The Big Pink
English electronic rock band formed in London.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Big Pink are an English electronic rock band based in London. The group currently includes Robertson "Robbie" Furze, Akiko Matsuura, and Charlie Barker, all of whom play multiple instruments. The band began as a duo in 2008 when Furze and Milo Cordell started working together. They chose their name after The Band’s debut album, *Music from Big Pink*. Furze had previously played guitar for Alec Empire and co-ran the Hate Channel label with Cordell, whose own label Merok Records had released early noise rock by Klaxons, Titus Andronicus, and Crystal Castles. Their first single, “Too Young to Love,” came out on 7" vinyl in October 2008 through House Anxiety, limited to 500 copies and featuring a homoerotic photograph by Dennis Cooper on its cover. A limited Japanese 12" single for the same track used more of Cooper’s photography.
In February 2009, The Big Pink signed to 4AD and won the NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act, presented by James Allan and Caroline McKay of Glasvegas. Their first 4AD single, “Velvet,” was released in April 2009, produced by the band and mixed by Alan Moulder; Pitchfork Media gave it a 7 out of 10, calling it “undeniably immense” yet intimate. A 7-minute remix by Gang Gang Dance followed online. The band also contributed a cover of “Lovesong” to a Cure tribute album included with the 25 February 2009 issue of *NME*. After opening for TV on the Radio in Europe, they embarked on their first headlining UK tour. A second 4AD single, the non-album track “Stop the World,” was released as a limited 7" on 29 June 2009, co-produced with Paul Epworth.
Their debut album, *A Brief History of Love*, came out on 14 September 2009, preceded a week earlier by the single “Dominos.” The band produced the album themselves at Electric Lady Studios in New York, with mixing by Rich Costey. Cordell described it to BBC 6 Music as covering “every different aspect of love.” They toured Europe, Japan, and the US from August through the end of 2009, with Australian dates and a second North American tour planned for spring 2010. They supported Muse on their UK arena tour in November 2009 and provided a remix of Muse’s “Undisclosed Desires” for its single release. “Dominos” won Best Track at the NME Awards on 24 February 2010. The band played the 2010 Coachella Festival and again opened for Muse at Wembley Stadium on 10 September 2010.
For their se
- formed
- 2008
- origin
- London, England
- genre
- Electronic rock
- label
- 4AD
- notable_award
- NME Philip Hall Radar Award (2009)
Lore & Background
Robertson "Robbie" Furze and Milo Cordell started working together as The Big Pink in 2008, taking their name from The Band's debut album, Music from Big Pink. Furze used to play guitar for Alec Empire and run the record label Hate Channel with Cordell. Cordell (son of Denny Cordell and brother of Tarka Cordell) had also been releasing records through his own label Merok Records, which featured early noise rock releases by Klaxons, Titus Andronicus, and Crystal Castles. After joining forces in mid-2007, the band issued their first single "Too Young to Love" on 7" vinyl in October 2008 on the House Anxiety label, limited to 500 copies worldwide.
The Big Pink signed with British record label 4AD in February 2009. On 25 February 2009, they won the Philip Hall Radar Award at the NME Shockwave Awards. In April, 4AD issued the duo's first single for the label, "Velvet." Their debut album A Brief History of Love was released on 14 September 2009, preceded by the single "Dominos." The band produced the album themselves at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and it was mixed by Rich Costey. They supported Muse on their UK arena tour in November 2009 and provided a remix of Muse's song "Undisclosed Desires."
Reader's Guide
The Big Pink's significance lies in their early recognition as a promising new act, winning the NME Philip Hall Radar Award in 2009. Their debut album A Brief History of Love, released in September 2009, and its follow-up Future This in January 2012, established them within the electronic rock scene. The band underwent a lineup change in February 2013 when Milo Cordell left to focus on his label Merok Records, but production of a third album continued with various musicians. In 2022, they released the single "No Angels" from their third album The Love That's Ours. Their legacy includes a notable award, a distinctive name borrowed from The Band's debut, and a series of singles and albums that charted their evolution from a duo to a trio.
Did You Know?
- The band's name is taken from The Band's debut album, Music from Big Pink.
- Their first single "Too Young to Love" was limited to 500 copies worldwide.
- They won the NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act in 2009.
- The single "Dominos" won Best Track at the NME Awards in 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Big Pink?
The Big Pink are a London-based electronic rock band that started as a duo in 2008 with Robertson "Robbie" Furze and Milo Cordell. The lineup later expanded to include Akiko Matsuura and Charlie Barker, all of whom are multi-instrumentalists.
How did The Big Pink get their name?
They named themselves after The Band's 1968 debut album, Music from Big Pink. The choice was a direct nod to that classic record when Furze and Cordell were first forming the project in 2008.
What genre does The Big Pink play?
They are classified as an electronic rock act, combining electronic production with live rock instrumentation. Because every member plays multiple instruments, their sound tends to be dense and layered.
What label is The Big Pink signed to?
They are on the independent label 4AD. Their earlier work was tied to the Hate Channel and Merok Records imprints, which Furze and Cordell co-ran or were closely associated with before the band's wider release.
What major award has The Big Pink won?
In 2009 they received the NME Philip Hall Radar Award, an honour given to a promising emerging UK act. That early recognition helped establish them in the British music scene shortly after their formation.
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