Biography

In 1991, singer/guitarist Sean O’Hagan formed the High Llamas as an antidote to what he viewed as the surly and apathetic grunge scene. Initially joined by John Fell, Rob Allum, Anita Visser and Marcus Holdaway, the group would rotate occasional members in and out, including vocalists from Stereolab. Their 1992 debut, SANTA BARBARA, was a fairly straightforward pop homage, but as they transitioned into ensuing albums GIDEON GAYE and HAWAII, they became increasingly influenced by ambient jazz elements, unusual instrumentation, and more formless melodies. At the turn of the 2000s, the UK-based outfit signed on with Chicago's Drag City, recording well into their second decade on the label, up through 2007’s CAN AND CLADDERS.

Top Tracks

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• Apricots

• Bacaroo

• Bach Ze

• Berry Adams

• Birdies Sing

• Calloway

• Checking In, Checking Out

• Clarion Union Hall

• Cookie Bay

• Cuckoo's Out

• Dorothy Ashby

• Dressing Up The Old Dakota

• Fly Baby, Fly

• Giddy And Gay

• Hiball Nova Scotia

• High On The Chalk

• Holland

• Homespin Rerun

• Literature Is Fluff

• Little Collie

• Mini-management

• Nomads

• Showstop Hic Hup

• Sparkle Up

• Take My Hand

• Talahomi Way

• The American Scene

• The Dutchman

• The Goat Looks On

• The Old Spring Town

• The Sun Beats Down

• The Walworth River

• Tilting Windmills

Discography

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• Talahomi Way

  Drag City

  2011

• Can Cladders

  Drag City

  2007

• Beet, Maize & Corn

  Drag City

  2003

• Buzzle Bee

  Drag City

  2000

• Snowbug

  V2 Records

  1999

• Cold and Bouncy

  V2 Records / V2 (Wasabi)

  1998

• Hawaii

  V2 Records

  1996

• Gideon Gaye

  V2 Records

  1994

• Santa Barbara

  V2 Records

  1992