16 Feb 2008 21:30 Jazz Rock Kavala
http://www.rainingpleasure.gr/
Raining Pleasure is a four-piece band that hails from Patra, the biggest town in southern Greece. Having recorded their first demo in the early nineties, Raining Pleasure quickly became the Greek indie scene's best-kept secret.
Their debut album 'Memory Comes Back' (1996) was released for the respected indie label Lazy Dog and received enthusiastic reviews upon release as did it's follow up, 'Nostalgia', released in late 1998.
In Spring 2001 Raining Pleasure were linked with EMI. The band recorded and released an ep 'Capricorn', before returning to the studio to prepare their third full length album, their first for a major.
In December 2001 Raining Pleasure's major label debut 'Flood' was released to critical acclaim. The album spawned three massive airplay hits in Greece, the biggest of which 'Fake' has become a pop and rock radio staple, after successfully being used in TV spots for Greece's leading telecommunications company. 'Fake' was followed by the hits 'Capricorn' and 'Only Through You'. "Fake" was also used to the soundtrack of the film "The Best of Times" directed by the famous Taiwanese director Tso-chi Chang. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival 2002.
The buzz surrounding the group is fantastic and has taken many by surprise. In Rock N Roll Magazine 2002 readers' poll the group was voted best Greek rock act of all time, a humbling vote of confidence for an act that has been around for just over 5 years.
Raining Pleasure have been one of the hottest tickets across Greece for three summers running, having shared festival stages with The Cure, The Pixies, The Dandy Warhols and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club among others and having sold out theatres across the country.
Their major label debut album, 'Flood', performed exceptionally well on the charts, spending 15 weeks on the international chart where it peaked at No.1 before chart regulations necessitated the album's move to the local repertoire chart where it peaked at No.5 (an astonishing and unprecedented feat for a Greek act performing in English). The album spent well over a year on the Top 40 Artist Album Charts and has been certified Gold.
2004: The group's album 'Forwards & Backwards', is introduced by the double A-side single 'World'/'Identical Twins'. On 'Identical Twins' esteemed vocalist Elly Paspala contributes a vocal track of rare beauty. Both songs became airplay hits.
In March the band's cover of ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' featured in the successful Greek film 'Hardcore', began climbing the airplay charts where it will remain for over six months. In September the group scores another hit with album track 'Love Me, Love Me, Love Me' which video clip directed by Marina Gioti won the best animation video clip award at the Animation Block Party Awards 2005 in New York.
Winter 2004: The band embarks on its first tour of Germany and enters the studio to record a new version of the classic album by Manos Hadjidakis and the New York Rock N Roll Ensemble, 'Reflections'.
'Reflections' is released to immediate critical acclaim. The album was introduced to media at a concert at St Paul's Anglican Church in Athens.
Their latest album 'Who's gonna tell Juliet?' is released in December 2007 in Greece on their new indie label Celesta Records. It is a unique and unusual alternative pop record, described as a fervent guitar driven pop gem with strong melodies, smart lyrics and compelling vocals.
http://www.myspace.com/rainingpleasure
16 Feb 2008 21:30 Jazz Rock Kavala
