ABSENTEE

London 5 piece Absentee are: Dan Michaelson (vocals/guitar), Melinda Bronstein (vocals/keys/melodica/glochenspiel), Babak Ganjei (guitar/lap steel), Laurie Earle (bass) and Che Albrighton (drums).

Since the release of their first mini album in 2005 the group have been honing their original ideas into full blown facts. Testimony of which can be found within the group's third album "Victory Shorts" due for release in August 2008.

After their first and fairly ramshackle year together writing and supporting the likes of The Magic Numbers, The Go! Team and Architecture in Helsinki, the group made many friends and supporters in the pop world and eventually decided to sign to like minded souls Memphis Industries.
In the summer of 2005, Absentee released 'Donkey Stock' their first limited. This six track mini-album was an unassuming introduction to a band with a lot to say to those who wanted to listen. It turned out that a fair few ears did fancy a listen. 'Donkey Stock', a rich debut that told tales of love gone sour and awkward sex, duly sold out and the friends kept coming. The NME stated; 'these songs make each hair on the back of your neck shiver like leaves in the wind.' before promptly placing it at number 28 in their albums of the year.

Second album or debut 'proper', 2006's "Schmotime" brought their sound to a wider audience and cemented the bands position as a highly regarded talent and future contenders for "national treasure" status, attracting good press across the board and again securing a healthy position in the NME albums of the year pole.

"Absentee's very existence makes the world a better place" NME 9/10
"Gallows funny with instantly memorable songs" Observer
"Entertaining and melodic - Absentee have to be applauded" **** The Times
"Brilliant, a man sized portion of rock and roll" Artrocker
"Like Lou Reed with grubbier fingerprints." **** Q

After a summer of taking stock and thinking up new songs, the tail end of 2007 was spent road testing new material on tour. First with Brakes, and then a month later with the Broken Family Band, Absentee again found many new friends and fans whilst showing the already converted fans what could be expected from them in 2008. Shortly after, the band headed back into the studio with producer Nick Terry( Libertines, Bernard Butler/ Ian Brown, Klaxons) to record tracks for the third album "Victory Shorts". Essentially a culmination of all that had been promised with the previous 2 records, Victory Shorts is the sound of a band whose time has come. Tackling themes of premature marriage proposals, adultery, lost property love and broken crockery, Absentee provide the soundtrack for every lost soul who took a wrong turn whilst looking for the right one.

"Victory shorts" is released August 25th, and preceded by the "Bitchstealer E.P" on the 9th June

BITCHSTEALER - 9 June 2008

Bitchstealer
I'm Your Man
My Eyes Adored You
That Old Ghost

Watch the video here:

SCHMOTIME - 8 MAY 2006

1. More Troubles
2. We Should Never Have Children
3. Getaway
4. Hey Tramp
5. You Try Sober
6. There's a Body in Car Somewhere
7. Weasel
8. Truth is Stranger than Fishin'
9. Duck Train
10. Something To Bang
11. Treacle

SOMETHING TO BANG - Released 27 Feb 2006

Its a brand new version of Something To Bang backed with a brand new song You Try Sober. Its on 7" and CD single as well as digital. Artwork by big baby Babs. The single has already recieved play from Zane Lowe on Radio 1, Jonthan Ross on Radio 2 and is A listed on BBC 6 Music

Here's the video: SOMETHING TO BANG VIDEO

1. Something To Bang
2. You Try Sober

WEASEL - Released 31 October 2005

Two brand new tracks from the boys and girls of Absentee on limited edition 7". Comes with a free sticker of a semi naked lady and a besuited bear courtesty of Babs, Absentee's hairsuit guitarist. Listen to Weasel by clicking on it below.
A. Weasel
B. Les Mesaventures Sexualle

DONKEY STOCK - Released 4 July 2005

1. Rainy Days Swimming
2. Something to Bang
3. My Dead Wife
4. In the Toilets Again
5. On the Hallway
6. Heather's Golden Shoulder

BUY DONKEY STOCK FROM ITUNES

Press

"fabulous songs, streaked through with dark humour and drunken warmth...perhaps the best of the new London hopefuls". Record Collector
"wonderful, sordidly warm alt rok" Rocksound
"Absentee's very existence makes the world a better place" NME 9/10
"Gallows funny with instantly memorable songs" Observer
"Entertaining and melodic - Absentee have to be applauded" **** The Times
"Brilliant, a man sized portion of rock and roll" Artrocker
"Like Lou Reed with grubbier fingerprints. Very promising" **** Q
"Neat, soulful Indie-pop" Music Week

Upcoming Touring

10 Jun 2008, HOXTON BAR AND GRILL, LONDON
05 Jul 2008, CORNBURY FESTIVAL, OXFORD,
16 Jul 2008, BUSH HALL,LONDON, with micah P Hinson
25 Jul 2008, SECRET GARDEN PARTY, HUNTINGDON
29 Aug 2008, ELECTRIC PICNIC, IRELAND
12 Sep 2008, END OF THE ROAD, LARMA TREE GARDENS

Old Touring

Aug 22 - independence, sunderland
Sep 10 - Bestival Isle of Wight
Sep 12 - Borderline London
Sep 16 - End of the Road Festival
Oct 1 - Moshulu, Aberdeen
Oct 2 - Oran Mor, Glasgow
Oct 3 - Acadamy2, Newcastle
Oct 4 - Fleece, Bristol
Oct 5 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Oct 7 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Oct 8 - Barfly, Birmingham
Oct 9 - Academy 3, Manchester
Oct 10 - Scala, London
Oct 12 - Scala, London
Oct 13 - Bierkeller, Manchester
Oct 14 - Social, Nottingham
Oct 15 - Faversham, Leeds

Check Absentee out doing an acoustic set for the BBC at the Green Man Festival