Conceived in 2004 by English bass legends
Peter Hook (
Joy Division,
New Order),
Gary "Mani" Mounfield (
Stone Roses,
Primal Scream), and
Andy Rourke (
the Smiths), Manchester-based alternative rock outfit
Freebass didn’t get around to laying anything down to tape until much later in the decade. By the time the group’s debut EP (
Two Worlds Collide) arrived,
Rourke had amicably parted ways with the group and relocated to New York City, and the band had added vocalist Gary Briggs to the mix. It’s a Beautiful Life,
Freebass' full-length debut, arrived in 2010 on Hacienda Records, and featured a heady mix of modern rock, dub, and Northern soul. ~ James Christopher Monger