Tempertwig was the original project from Ben and Adam Parker (Nosferatu D2 / The Superman Revenge Squad Band / My Best Unbeaten Brother) and bassist Daniel Debono. The Croydon-based trio were active from 1999 to 2004, earning a cult following through their demos and frenetic live performances.
After the (belated) success of the Parker brothers’ second group Nosferatu D2 (Public Radio International / Drowned in Sound / Pitchfork) as Audio Antihero’s debut release, ‘FAKE NOSTALGIA: An Anthology of Broken Stuff‘ was compiled to capture these early and urgent days. Lyrical, frantic, minimalistic, and eclectically unpredictable, theirs is a sound that has launched labels a decade apart.
Tempertwig Press:
“It may have been written almost twenty years ago, yet listening to this collection, Tempertwig feel like they were not a band who ever really tried to fit in, as such they sound as fresh and intriguing now as they ever did.” – For The Rabbits
“Melancholic, tired anger…classic Parker brothers, the vulnerable honesty balanced with an unceasing self-consciousness, the cost of trying to communicate candidly in a culture that Mark Fisher labels ‘capitalist realism’—where everything has long since been used up and commodified, and nothing new can emerge.” – Various Small Flames
“Angled hooks, mathematical elasticity, and unbridled ferocity, the Parker brothers are the lost pioneers of the indie-emo scene.” – Cereal and Sounds
“It’s a cliché to say that the Parkers were ahead of their time – but it’s certainly true that the songs on FAKE NOSTALGIA are as relevant now as when they were recorded almost twenty years ago.” – Beautiful Freaks
“The music of Tempertwig is damp, gloomy post-punk a la Arab Strap. However, the bleakness of the music doesn’t come at the expense of some truly chilling lyrical narratives and emotive vocal deliveries.” – The Alternative
“It’s simply stunning and sounds like the future even though it’s over 15 years old.” – The Devil Has the Best Tuna
“As the band talk about wasted summers, you can see why the Parker brothers have a cult following and can imagine this is the kind of song that Gareth from Los Campesinos would fawn over…” – Spectral Nights
“Back then and now, Ben’s writing always struck me as introspective, but dying to bleed out; the refrain to hide the sleeping pills speaks to such a private restlessness, and yet here we are in the bedroom, kicking awake too on an early night in.” – This Is Not a Drill
“15 years after they ceased operations, Tempertwig still sound fresh and transgressive. Parker sings “Fake nostalgia makes me sick” but I can’t feign nostalgia for something I never knew existed. Instead I’ll just revel in something new and exciting. In an overproduced world Fake Nostalgia sounds naïve, rebellious, and compellingly authentic.” – Muso’s Guide
Tempertwig Links:
Bandcamp / Spotify / Hype Machine
More Music By Ben & Adam Parker:
Tempertwig Lineup:
Vocals & Guitar – Ben Parker (he/him) / Drums – Adam Parker (he/him) / Bass – Daniel Debono (he/him)
Tempertwig Resources (Interviews, Features, etc):
Additional Interviews & Features:
Firebird Magazine (2024) / MusicMakers (2019) / Echoes & Dust (2019) / Spectral Nights (2019) / HI54 Blog (2019)
Audio Antihero 