Harvey Williams

Harvey Williams was one of the unsung catalysts behind the success of the now-legendary British indie Sarah Records, recording some of the label's earliest singles under his Another Sunny Day alias and later serving with its flagship band, the Field Mice. Born and raised just outside of Cornwall, England, Williams adopted the Another Sunny Day name to issue his 1988 Sarah flexi-disc debut, "Anorak City," just the third release on the fledgling label; a proper single, the underground classic "I'm in Love With a Girl Who Doesn't Know I Exist," followed that July. Williams relocated to London in February 1989 to accept a job with the BBC; a series of Another Sunny Day 7"s -- "You Should All Be Murdered," "What's Happened," "Rio," "Genetic Engineering," and "New Year's Honours" -- followed over the next three years and in 1992, Sarah issued the London Weekend compilation. Shortly after his move to London, Williams also adopted lead guitar and keyboard duties in the Field Mice, making his recorded debut with the group on the two-part 1990 EP The Autumn Store; after the Field Mice dissolved the following year, he assumed a support role in another Sarah band, Blueboy. Williams finally returned to his solo career with the 1994 10" Rebellion, his first effort released under his given name; the record also heralded a departure from the guitar-centric pop of his Another Sunny Day output, instead revealing a more minimalist, keyboard-focused approach. After Sarah folded, Williams briefly rejoined former Field Mice frontman Bobby Wratten in his latter-day Trembling Blue Stars project, also appearing on sessions for acts spanning from Saint Etienne to Shampoo. In 1998, he issued the mini-LP California, touring Sweden the following year accompanied by former Holiday frontman Josh Gennet. Also in 1999, Williams rejoined Trembling Blue Stars, this time as a full-time member. ~ Jason Ankeny