James Ford is an English musical composer, record producer and musician. Known for being a member Simian Mobile Disco and production work with the Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons.

Biography

Ford went to Manchester University, along with other members of Simian..

Ford was a founding member of the group Simian and later a member the spin-off duo Simian Mobile Disco.

He produced the Mercury Prize–winning album, Klaxons’ Myths of the Near Future in 2007. He also played drums on the album. Also, in that year he produced the Arctic Monkeys second album. He has done at least part of the production on each of the bands subsequent albums. He plays guitar on Arctic Monkeys “Only Ones Who Know”.

In 2008, he formed The Last Shadow Puppets with Miles Kane and Alex Turner, as both drummer and producer. Their debut album, “The Age of the Understatement”, earned the group a Mercury Prize nomination and also charted at No. 1 in the UK. Their second album, “Everything You’ve Come to Expect”, was released in 2016. Ford once again produced, also playing drums, percussion and keys. The record earned the group their second UK No. 1.

Ford produced and played keys on Arctic Monkeys’ fifth album, “AM”, released in 2013. His work on the album gained him a further Mercury Prize nomination.

Ford has produced the 14th Depeche Mode album “Spirit” due for March 2017.

Discography

Groups

• Simian, Chemistry is what we are, (2001, drums, production)
• Simian, We Are Your Friends, (2002, drums)
• Simian Mobile Disco, Attack Decay Sustain Release (2007)
• The Last Shadow Puppets, The Age of the Understatement (2008, drums, production)
• Simian Mobile Disco, Temporary Pleasure (2009)
• Simian Mobile Disco, Delicacies (2010)
• The Last Shadow Puppets “Everything You’ve Come To Expect” (2016, drums, keyboards, percussion, production)

Production

• Fingathing – And the Big Red Nebula Band (co-producer; 2004)
• Garden – Round & Round (2005)
• Test Icicles – For Screening Purposes Only (2005)
• Absentee – Schmotime (2006)
• Duels – The Bright Lights and What I Should Have Learned (2006)
• Mystery Jets – Making Dens (2006)
• Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare (co-produced with Mike Crossey; 2007)
• The Bumblebeez – Prince Umberto & The Sister of Ill (2007)
• Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future (2007)
• The Lodger – Grown-Ups (2007)
• Florence and the Machine – Lungs (4 tracks; co-produced with Paul Epworth, Charlie Hugall, Stephen Mackey and Eg White; 2009)
• Peaches – I Feel Cream (2009)
• Arctic Monkeys – Humbug (3 tracks; co-produced with Josh Homme; 2009)
• Crocodiles – Sleep Forever (2010)
• Detachments – Detachments (2010)
• Alex Turner – Submarine EP (2011)
• Beth Ditto – Beth Ditto EP (2011)
• Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See (2011)
• Birdy – Birdy (2011)
• Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials (2011)
• Little Boots – Nocturnes (2013)
• Bill Ryder-Jones – A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart (additional production; 2013)
• Arctic Monkeys – AM (11 tracks; co-produced with Ross Orton; 2013)
• Haim – Days Are Gone (2 tracks; co-produced with Ludwig Göransson, Haim and Ariel Rechtshaid; 2013)
• Jessie Ware – Tough Love (2014)
• Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind (2015)
• Foals – What Went Down (2015)
• Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015)
• The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come To Expect (2016)
• Alexandra Savior – Strange Portrait (co-produced with Alex Turner; TBA)
• Depeche Mode – Spirit (2017)

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