The Telescopes

Formed in Burton upon Trent in England in 1987 around Stephen Lawrie, The Telescopes have operated from the start as a band with a shifting lineup: sometimes reduced to a very tight core, sometimes expanded for recordings and concerts, with Lawrie as the only constant. Rooted in the British independent scene of the late 1980s, The Telescopes developed a sound that crosses noise pop, shoegaze, neo-psychedelia, space rock and drone, featuring heavily distorted guitars, repetitive rhythms and songwriting that lets melody and abrasion coexist. After early singles released on Cheree and What Goes On, The Telescopes joined Creation and released Taste in 1989, followed by the self-titled album The Telescopes in 1992. Over the decades Stephen Lawrie moved the project toward more experimental forms while retaining a hypnotic rock foundation, extending their discography through the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Present on psych, noise and alternative stages in the UK and across Europe, The Telescopes have also recently intersected with figures such as Anton Newcombe, Lloyd Cole and Third Eye Foundation via remixes related to his work.