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British electronic band
The Utopia Strong
The Utopia Strong performing at Krankenhaus 2023
Origin
Glastonbury , England Genres Years active 2018–present Labels Members
The Utopia Strong are a British
electronic band formed in
Glastonbury , England in 2018. The group consists of
Steve Davis ,
Kavus Torabi , and Michael J. York. They released their self-titled debut album in 2019 and their second, International Treasure , in 2022.
History
The Utopia Strong originated from an experimental improvised session in
Glastonbury on the evening of 2 January 2018.
[2]
[3]
Steve Davis , a six-time
World Snooker Champion , was recognised for his love of
progressive rock ,
soul and
jazz-funk . He booked the French progressive rock band
Magma to play three sold-out nights at the
Bloomsbury Theatre and later became a DJ with the radio show Interesting Alternative on
Phoenix FM .
[4] At a Magma gig, Davis bonded with Iranian-born musician
Kavus Torabi ,
[5] a storied guitarist with
Gong and
Cardiacs .
[4] Davis and Torabi met
Coil 's Michael J. York after DJing at the
2017 Glastonbury Festival , and the three decided to form a band.
[4]
The Utopia Strong released their self-titled debut album on 13 September 2019 on
Rocket Recordings .
[6]
[7] The album features a guest vocal appearance by
Mediæval Bæbes '
Katharine Blake .
[8]
The band performing in
Cambridge in 2023.
The Utopia Strong's second album International Treasure was released in 2022.
[9]
The Quietus listed the album at number 25 on their Albums Of The Year So Far Chart 2022.
[10] The band appeared on
BBC Breakfast on 25 March 2023.
[11] They supported
Steve Hillage 's 2023 UK tour, with Torabi also a member of Hillage's backing band.
[12]
[13]
Discography
Studio albums
The Utopia Strong (2019)
International Treasure (2022)
Live albums
Alphabet of the Magi (2020)
[14]
Dreamsweeper (2020)
[15]
Ninth Art (2021)
[16]
Gyre (2023)
[17]
The BBC Sessions (2024)
[18]
Singles
"Brainsurgeons 3" (2019, The Utopia Strong )
[19]
"Konta Chorus" (2019, The Utopia Strong )
[20]
"Strange Altar" (2019)
[21]
"Shepherdess" (2022, International Treasure )
[22]
"Castalia" (2022, International Treasure )
[23]
"Gatekeeper" (2023, Golden Lion Sounds)
[24]
"Lamp of Glory" (2024, The BBC Sessions )
[25]
Remixes
"Rechargeable" (2019, with Snapped Ankles)
[26]
Appearances
"Harpies" (2023, Rocket Recordings: Launch300 )
[27]
[28]
References
^
"Kavus torabi" .
Prog Magazine . 12 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024 – via
Readly .
^
"The Utopia Strong and Dextro at The Cluny, Newcastle" .
Resident Advisor . Retrieved 23 November 2022 .
^ Trenwith, Roger (1 October 2019).
"The Utopia Strong – The Utopia Strong [plus interview with Steve Davis]" . The Progressive Aspect . Retrieved 24 November 2022 .
^
a
b
c Buchanan, John D.
"The Utopia Strong Biography, Songs, & Albums" .
AllMusic . Retrieved 23 November 2022 .
^ Smith, Aidan (4 April 2021).
"Steve Davis: From snooker to DJ to having his own prog rock band. Interesting!" .
The Scotsman . Retrieved 23 November 2022 .
^ Matt, Butler (15 September 2019).
"Snooker legend Steve Davis and his 'surreal journey' into releasing album of synth music on vinyl" .
i . Retrieved 13 November 2022 .
^ Ewing, Jerry (11 June 2019).
"Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi release first new music from Utopia Strong" .
Prog . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Martin, Liam.
"The Utopia Strong - The Utopia Strong Album Reviews, Songs & More" .
AllMusic . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Hughes, Rob (10 June 2022).
"The Utopia Strong - International Treasure: "a triumph of foraging spontaneity" " .
Prog . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Turner, Luke (4 July 2022).
"The Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far Chart 2022" .
The Quietus . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Askew, Robin (31 March 2023).
"Review: The Steve Hillage Band/The Utopia Strong, O2 Academy" .
Bristol24/7 . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Ewing, Jerry (7 September 2022).
"Steve Hillage announces 2023 UK tour" .
Prog . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Dickson, Jamie (18 April 2023).
"Six-string psychonaut Kavus Torabi on the mythology of Gong, Hotel California moments with Steve Hillage and his epiphany with scales" .
Guitarist . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ The Utopia Stong (13 February 2020).
"Alphabet of the Magi " .
Bandcamp . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ The Utopia Stong (14 July 2020).
"Dreamsweeper " .
Bandcamp . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ The Utopia Stong (4 December 2020).
"Ninth Art " .
Bandcamp . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ The Utopia Stong (3 February 2023).
"Gyre " .
Bandcamp . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Ewing, Jerry (1 February 2024).
"The Utopia Strong announce new BBC Sessions album" .
Prog . Retrieved 6 March 2024 .
^ Paxton, Gillian (11 June 2019).
"LISTEN: Debut Single From The Utopia Strong" .
The Quietus . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Clarke, Patrick (13 August 2019).
"Watch: New Utopia Strong Video" .
The Quietus . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Edwards, Briony (6 December 2019).
"The Utopia Strong's track by track guide to their self-titled new album" . Louder . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Ewing, Jerry (8 March 2022).
"The Utopia Strong return with video for Shepherdess" .
Prog . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Ewing, Jerry (10 May 2022).
"The Utopia Strong release video for optimistic new single Castalia" .
Prog . Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^
"The Utopia Strong x DBH - GLS 014 | The Utopia Strong x DBH" . Golden Lion Sounds. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via
Bandcamp .
^ Ewing, Jerry (2 February 2024).
"New prog music you have to hear from The Pineapple Thief, The Utopia Strong, The C Sides Project and more in Prog's Tracks Of The Week" .
Prog . Retrieved 24 March 2024 .
^
"Rechargeable (The Utopia Strong Remix) | Snapped Ankles, The Utopia Strong" .
Bandcamp . 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2023 .
^ Kilkenny, James (29 June 2023).
"Rocket Recordings: Launch300 – Album Review" .
Louder Than War . Retrieved 19 December 2023 .
^ Bočev, Danijela (30 June 2023).
"Features | Reissue Of The Week | Compilation Of The Week: Rocket Recordings 25th Anniversary Launch300" .
The Quietus . Retrieved 19 December 2023 .
External links