Rainbow Quartz

10/11/2025

10/08/2023

Mike Jarvis from Rainbow Quartz's The Lackloves (and The Blow Pops) has a new band called Elephonic. Debut was released 5/1/23. Check it out!

Hear, Hear! The much-anticipated 2023 self-titled, debut release from Elephonic is out now and ups the ante on all things POP. With cascading waterfalls of cello and shimmering violin, sweeping keyboards, clinic-worthy guitar solos, impenetrable rhythm, and exquisite harmonies, Elephonic is setting....

01/31/2023

Great review of the latest LP by The Flower Machine in this month’s Shindig! Magazine…

06/04/2021

Ultra-rare vinyl on sale for charity in celebration of

Before the Mystery #1 album was issued 20 years ago, The Contrast’s first official release for Rainbow Quartz Records, the year before, was a limited edition double A-side split 7” single with RQ label-mates Fraff.
We have unearthed just 7 mint copies of the single: ‘Fraff - Tick Box/The Contrast - Mystery #1’...
The contrast have all too frequently found themselves dedicating records to departed loved ones. In celebration of we have decided to offer these rare 45s for sale in via eBay - with ALL profits donated to Cancer Research UK with love and honour to those we have lost to cancer - not least Ron Graves, Pete Overend Watts, Margaret Palmer, Betty Price, Holly Cara Price and David Reid’s father Jim Reid.

Each copy will be signed by David Reid and the buy it now price is set low at just £5 plus postage - BUT a ‘Best offer’ option is available for anyone who would like to pay more/make a larger donation...

Before The Contrast’s debut album Mystery #1 was issued 20 years ago, The Contrast’s first official release for Rainbow Quartz Records, the year before, was a limited edition double A-side split 7” single with RQ label-mates Fraff.

04/16/2021

Mystery #1 is 20...

The Contrast’s acclaimed debut album was released in the UK & Europe 20 years ago(!) on the seminal Rainbow Quartz label.

Mystery #1 featured the original three-piece band line-up - David Reid (vocals/guitars), James Crossley (drums) and Chris Corney (bass/vocals). It was recorded over several sessions throughout 2000 and produced by Andy Hawkins, who also contributed backing vocals plus piano and bass.

By the time of official release in early 2001, Chris Corney had departed and the band had expanded to a four-piece with Richard Mackman (bass) and Spencer Hart (guitar/vocals).

The album was released in America a year later and the title track became the first of many Contrast songs to be featured as ‘Coolest Song in the World’ by Little Steven Van Zandt on his - then brand new - Underground Garage radio show.

In celebration, The Contrast Mystery #1 bandcamp page has been updated with full lyrics. The complete original album is available to stream now...
https://the-contrast.bandcamp.com/album/mystery-1

for more #1 announcements coming soon...

14 track album

12/13/2020

New video premiere: New track by The Flower Machine from our forthcoming ep "Cups of Tea & L*D" (available 1/1/2021). Video shot on Super 8 by Carl Dybowski

From the forthcoming ep "Cups of Tea & L*D" (released date: 1/1/2021). The video was shot on Super 8 by Carl Dybowski. This is a cover version of a very obs...

07/26/2020

06/19/2020

"What's to become of our world, and who knows what to do" - The Police

Playlist:

The Contrast Wireless Days
Spygenius In A Garden
R.E.M. Texarkana
Vista Blue Senator's Daughter
Ed Ryan Even Time
The Figgs Dorado
Lannie Flowers Give Me a Chance
Cotton Mather Password
The Merry-Go-Round Gonna Leave You Alone
Hans Rotenberry & Brad Jones Buffalo Daughter
Eugene Edwards It Doesn't Get Better Than This
Roonii One For The Books
The On and Ons Don't Wanna Talk About It
The Producers I Love Lucy
The Vapors Fan Group Sundown River
Bill Lloyd (Musician) Undone
Push Puppets Speak My Mind
The Brothers Steve Carry Me
The Seven and Six Lisa Mychols see you again
The Kinks Living On A Thin Line
The Police Driven To Tears

"What's to become of our world, and who knows what to do" - The Police Playlist: The Contrast Wireless Days Spygenius In A Garden R.E.M. Texarkana Vista Blue Senator's Daughter Ed Ryan Even Time The Figgs Dorado Lannie Flowers Give Me a Chance Cotton Mather Password The Merry-Go-Round Gonna Leave Yo...

04/27/2020

hi gang - There are apparently some crazy bastards out there attempting to sell copies of our 2010 Rainbow Quartz cd Lavender Lane for $100 on ebay and amazon. Though it may be out-of-print and all that, $100 for a cd is mental. Our webstore now has brand new sealed copies of that one for $12, after I tracked down a box of them in my basement the other day. hope everyone's staying out of harm's way and all that. Peter Quinnell (The Flower Machine) https://theflowermachine.bandcamp.com/album/lavender-lane

03/06/2020

A new single by RQ-alumni The Flower Machine is released today - Available digitally and as a vinyl 45…

2 track album