Chimera (4)

Chimera (pron. [shĭ-mēr'ə]) was formed in 1990 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The line-up included Eileen Henry (voice), Ted Laverty (guitar), Steven T. Emerson (bass), and Willie Vincent (drums). Named after a Bill Nelson record the word 'chimera' has its origin in Greek mythology and describes a polymorphic creature who had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. On their early records 'Ellis Bleeds', 'Lughnasa' and 'Cyan Daze', which were released in 1993 by Beechwood Music sublabel Flute Worldwide Ltd., the band created an Ethereal/Noise-Pop conglomerate, interspersed with Post-Punk and Goth-saturated undertones (primarily characterized by deep droning bass lines and jingly guitar patterns), that has often been compared to the music of the Cocteau Twins, The Sundays, The Cranberries, Rose Chronicles, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, Cranes, and also Siouxsie & The Banshees. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has noticed the variety of the musical ingredients: All their records have been produced by Factory Records engineer Chris Nagle (Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Wake, New Order, The Sisters Of Mercy, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, The Wedding Present, The Charlatans etc.). Due to contractual problems, Chimera had to buy the rights back to the album and 'Lughnasa' (named after a Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of the harvest season) disappeared from the market shortly thereafter. In the mid-'90s, the band signed to an American Indie label, Grass Records in New York City (later Wind-Up Records, BMG Music), and dropped the Post-Punk mood in favour of a more U.S.-friendly Alternative Rock style. They released three more records, 'The Day Star EP' in 1995, 'Earth Loop' on July 30, 1996, and a radio/concert promotion-only CD in May 1997 that contains remixes of the song 'Catch Me'. The song received airplay on radio stations across the country, including KCRW Los Angeles, WBCN Boston, and WLIR Long Island. At that time, Chimera toured in the States supporting Sneaker Pimps, Blur, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, and Throwing Muses, and drew the attention of the national press (e.g. Billboard, Alternative Press, and CMJ New Music Monthly). Chimera had started recording a third album, to be released in 1998. But with the commercial success of label mates Creed, Wind-Up Records turned their backs on them and the record was never released.