Chicane

Chicane is the electronic music project of Nicholas Bracegirdle, a UK trance and electronic producer from Amersham, England, born in 1971. He works in balearic trance, chillout, electronic, electronica and trance, and is associated with melodic dance music shaped by early training in classical guitar and piano. His early electronic influences include Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Vince Clarke and the house track “Anthem” by N-Joi.

Early releases and label work

Bracegirdle begins making music in recording studios at the age of 12 and sends demos to record labels. He later founds Modena Records, his own label, which holds the rights to his songs and licenses them to other labels for release and distribution. A partnership with Leo Elstob leads to the first Disco Citizens single, “Right Here Right Now”, in 1995, and the first Chicane single, “Offshore”, in 1996. “Offshore” is released through Xtravaganza Recordings, the independent UK label founded by DJ and college friend Alex Gold.

Breakthrough singles

“Offshore” becomes one of Chicane’s best-known tracks, appearing on many Ibiza and chill-out compilations and reaching number 12 in the UK singles chart on re-release, as well as the top 40 in several European countries and number 5 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The follow-up, “Sunstroke”, also gains significant club and chart success. “Offshore '97” is a separate release that combines “Offshore” with the vocal from Power Circle’s “A Little Love, a Little Life”, mixed by Anthony Pappa and later issued officially as “Chicane with Power Circle”.

Albums and major hits

Far from the Maddening Crowds, released in 1997, is Chicane’s debut album and includes new material alongside multiple versions of earlier singles. It is regarded as an important trance release. Further singles include “Lost You Somewhere”, the Benelux-only “Red Skies”, and “Strong in Love”, which uses vocals by Sylvia Mason-James and marks a first production collaboration with Ray “Madman” Hedges.

In 1999 Chicane releases “Saltwater”, based on a new recording by Máire Brennan of material from Clannad’s “Theme from Harry’s Game”. It reaches number 6 in the UK and number 1 on the main UK dance charts. “Don't Give Up”, with Bryan Adams on vocals, follows after a radio remix of Adams’s “Cloud Number Nine”. It debuts at number 1 in the UK, reaches number 1 in Australia and Russia, and becomes Chicane’s biggest hit. The album Behind the Sun is certified gold in the UK, while “Don't Give Up” is certified silver.

Later work and collaborations

Bracegirdle co-writes two songs on Cher’s album Living Proof in 2002, including “Alive Again”, which is issued as a single in Europe only. He also contributes music to the 2002 edition of the Formula One video game, which includes “Sunstroke”, “The Drive Home” and a remix of “Nagasaki Badger”.

After a dispute with Xtravaganza, Chicane moves to WEA for a planned third album, Easy to Assemble, preceded by “Love on the Run” and the promotional single “Locking Down”, but the album is not commercially released as expected. Bracegirdle later leaves Warner and returns to independent release activity through Modena. In 2006 he releases “Stoned in Love” on Globe Records through Universal Music Group, featuring Tom Jones. The track is promoted on television and radio, and Bracegirdle discusses the long delay around Easy to Assemble in interviews.

Independent releases and later singles

In 2007 Chicane releases “Come Tomorrow”, followed by the album Somersault, issued through Modena Records. The Cicada remix of “Come Tomorrow” is played on Radio 1 by Pete Tong. In 2008 Chicane releases “Bruised Water” with Natasha Bedingfield, with remixes by Mischa Daniels and Adam K, and later issues a best-of compilation containing the main hits plus the new track “Wake Up”, a collaboration with Keane. The project also includes the album Giants and the single “Middledistancerunner” featuring Adam Young.

Aliases and side projects

Bracegirdle also records as Disco Citizens, where he makes less radio-oriented, vocal-free tracks with a more progressive house sound. He works with singer Vanessa St. James and producer Mr. Joshua in the Mr. Joshua Presents Espiritu project, known for “In Praise of the Sun” with English and French vocals. He also uses the names Rebel Transcanner for a remix of Tomski’s “14 Hours To Save The Earth” and Sitvac for the one-off single “Wishful Thinking”.

Other identity

There is also a separate Chicane, a London shoegaze, indie rock and Britpop band active from 1991 to 1995, with releases including Inflammable EP, Strength Of The Sun, Wanderlust, Firebombs and Goldrush. Its line-up is listed as Alex Comyn, Mark Vidler, Jon Morley and Steve Sargent.