Amp formed out of the musical wanderings of Richard Walker (b. England) formerly in ‘The Secret Garden’ with Dave Pearce now of ’Flying Saucer Attack’. They recorded together the ‘Distance’ project from which one track ‘November Mist’ finally saw the light of day on the FSA album ‘Distance’ in 1994.

The first Amp release was an audio- cassette, accompanied by a short story, written and recorded in 1992, entitled ‘Green sky Blue Tree’. In London 1993/94 Richard’s ‘Green sky…’ inspires singer Karine Charff (b. France) and after joining Richard, AMP’s first single ‘Get There’ is released on Linda’s Strange Vacation Records. Both initially recorded some material at home and in Wales with friends Matt Elliiot of ‘Third Eye Foundation’ and Matt Jones of ‘Crescent’.
The first two singles were released in 1995, the album ‘Sirenes’ was released in 1996 in the UK and USA. They played a spree of gigs around London and Bristol.

“…Amp douse their folk melodies in oceanic effects, with a commitment to fidelity so low it would make a philander blush…Amp have created a soundtrack that actually attempts to address their imaginary film they are scoring…” Christopher Porter, Alternative Press 1996.

After the two members ‘Matts’ departed to work on their respective projects. Karine and Richard recorded some more material in London and Wales with G. Mitchell and G. Cooper resulting in the first album for the Kranky label ‘Astralmoonbeamprojections’ released in 1997.

This line up continued to play live around London, as well as Leeds, Manchester, Brighton, and notibly the 20th aniversary gig for the ‘Rough trade’ shops at thet Subterania, London.

“…. Amp’s Kranky debut is a panoramic sweep of experimentation, encompassing cavernously loud soundscapes, murmured vocals and a paradoxical blend of violent ethereality…” Tom Ridge, The Wire.1997

“…. Amp is the most beautiful band currently in existence. Their music, ideas and approach to the art of sound is incredibly honest to an immaculate end…” Eric Kowalski, Millk 1997.

1998 saw Amp restructuring more closely around bi-polar forces of Karine and Richard. They work with Olivier Gauthier from France for programming, Producer Robert Hampson (Loop/Main) and together record the album ‘Stenorette’.

“The Amp duo’s second album for Kranky marks an obvious change in approach from 1997 Astralmoon…  Here Amp makes conspicuous use of electronic beats to provide solid structures for the glacial beautyof their music…” Tom Ridge, The Wire Jan. 99.

After releasing the second Album on Kranky Records, Amp toured Europe in 1999 as a duo centred around Richard and Karine.

Space Age Recordings is Amp’s new home in 2000, from which we can find first release of ‘Saint Cecilia Sinsemilla’ a collection of Live recordings during their European tour in 1999 including a radio session for VPRO Radio 5 in Amsterdam.

“… Hearing Amp in what is (for most people) a new context, creates a new perspective for looking at not only this release, but previous releases. I have found myself returning to their other albums and enjoying them even more than before…” Pete Baumann, Fake Jazz.com. Oct.2001.

“Lamour Invisible’ was released in June 02 on Space Age Recordings.
Recorded in London with Richard Walker, Karine Charff and Olivier Gauthier.

Around this time the band toured Europe more often as a 3+4 piece as Marc Challans
Joins the band and Donald ‘Ross’ Skinner come aboard a little later.
This line-up notably support Interpol in London, at 93feet east. with members of Interpol professing to be fans of Amp!

“… And with L’Amour Invisible, I finally discovered this truly eclectic leftfield band. What they present to us in just over an hour is amazing in variety and quality. Never have I heard a band that combines different musical styles so easily as Amp…” Bas Ickenroth, KindaMuzik. Oct 2002

‘US’ was released in Feburary 2005 on Very Friendly.Records on CD (Cargo/UK)
The new album marks another development in their sound, to one which is bolder and more direct.
Richard and Karine are joined by Marc Challans, Donald Ross Skinner (Julian Cope)
and Ray Dickaty (ex. Spiritualized). Challans leaves the band in 2004 before the release of US.

‘… Expansive in its claustrophobia, propelled by its own density and darkness,, it is a panegyric to a transatlantic apocalypse.” Nick Southgate, The Wire April 05.

‘Transmissions Phase1’ 2xCDR was released on Ampbase.net, Autumn 2005.
Amp’s own imprint via their website, prior to a conventional release, as yet tbc.
Transmissions is a return to the landscape of ‘Perception’ and is intended as a kind of
follow up release. Preformed by Richard, Karine and Ray.

Performed 1 concert at ‘La Zone’ in Liege Belgium in November 1995
with Richard, Ray, Karine, Donald, and Jason Rivers (on loan from the Summer Sang) on bass.

Amp Toured Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland early in 2006.
with this line-up minus Ray (who had other commitments with the Solar Fire trio).

Amp played the ‘Croma Festival’ in Tenerife in September 2006 as a 3 piece:
Richard, Karine and Kevin Bass (of Snow Pony) on Drums.

Resleased on the 2nd July 2007, a 3xCD compilation of Amp rarities and un released tracks.
Released on the RROOPP label (RR02PP) Entitled “All of Yesterday Tomorrow”

In conjunction with this release Amp played a Ressonance FM radio session on the Glass Shrimp Show And played a gig in London at Corsica Studios, both times Amp was joined by Part Chimp’s drummer ‘Drum Chimp’ Unsurprisingly on drums

“For many, this writer included, the loose collective that birthed Flying Saucer Attack, Crescent, Third Eye Foundation, Movietone and Amp offered a window onto a new world of possibilities informed by a quietly confident reimagining of rock history… As this excellent three disc collection of rarities illustrates, the music instigated by Richard F Walker under the guise of Amp epitomises this movement’s preoccupations and preferences.”
“Little of the material here sounds dated, and what does is affectingly so, like a faded childhood photograph or a half-remembered TV theme. For the most part, Amp’s cavernous drones and unanchored plaints are disarmingly present in their refreshing lack of affectation or calculation. It’s a pleasure to make their acquaintance once again.”
–The Wire
“A mind-expanding 3 CD set… the music does just what it’s creator intended.”
“Some of the tracks featuring vocalist Karine Charff err towards conventional song structures while the looped and treated field recordings of ‘Wild Wine Gaze’ churn away like a vast weather system. ‘When You Have Love’ is quintessential Amp, with Satie-like piano ceding to a billowing blur of electronics and unrecognisable sounds, flecked with fragments of melody.”
– Mojo
“This triple CD survey of Amp’s work from 1992 to the present is especially valuable.”
“Richard Amp started out at the tail end of the UK shoegazing movement but heard in sequence like this, his music distils the scene’s most appealing elements. It’s surprisingly diverse: from the brooding isolationism of ‘Lutin’ to the Portishead-style trip hop of the recent ‘Fine Day’, whose elegiac mood recalls late-period TalkTalk.”
– Uncut

In conjunction with this release Amp played a Ressonance FM radio session on the Glass Shrimp Show
And played a gig in London at Corsica Studios, both times Amp was joined by Part Chimp’s drummer ‘Drum Chimp’
Unsurprisingly on drums

Following on from “all of yesterday tomorrow” Amp released a compilation of 2eps entitled “Soul Remains”, an album of unreleased matrial entitled “Motus” in 2008 and a live album “ Oetinger Villa” in 2009

In 2009/10 Amp contributed music to an underground independent film entitled “Interstate 5”
In 2011 Amp produced a soundtrack for an exhibition of the works of ‘the DNA Factory’

Currently Amp quietly continues to work on new material for a new studio album,