Biography
Phil Goss, Phil Heard & Steve Rothwell formed As If… in 1994 and became known for their techno-rock sound and creative stage shows, featuring (amongst other things) a metal detector and a drum duel. They toured the UK extensively during the 90’s, visited Norway twice around 2001 and played at venues as diverse as the Scottish Exhibition Centre, Chatsworth House, Winchester and Ely Cathedrals, a Soho nightclub, the Zodiac (Oxford), and local pubs.
They’ve played festivals and were also happy to oblige when they received a request to play at a 50th birthday party. They formed their own label, Windmill Records, in 2002 to launch their third album “in Full Bloom” and ventured into the world of acoustic music in 2004 which led to a number of “plugged out” shows and an album which took the same name.
During their career they have released 6 albums, all of which have received critical acclaim from various publications including Crossrhythms and Never for Nothing.
For the last 3 or 4 years the band kept a very low profile, but now they are back with a renewed enthusiasm, having just released there new album, Aurora Noise. They have also gone from being a three-piece to a four-piece band, having welcomed keyboard player Samuel Hearle. They still have a rock edge, but their sound is now kind of Pink Floyd-ish, with the odd dash of U2, and some of the stuff they discovered doing the acoustic shows has also been incorporated.
On their latest album the band have recorded songs that speak of life’s challenges and heartaches, and wrestling with issues of faith.
The songs on the new album were conceived over a period of 4 or 5 years, although several of them were written in the two months preceding the launch of the album – Phil Goss had a rich song-writing burst as we neared the date we had set ourselves to finish the album.
The new stage show still features some of the old As If… hallmarks like the drum duel but some new ideas have been thrown into the mix, to make you smile. Come along to a gig and see!
