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All Music Guide:
Dan Snaith's early recordings as Manitoba underlined his status among the chattering electronic classes as one of the brightest talents to emerge during the early 2000s. Having already proved himself master of the sublime with his 2000 debut EP, People Eating Fruit, the Canadian's subsequent Paul's Birthday EP opened him out even further. After moving to London, he released an excellent second album, Up in Flames (2003), that saw him become a darling of critics. One year later, however, Snaith was forced to give up the name Manitoba after Dictators frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba sued for trademark infringement, despite the passing of 15 years since the release of the only material under his name. Snaith renamed his project Caribou, his two previous full-lengths were reissued under the new moniker, and he released his first new Caribou album, The Milk of Human Kindness, in 2005 for Domino. Snaith moved to Merge for 2007's gorgeous Brit psych-influenced Andorra -- which won Canada's 2008 Polaris Music Prize -- and 2010's more dancefloor-oriented Swim.
Wikipedia:
Daniel Victor Snaith (born 1978) is a Canadian composer, musician and recording artist under stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. In 2005, he obtained a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London.
Career
Snaith previously recorded under the stage name Manitoba, but changed his name in 2004 under threat of an American lawsuit by Richard "Handsome Dick" Manitoba, the stage name of The Dictators frontman Richard Manitoba. As Snaith himself commented, "It's like The Smiths suing John Smith or something".
Snaith usually performs with a live band when playing gigs, often assuming the role of percussionist. Currently, Snaith's live band is made up of himself, Ryan Smith, Brad Weber, and John Schmersal. (Former bassist Andy Lloyd now plays with Born Ruffians and former drummer Peter Mitton is now a producer for CBC radio.) Sets also often include complex video projections on a large screen, a DVD of which was released in November 2005. "[I]n music I will have an idea to put some different sounds together or a melody that meshes with a chord sequence or a sonic mood," said Snaith in an interview. "I'm not the type of person who takes physical things apart and plays around with them, but I like taking mental ideas apart and playing around with them. That's what appeals to me about what I've spent my life doing."
His 2007 album Andorra was named the winner of the 2008 Polaris Music Prize, and his DJ-influenced 2010 album Swim was on the 2010 Polaris Music Prize shortlist.
In December 2011 Caribou curated the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" festival in Minehead, England alongside co-curators Battles and Les Savy Fav.
