The High Fidelity were an indie experimental dance-pop band, formed in 1995 by Sean Dickson, formerly of The Soup Dragons. Dickson started the group when High Times magazine asked him to record a track for a cannabis-themed covers compilation album, Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML. Their debut album, Demonstration (2000). The LP was recorded largely in Dickson's bedroom, with Adrian Barry (bass), Paul Dallaway (guitar) and Ross McFarlane (drums). The album was later augmented with a number of orchestral arrangements recorded in India. Musically, the record comprised experimental dance-pop songs, and was described by The Guardian as "an expertly composed pastiche of psychedelic pop". Their single "Luv Dup" reached #70 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1998. The group disbanded after 2001, when lead singer Sean Dickson decided to be a dance DJ under the name of HiFi Sean.
Links To Peel
The band recorded a number of sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, introducing the use of the omnichord, a vintage synthesiser, with which they performed a number of songs including a version of "Silent Night". Peel shared the band's enthusiasm for the instrument, and when they gave him an omnichord as a 60th birthday present it led to Peel co-writing and performing on one of the tracks on the band's second album, 2001's The Omnichord Album. Peel co-wrote the track 'Pig Might Fly' about his wife (Sheila Ravenscroft whose nickname was the Pig, because of her snort which resembled the noise of a pig when laughing) with Sean Dickson for the album.
Sessions
1. Recorded: 1998-03-17. Broadcast: 05 May 1998. Repeated:
- My Frequency / Whitey / Lazy B / Pelvic Rock
2. Recorded in Glasgow Art School, in concert as part of Music Live: 1999-05-26. Broadcast: 26 May 1999
- 2 Up 1 Down / The National Anthem / I Thank U / Devil Got A Shell Suit / Luv Dup / Oddysey Of A Psychonaut
3. Recorded in the Union Chapel, London: 2000-03-29. Broadcast: 29 March 2000
- Nyc / Greeneye Monster / The National Anthem / Addicted To A Tv / Devil In A Shellsuit / Unsorry / I Thank U / Luv Dup / Oddysey Of A Psychonaut
4. Recorded: 2001-07-05. Broadcast: 05 July 2001
- Scream If You Wanna Go Faster / Two Up Two Down / Electromale / Teenage Kicks / Omnichord 4.AM
Other Shows Played
1997
- 02 December 1997: 'Addicted To A T.V. (7")' (Plastique)
- 04 December 1997 (BFBS): 'Addicted To A T.V. (7")' (Plastique)
- 11 December 1997 (BFBS): 'Addicted To A T.V. (7")' (Plastique)
The High Fidelity - Luv Dup
1998
- 15 January 1998: Sick Of It All (2x7 inch - Dark Side Of The Racoon) Fierce Panda
- 29 January 1998 (BFBS): 'Sick Of It All (2x Compilation 7"-Dark Side of The Raccoon)' (Fierce Panda)
- 18 February 1998: Sick Of It All (v/a 7" EP - Dark Side Of The Raccoon) Fierce Panda
- 25 February 1998: Come Again (Part 3) Abstract Observation (12" Come Again (Part 3)) Plastique
- Peel 1998: Sick Of It All (v/a 7" EP - Dark Side Of The Raccoon) Fierce Panda
- 09 June 1998: Luv Dup (CD single) Plastique
- 22 December 1998: 'Bollywood Bubblegum Experiment (CD-Demonstration)' (Plastique)
1999
- 03 January 1999 (BFBS): 'Bollywood Bubblegum Experiment (7")' (Plastique Recordings)
- 01 July 1999: 2 Up / 2 Down (7") Plastique Recordings
- 13 July 1999: '2 Up / 2 Down (7")' (Plastique)
- 21 September 1999: Teenage Kicks (CD - John Peel’s Birthday CD) white label
- 21 September 1999: 2 Up/2 Down (7" single) Plastique
- 02 December 1999: 'Unsorry (version 2) (CDS)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 08 December 1999: Silent Night (session)
- 09 December 1999: 'Unsorry (CDS)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 21 December 1999: 'Unsorry (CDS)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 27 December 1999 (BFBS): 'Unsorry (7")' (mail order or download only)
2000
- 05 January 2000: 'I Thank U (12 inch)' (Plastique)
- 27 January 2000: 'I Thank U (Jengaheads Remix) (promo 12")' (Plastique Recordings)
- 01 February 2000: 'I Thank U (CDS)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 07 February 2000 (BFBS): 'ITHANKU (CDS)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 09 February 2000: ITHANKU (Jengaheads Remix) (CDS) Plastique
- 26 February 2000 (BFBS): 'Lazy.B (CD-Demonstration)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 16 March 2000: Cola Coca (LP – Demonstration) Plastique Recordings
- 04 April 2000: Luv Dup (LP - Demonstration) Plastique
- 05 April 2000: Odyssey Of A Psychonaut (LP - Demonstration) Plastique
- 06 April 2000: 'Unsorry (LP-Demonstration)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 09 April 2000 (BFBS): 'Luv Dup (CD-Demonstration)' (Plastique Recordings)
- 18 May 2000: Unsorry (album - Demonstration) Plastique
The High Fidelity - Pig might fly (featuring John Peel)
2001
- 10 January 2001: Scream If You Want To Go Faster (CD single: Scream If You Want To Go Faster) Plastique
- 10 January 2001: Pig Might Fly (under the name of Sean Dickson)
- 28 January 2001 (BBC World Service): Pig Might Fly (album - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
- 01 March 2001: 'Scream If You Want To Go Faster (CD single)' (Plastique)
- 22 March 2001: 'Pig Might Fly (CD-The Omnichord Album)' (Plastique)
- 22 March 2001 (Radio Eins): Electromale (album - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
- 03 April 2001: Omnichord 4.AM (album - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
- 05 April 2001: Pig Might Fly (CD - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
- 08 April 2001 (BBC World Service): Scream If You Want To Go Faster (album - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
- 19 April 2001: 'Electromale (LP-The Omnichord Album)' (Plastique)
- 04 July 2001: Pig Might Fly (CD - The Omnichord Album) Plastique
2004
- 23 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): Teenage Kicks (CD - John Peel’s Birthday CD) white label
Others
- Sounds Of The Suburbs: Lazy B
- John Peel's 60th Birthday Album: Teenage Kicks