Absentee are a band from London in the UK, signed to Memphis Industries. They are Dan Michaelson (vocals/guitar), Melinda Bronstein (vocals, keyboards, melodica, glockenspiel), Babak Ganjei (guitar/lap steel), Laurie Earle (bass) and Jon Chandler (drums).

The band have had two major releases so far. Donkey Stock in 2005 was a six track EP, which helped get the band noticed. In 2006, the band released a full length album called Schmotime, which was well received by the music press, including a 7.1 Pitchfork rating. Much was made of the up-beat nature of the songs, in stark contrast to the morbid nature of the lyrics - 'There's a body in a car somewhere' - for example.

The album was produced by James Ford, of Arctic Monkeys and Mystery Jets fame.

The band are currently touring around Europe. They supported Bloc Party at a gig at the Olde Firestation in Bournemouth on 24th January 2007.

Contents 1 Pre-formation 2 Discography 2.1 Singles 2.2 EPs 2.3 Albums 3 References 4 External links

Pre-formation

Before forming the band, Dan Michaelson and Melinda Bronstein collaborated to make the self-produced mini-album Hawaiian Disco. Five songs from that mini-album, and other unreleased material was used in the 2003 film Twisted, shown in the Raindance Film Festival.

Discography

Singles

• 2006 "Something to Bang" #180 UK
• 2006 "Weasel"
• 2006 "We Should Never Have Children"
• 2006 "There's A Body In A Car Somewhere"

EPs

• 2005 Donkey Stock

Albums

• 2006 Schmotime

References

1. "Absentee", DrownedInSound.com; URL accessed May 20, 2006.
2. "Full Cast and Crew for Twisted (2003/I)", IMDB ; URL accessed May 20, 2006.

External links

• Absentee at memphis-industries.com
• Absentee at Crossthepond Music
• Review of Donkey Stock EP at PopMatters.com
• Interview with Absentee at SoundsXP
• Review of Absentee's Donkey Stock by James Jam at NME
• Jelbert, Steve, "Something to bang on about", Times Online, February 25, 2006.
• Jelbert, Steve, "Absentee : Donkey Stock -- East London countryists' lugubrious wonder", Times Online
• Absentee at the All Music Guide