The Cooper Temple Clause were an English alternative rock band, formed in Wokingham, Berkshire in 1998 by Ben Gautrey (vocals), Tom Bellamy (guitar, synthesizer, bass), Daniel Fisher (guitar, bass), Jon Harper (drums), and Didz Hammond (bass). Naming themselves after the Cowper-Temple clause, which was inserted into the Elementary Education Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 75), and which was a compromise on the nature of religious education in the state elementary schools set up in England and Wales by the Act. During many of their early interviews, the band would make up various stories related to the origin of their name to wind up the journalists. After signing to Morning Records in 2001, and releasing two EPs, the band's debut album, 'See This Through And Leave', was released on 11 February 2002, spawning three singles in 'Let's Kill Music', the double-A side 'Film-Maker // Been Training Dogs', and 'Who Needs Enemies?'. The album was well received by critics and reached number 27 in the UK Albums Chart. Nineteen months after 'See This Through And Leave', the band released their second album, 'Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose', in 2003, which saw the band record for the first time at their own studios Bleak House, and which had a different style, increasingly incorporating electronic sounds into tracks.
Its two singles, 'Promises, Promises' and 'Blind Pilots', gave the band international recognition, with 'Promises, Promises' reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The album was hailed by fans and critics alike, and reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band would ever achieve. In September 2005, bassist Didz Hammond left the band to join ex-Libertine Carl Barât in the band Dirty Pretty Things, although he did play on a couple of tracks for the band's next album before he left. After many setbacks, including a change in record label, and the loss of Hammond, the band's third album was significantly delayed, and was finally released on 22 January 2007. 'Make This Your Own' included the singles 'Damage', 'Homo Sapiens', 'Waiting Game' and 'Head', and it saw Fisher and Bellamy having a greater role in vocals, as well as featuring fewer electronic influences than the previous album. In late April 2007 the band announced they had split up, following Fisher's decision to leave, and this led to the cancellation of proposed appearances at Underworld and Dingwalls as part of the Camden Crawl. During their decade together they released many exclusive tracks as the b-sides to their singles, and this album collects them all in one place for you remember and re-assess an under-rated, but none-the-less innovative, indie rock band.
Track listing
Disc I - 2001
01 Devil Walks In The Sand (Acoustic) (promo 7" single 2001)
02 Girl Ink Age (b-side of 'Let's Kill MUsic' 2001)
03 My Darling (Nasty Angel) (b-side of 'Let's Kill MUsic' 2001)
04 Safe Enough Distance Away (b-side of 'Film-Maker' 2001)
05 Screwdriver Song (b-side of 'Film-Maker' 2001)
06 The Devil Walks In The Sand (from 'The Hardware' EP 2001)
07 Solitude (from 'The Hardware' EP 2001)
08 Way Out West (from 'The Hardware' EP 2001)
09 Sister Soul (from 'The Hardware' EP 2001)
10 I'll Still Write (from 'The Warfare' EP 2001)
11 Mansell (from 'The Warfare' EP 2001)
Disc II - 2002-2003
01 Before The Moor (from 'Who Needs Enemies' 2002)
02 One Quick Fix (from 'Who Needs Enemies' 2002)
03 Lapitu (Bedtime Story) (from 'Who Needs Enemies' 2002)
04 Not Quite Enough (from 'Who Needs Enemies' 2002)
05 Jesus, You Smoke Too (from 'Who Needs Enemies' 2002)
06 Our Eyes Are Bright (b-side of 'Promises Promises' 2002)
07 On.Off.On (b-side of 'Promises Promises' 2003)
08 I Know (b-side of 'Promises Promises' 2003)
09 Resident Writer (b-side of 'Promises Promises' 2003)
10 Habit Of A Lifetime (b-side of 'Blind Pilots' 2003)
11 Derelict (b-side of 'Blind Pilots' 2003)
12 I Want You To Think I Could Be (b-side of 'Blind Pilots' 2003)
Disc III - 2006-2007
01 Haunted By You (b-side of 'Homo Sapiens' 2006)
02 Pins And Needles (b-side of 'Homo Sapiens' 2006)
03 The Clan (b-side of 'Homo Sapiens' 2006)
04 Talking To Pylons (b-side of 'Homo Sapiens' 2006)
05 Last Line Of Defence (b-side of 'Waiting Game' 2007)
06 Pulling Shapes (b-side of 'Waiting Game' 2007)
07 For The Last Time (b-side of 'Waiting Game' 2007)
08 Sleeping In A Different Room (from the 'Head' EP 2007)
09 Zoology (from the 'Head' EP 2007)
10 Theme From Mayhem (from the 'Head' EP 2007)
