Air Cuba

For the Cuban national airline, see Cubana de Aviación.

Air Cuba
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Big beat, electronica, electronic rock
Years active	1998–2000/1
Labels	4AD
Associated acts	Chapterhouse Slowdive Mojave 3
Members	Christopher Andrews Ashley Bates

Air Cuba, previously known as Cuba, were a British electronic music duo formed by Christopher Andrews and Ashley Bates. They released two singles and an album, Leap of Faith, on 4AD in 1998 and 1999. Their sound demonstrated a range of electronic, pop, and rock influences, and they were frequently compared with Primal Scream.

Background

The group was formed as Cuba in 1998 by Christopher Andrews and Ashley Bates, formerly the drummer of Chapterhouse. Originally from Canada, Andrews named the band "Cuba" in honour of his mother's birthplace. The group self-financed two singles, "Havana" and "Fiery Cross", which were released by 4AD. The following year they changed their name to Air Cuba and released their only album, Leap of Faith.

During the 1990s, Andrews was married to Slowdive vocalist/guitarist Rachel Goswell (their marriage dissolved in 2000). She performed on some of the band's recordings, and Cuba also collaborated with Angie Brown of Bizarre Inc, Shara Nelson, and Mau (alias of Michael Giffts).

Recordings

The group's first single release, "Cross the Line," was called "pretty appealing" in a Times review, which recommended Cuba as "a blistering cure for the summertime blues." Their sole full-length studio album on 4AD, Leap of Faith, was described as an "updated Happy Mondays with the ecstasy-induced excesses" by Canada's major music publication Chart Magazine.

Discography

Albums

• Leap of Faith (4AD CAD9014, 13 September 1999)
  1. "Cross the Line" (featuring Mau)
  2. "Devil's Rock"
  3. "Black Island" (featuring Shara Nelson)
  4. "King of Kelty"
  5. "Starshine" (featuring Angie Brown)
  6. "Peak Flow"
  7. "Winter Hill" (featuring Rachel Goswell)
  8. "Havana" (featuring Mau)
  9. "Hail Mary"
  10. "Urban Light"
  11. "Foxy's Den"
  12. "Fiery Cross"

Singles

• "Urban Light" (4AD TAD8010, 11 May 1998)
  1. "Urban Light" (7:00 PM)
  2. "Urban Light" (12:00 AM)
• "Cross the Line" (4AD BAD8012, 27 July 1998)
  1. "Cross the Line"
  2. "Raise the Alarm"
  3. "Foxy's Den"
• "Havana" (4AD BAD8019, 30 November 1998)
  1. "Havana"
  2. "Leap of Faith"
  3. "Havana" (Daniel Aufbäger Remix)
• "Black Island" (4AD BAD9016, 30 August 1999)
  1. "Black Island"
  2. "Isla Negra"
  3. "Black Island" (Groove Armada's Desert Island Disc)
• "Starshine" (4AD BAD9019, 1 November 1999)
  1. "Starshine" (Edit)
  2. "White Shadow"
  3. "Starshine" (Rae and Christian Remix)

References

General

• Charlie Porter, "Singled Out - Music", The Times (London, England), 25 July 1998, Sec. features, pg. 12.
• "Weekly Reviews of New Releases", Chart, 7 September 1999.

External links

• Air Cuba at AllMusic
• Cuba on 4AD's website
• Cuba fan site