Animals That Swim

Animals That Swim is a British alternative rock group from London, England, formed in 1989. The band consisted of brothers Hugh Barker and Hank Starrs, along with Al Barker, Del Crabtree, and various bass players over the years. Their debut single "King Beer" was released in 1992 via their own Beachheads In Space record label. Animals That Swim gained critical acclaim for their unique blend of "slice of life" lyrics and magic realism, as well as their distinctive use of the trumpet as a lead instrument. The band's debut album Workshy was released in 1994 and reached number 15 on the NME's list of best albums of that year. Notable releases included the single "Madame Yevonde" (1994) and the EP Pink Carnations (1995). The band released their second album I Was the King, I Really Was the King in 1996, followed by Happiness From A Distant Star (2001). After a period of inactivity from 2001 to 2011, the band released two new songs, "Tiny Lucifer" and "Silver Rays", online in March 2011.