The Telescopes are an English space rock band formed in 1987 by Stephen Lawrie, who serves as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter; the group originated in the United Kingdom and has operated under a fluid lineup that has fluctuated between one and twenty members. Lawrie’s early influences ranged from The Beatles to Sun Ra, and the band’s first public appearance was a split flexi‑disc with Loop on the Cheree label in 1988, followed by the singles "Kick the Wall" and "7th# Disaster". The debut studio album, Taste (1989), was issued on What Goes On Records and introduced the band’s noise‑rock aesthetic, while the 1992 release The Telescopes on Creation Records shifted toward a more melodic, laid‑back sound that earned the single "Flying" a modest entry into the UK Singles Chart. Subsequent releases-including Third Wave (2002), #4 (2005), Harm (2013), Hidden Fields (2015), Exploding Head Syndrome (2019), and Songs of Love and Revolution (2021)-were distributed through labels such as Tapete, Neon Sigh, and Weisskalt, and the band continued to tour internationally, performing at events such as the ATP “I’ll Be Your Mirror” in 2011 and the Austin Psych Fest in 2012. In 2023 the group issued Experimental Health on Weisskalt and Of Tomorrow on Tapete, while a 2024 compilation Growing Eyes Become String was released with One Unique Signal.
