About The Nivens

Howard and Russ formed the Nivens way back in '85, and still aren't bored. As pioneers of the guitar band thing which saw bands like REM go from minor indy to monsters of pop (and Teenage Fanclub turn into, well Teenage Fanclub), they were in there from the start. A lucrative deal with Danceteria Records in France in the '80's and '90's helped the band develop through the years. Now it's that difficult 4th album - time perhaps to get back on the road with a vengance (and a big truck and lots of nice cheese and biscuits)?!... The coming together in the mid '80's of Howard Turner and Russ Storerson would allow them to hone their own brand of jangle-psychedelia over the next few years (with a bit of help from their friends) to the point where a more-or-less chance meeting with French indy label Danceteria lead to their first serious single and album releases in 1989 - "Shake it from the Top" and "Shake" - making a serious impression on the French charts - the album peaking at No. 9 - and also achieving the then unheard of feat of an indy band getting a playlist on Radio One, and getting into the top 3 in the French "Best" magazine readers poll (the French equivalent of the Melody Maker UK poll).