Ooberman

U.K. indie pop group Ooberman clicked in 1988 when Danny Popplewell and Andy Flett first became friends, and together with Flett's kid brother Steve, the trio formed the Forestry Commission. The band was a short lived stint due to Popplewell moving to Liverpool from their native Bradford. Nearly ten years later with a strong friendship and a collection of demos still intact, the Flett brothers followed Popplewell to make music a serious thing. Joining them were birdlike songstress Sophia Churney and drummer Alan Kelly, and the group was officially christened Ooberman. Angelic song arrangements gained the band critical attention for their Shorley Wall EP, specifically from Graham Coxon and his Transcopic label, as well as praise from the Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield and BBC DJ Jo Whiley. A deal with Indiependente came in 1998, and Ooberman released the Stephen Street produced debut, The Magic Treehouse. British indie press continued touting the group, however the cheer didn't last. Ooberman was dropped by their label two years later while recording a follow up.