Maximo Park

The standout Maximo Park outfit was formed in Newcastle in 2001 borrowing its name from the same-titled park in Havana, a sanctuary of the active supporters of the Cuban revolution. The band united Duncan Lloyd (guitarist), Archis Tiku (bassist), Tom English (drummer) and keyboardist Lukas Wooller. Finding their own feet, the musicians started with instrumental stuff before they realized they needed a turn to the more demanded format based on normal songs with lyrics. After Tiku refused pointblank to take up the singer’s responsibilities, the group began the quest for their vocalist. Help came from English’s girlfriend who happened to be at one of the local pubs and hear Paul Smith who was singing to karaoke. The newly recruited member of Maximo Park, he had never performed on the stage, which did not keep him from working hard and confidently on his new duties. It was not long before Paul became the true leader of the group. He participated actively in the song-writing process and also developed proficiently the image of his ensemble. Supported by their friends, Maximo Park collected the funds to release in spring 2004 the vinyl single Graffiti. The song produced an immense impression on the management of the Warp Records label, a company that had never dealt with that type of music, but decided to make an exception for Maximo Park.

In 2005, Maximo Park released their debut album titled A Certain Trigger. The record became a sensation in the indie-rock circles and even earned a nomination for Mercury Prize. Eventually, the prize went to Antony and the Johnsons, but that was enough for the Newcastle-based outfit to get their name well known all over the country and become a welcomed guest to many venues in the Great Britain. The same year, Maximo Park played at the prestigious Glastonbury festival and greeted the new 2006 year as the headliners of the tour under the aegis of the NME magazine. Paul Smith was the one who made his band easily recognizable in the multitude of other performers. He never parted with his small red book where he stored not only all the lyrics, but also personal notes as well. In a really short time, Maximo Park qualified into the leading division of the new wave British rock with their established peculiar style, flawless musical skills and intelligent, unexpected lyrics.

In spring 2007, Maximo Park delivered their sophomore long player under the title Our Earthly Pleasures. The release of this record was preceded by the release of the album opening song Our Velocity. The producing was performed by the skilled master Jil Norton who rose to prominence after the cooperation with Pixies, and Foo Fighters. The musicians, in their turn, were totally satisfied with the work well done. They stated that their fresh material was pure rock-n-roll to sound splendidly live, the songs coming straight from their hearts and thus destined to be a perfect present to those fond of quality sincere music. Working according to the developed system, Maximo Park spent the two following years on the stage and prepared the subsequent studio album by the spring of 2009. To get the public ready for that event, they released the single The Kids Are Sick Again in May 2009. The album itself, entitled Quiсken The Heart, hit the stores shortly afterwards. The making of this record took place in Los Angeles and involved the producer Nick Launay. The new product from the Newcastle musicians was again a set of dynamic explosive rock songs backed by profound texts to reserve Maximo Park a status of big band with big ambitions.