The Dream Academy

The Dream Academy formed in London in 1983, Nick Laird-Clowes, Kate St John, and Gilbert Gabriel developing a sound that drew on orchestral pop, folk, and the influence of Nick Drake in ways that felt both timeless and entirely of their moment. They were produced by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, who recognised something special in their music.

'Life in a Northern Town' (1985) was their debut single and their defining moment — a melancholy, orchestral pop song about the death of Ian Curtis and the passing of a certain kind of northern English life that reached the top five in the UK and the US. Their debut album 'The Dream Academy' (1985) was a beautiful and consistent record that deserved to make them stars.

The Dream Academy released one further album, 'Remembrance Days' (1987), before dissolving. Laird-Clowes subsequently worked as a songwriter and producer. They are remembered primarily for 'Life in a Northern Town', which is one of the most beautiful British singles of the decade, but their full back catalogue rewards discovery — they were far more than a one-hit wonder.