Finale of Brotherhood, "El Diablo En El Ojo" is used twice.
* Tindersticks (aka First Album) (This Way Up, 1993)
* Tindersticks (aka Second Album) (This Way Up, 1995)
* Curtains (This Way Up, 1997)
* Simple Pleasure (Island, 1999)
* Can Our Love... (Beggar's Banquet, 2001)
* Waiting for the Moon (Beggar's Banquet, 2003)
* BBC Sessions (2007)
On 17th October 2014, Tindersticks released the commissioned soundscapes from the In Flanders Fields WW1 museum in Ypres, Belgium.
See the band's site at www.tindersticks.co.uk.
marseilles sunshine
Tindersticks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But there is nobody listening
Stop for a while
Can you feel your heart beating?
And how my skin calls for you
But these are moments to savour
I'll go take a shower and bathe for a while
In this Marseilles sunshine
Here comes a moment
The pictures I'm drawing
Could hold you 'til sundown
The colours are strong and the marks they spring from
The centre of me
These songs are so crowded
Was there a sound from the courtyard?
There's no key for this door, it's always ajar
In this Marseilles sunshine
Here comes a moment
The lyrics of Tindersticks' song "Marseille Sunshine" paint a vivid and contemplative picture of a crowded and bustling city. Despite the crowded streets, the singer feels a sense of disconnection and loneliness, with nobody seemingly listening to their thoughts and feelings. However, the singer is able to see beauty and joy in the present moment - they encourage themselves to pause and take in the feeling of their own heartbeat, and express a longing for their lover's touch.
The second verse takes on a more artistic and introspective tone, with the singer describing the pictures they are drawing and the songs they are creating as emanating from the "centre of me". They describe feeling surrounded by their own ideas, and suggests that the lack of noise from outside ("was there a sound from the courtyard?") allows for a sense of creative freedom. As the song comes to a close, the singer once again embraces the present moment and basks in the warmth of the Marseille sunshine.
Overall, "Marseille Sunshine" is a contemplative and introspective piece that encourages the listener to take notice of the beauty in the present moment, even amidst chaos and noise.
Line by Line Meaning
The streets are so crowded
Even though there are so many people around, nobody is paying attention to what's happening
But there is nobody listening
No one is taking the time to appreciate the sounds of the city
Stop for a while
Take a moment to pause and reflect
Can you feel your heart beating?
Become aware of your own existence and the rhythm of life within you
And how my skin calls for you
I long for your touch and presence
But these are moments to savour
Despite the longing, cherish these moments of inner reflection
I'll go take a shower and bathe for a while
I will cleanse myself physically and mentally
In this Marseilles sunshine
Under this bright beautiful light in this picturesque location
Here comes a moment
A moment of clarity and realization is approaching
The pictures I'm drawing
The thoughts and ideas that I'm forming in my mind
Could hold you 'til sundown
These thoughts and ideas could keep me occupied all day long
The colours are strong and the marks they spring from
The vividness and intensity of my imaginings
The centre of me
The core essence of my being
These songs are so crowded
My thoughts and emotions are overflowing and tumultuous
Was there a sound from the courtyard?
Did anyone else notice the sounds coming from outside?
There's no key for this door, it's always ajar
I am always available and open, there is no need for an invitation
In this Marseilles sunshine
At this moment, in this bright and beautiful location
Here comes a moment
Another moment of clarity and realization is approaching
Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.