John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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John Peel Wiki

Plone (a name taken from a type of computer software) are an electronic music band from Birmingham. The group formed in late 1994 when Mark Cancellara and Mike Johnston started to buy old analogue keyboards and fx and began to rehearse making huge soundscapes. Johnston was living with Billy Bainbridge (who was in another band at the time, Supernal, also containing members of electro band sol dat) who bought himself a keyboard and joined the band.

The band started gigging as support to local bands such as Pram and Broadcast. In 1997, the band was approached by Wurlitzer Jukebox who released the single, "Press a Key". On the strength of this the band was signed to Warp and, in September 1998, released the single "plock". This was tipped as one of the singles of the year by NME, Melody Maker and Dazed & Confused.

An album For Beginner Piano was released in September 1999 to widespread critical acclaim....(Read more). AllMusic described them as a "Mischievous yet spooky English electronic act whose playful aesthetic defined them in the '90s and beyond." Johnston went solo and recorded as Mike In Mono.

Links to Peel[]

The band scored two entries in successive Festive Fifties, recorded two sessions for Peel's show (the first of which appears in Peel Sessions: The Best 125), and feature in three live performances. Lack of new material (until Puzzlewood in 2020) resulted in no plays by JP for the last five years of the show's life.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

Live[]

  1. Marbles
  2. unknown
  3. Be Rude To Your School
  4. Top And Low Rent
  1. Press A Key
  2. Ry30
  3. Another One Of Them
  4. Busy Working
  5. Bibi Plone
  6. Plaything
  7. Top And Low Rent

Sessions[]

  • Two sessions, no known commercial release.

1. Recorded: 1998-04-28. First broadcast: 02 June 1998. Repeated: 22 October 1998

  • Electronic Beauty Parlour / Plock / Sunday Laid Moo

2. Recorded: 1999-09-01. First broadcast: 06 October 1999. No repeats. All titles were given on the day of this broadcast, according to Peel.

  • Another One Of Them / Marbles / Busy Working / Dry Pen

Other Shows Played[]

1997
1998
1999

External Links[]