Blue Plate Special: South
South is an English rock band formed in 1998 by Joel Cadbury, Brett Shaw, and Jamie McDonald. The trio, all multi-instrumentalists, shared duties across guitars, bass, percussion, and keyboards, creating a distinctive and versatile sound. Originally envisioned as an electronic act during their early days at Haverstock School in London, South quickly gained the attention of Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, who mentored them. They later signed to UNKLE’s James Lavelle’s record label, further cementing their place in the British music scene. Their sound evolved, blending post-Britpop guitar rock with electronic elements, and establishing them as a band that pushed the boundaries of genre.
South’s debut album, From Here On In, released in 2001, showcased their expansive sound, weaving together acoustic, electronic, and rock influences. It produced singles such as “Paint the Silence,” which became widely recognized after being featured on the hit television show The O.C.. This is around the time that I first discovered South will browsing the CDs on my weekly visit to the record store in Pleasanton, California. At the time (early 2000’s), I was listening to more and more guitar-driven indie music, such as James, Travis, The Anniversary, Starsailor, Keane, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol – and South’s first album was in constant rotation in my car and home.
The band followed up with With the Tides in 2003, which continued to develop their atmospheric, layered sound with tracks like “Colours in Waves” and “Loosen Your Hold,” and is a fantastic album. Over the next few years, South released two more albums—Adventures in the Underground Journey to the Stars (2006) and You Are Here (2008)—before taking a hiatus.
After their break, the members pursued individual projects, with McDonald forming The Hug and releasing solo EPs, while Shaw built a career as a producer, working with high-profile artists like Florence and the Machine. In 2021, the band reunited for the release of From Here On Out, a collection of B-sides, rarities, and demos from the From Here On In era. This reissue reminded fans of the depth and creativity of South’s earlier work, cementing their legacy as an essential part of the post-Britpop scene, while also filling in the gaps between their classic releases.
Here are some of my favorites from their catalog:
Paint the Silence – from the album From Here on In (2001)
Motiveless Crime – from the album With the Tides (2003)
I Know What You’re Like (demo) – from the album From Here On Out (2021)
Tell Me – from the album You Are Here (2008)
Live Between the Lines (Back Again) – from the album From Here on In (2001)
Loosen Your Hold – from the album With the Tides (2003)
Save Your Sorrow – from the album From Here On Out (2021)
