Anticipating their new single Bouquet of Dead Crows have let loose a video of the killer tune “Bunched Up Bradley”. It is released 18th May and this Star Wars Themed intro and in studio footage lets you enjoy the new tune in all its glory. An album is due in September and the band are playing a series of dates in Manchester, Newcastle and Bedford in early June.
Many thanks to Paul Forshaw for recording the whole of Drink and Drive’s set at AATMA on May 4th. The band are in fine form and if you haven’t got to see them live or bought the album yet maybe this will tempt you?
Anticipating the release of a new album “Naked”, Keltrix are back and are releasing a new single “Long Long Way” on May 11th, a track which links back to their last album release “Bobby Says”.
The last album was predominantly electronic dance-oriented in keeping with their new sonic direction the band has developed over the last few years. However, the forthcoming album strips back their sound to its folk roots with just voice, guitar and violin delivering acoustic versions of the bands “Greatest Hits” together with a handful of brand new songs.
Keri and Sharon have rightly received praise for their unique blending of traditional music with modern electronica/dance but it is time to step back and chill and reveal the “naked” beauty of Keri’s unique voice and Sharon’s sublime playing.
The electric version of Long Long Way, which features Jay Willams, was a stand out track from “Bobby Says”. It is coupled on this release with an amazing acoustic rendition of the song from the new album. A stunning video, inspired by those chilling horror movies that send shivers up and down your spine, accompanies both tracks. Video links will follow in the next few days.
This is a digital only release which will be available on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and a host of other digital platforms.
The new album will be released on June 8th and launched at Corner House Cambridge on the same evening. Digital and CD versions will be available.
A very limited run of thirty copies of Night Operations “Advantage” album is now available for purchase via our Bandcamp pages. This popular album has hitherto only been available digitally.
Secure your copy early to avoid disappointment.
The third release by the masters of electro-punk is released today – The Strays are back.
The Double-A single covers the superhuman efforts of Richard Dreyfuss to save us and explains exactly what is Problematic about life today.
The single is available from Bandcamp and all the usual digital outlets
In the second of a series of three new EPs from Moff Skellington we are pleased to release “Bargains Are A Hollow Syrup”.
The EP is available from Bandcamp as well as the all the usual digital outlets.
In this five-track extravaganza, Moff explores the funny old world of the present
A 15 track compilation, perversely entitled 13 Golden Greats, of pre-German Shepherd Staggs music is now released. Featuring the best of the duo’s early work this is a digital only release via Bandcamp, Spotify, I Tunes, Google Play, Amazon and many other digital outlets.
Blogger Get To The Chorus has posted an excellent review of the debut album from The Mind Sweepers on Facebook…..we’ve copied it below:
“The MIND sweepers, (yes The MIND sweepers) have been around locally here in Galloway for a few years, in one capacity or another. I first heard Paul Winter (vocals and guitar) perform a few times in our local in Dumfries probably around 10 years ago, just solo open mic nights and/or afternoons, long before the The Mind Sweepers, it was a no frills, no effects on vox or guitar affair, it was as raw as live music gets. I then have seen him perform perhaps 2014? For the launch of the Lost Wasp Records label in Gatehouse were he came armed with some new material, one of which was the “The Mating Game” a story of alcohol and seedy copulation and violence I remember an old lady sitting directly behind me that night “gasping” at the abrasive yet brutally honest lyrical content – settle Missus. Various local acts performed that night, such as The Razorbills, Marcus Samson Wright (Now of High Street Records) and the awesome James Smyth who now performs under the name Captain Zanzibar. Not long after this, The Mind Sweepers were formed after drummer Bryn Thorburn teamed up with Paul and it all started to make more sense. A fuller sound began to ensue, more palatable, sonically satisfying, same songs just given more limbs to stand on. The line up from then until now has gone through some changes but as this album is released it has become a more static unit.
States of mind is, without a doubt, a soundtrack for the coming summer so releasing it in spring is tactically shrewd. All tracks are sing-alongs, 21st-century private soliloquies that define time and place. Is it indie? Is it folk? Is it a little bit country? A little bit rock n roll? … Ummm… the answer is yes it is!! This is an immediately easily accessible album, it has a real identity, it is what it is, they are what they are in the same way The Eagles weren’t just a country act, and that is as best as I can put it.
In delivering this record, the boys have stuck to what they know which is songs they are very familiar and comfortable with and it’s that familiarity and comfort that really translates across to the listener. Imagine midsummer, the back of your mate’s car. driving to a festival, bleaching hot sunshine, – this record is on the stereo. It’s a soundtrack for moments like these. As I listen to “States of Mind” (as I write this) I’m already familiar with a few of these songs through live shows and immediately they sound different and this serves as The Mind Sweepers now having a “sound”. I find myself looping “Light of my Life”, its warmth and drive is big and powerful and will be played on many a radio this summer, the choral harmonies hark back to the 70s and breathe beautiful life into an otherwise sad story of love lost. Other highlights are “Taken by the Tide”, “A 1000 ships they sailed” and the sublimely tender “Castaway” which I like to think it is a continuation of “Light of my Life”, only later on that night.
A few weeks ago I managed to catch up briefly with Bryn Thorburn (Drums) after their support slot with The Skids. (Just take this opportunity to thank all the Sweepers for a guest pass that night, it was kinda pricey otherwise so thank you) Bryn drove me home after the gig and let me hear an advance of the album. Bryn will testify that I was immediately impressed, in particular with the vocals. I say that because Paul has such a big singing voice, he could fill the Mariana trench…. without a PA, but now, I dare say, his soft, tender airy vocal delivery is so very intimate and I’m so impressed that I ask Bryn to play “castaway” again.
Win Liv Shak., Owen Fielding, Al Price all guest on the album to great addition and effect, everything is at the surface for the listener to cherry pick, some of the guitar playing reminds me of Johnny Marr and his tight and crisp meandering lines, the bass and drums are deep, simple and solid, everything serves the song, nothing is overplayed or indulged. Everyone involved has laboured, there is no half-arsed complacency, these songs are so perfectly set in stone which brings me to the production. The album was recorded by Huey Dowling at Unit 7 Studio (Bladnoch) in Wigtown. I’m not just impressed with the production of this record, I’m so so impressed with the hazy, summer fields, stoned feel that is intrinsically captured in the production. Seriously, I can’t stress this enough, it’s such a warm record, reflective, happy, modest, and wistfully youth filled. A lot of elements have clearly clicked in bringing “States of Mind” to life, be it by design or serendipity it doesn’t matter, it’s irrelevant.
“He really got the best out of us,” Says Bryn.
The Mind Sweepers are ready for the summer, they sound fantastic and this is a real step up for them, effortless and lazy…..A beautiful record.
S
A very limited edition run of 25 copies of the CD version of The Mind Sweepers debut album “States of Mind” is now available to purchase via our Bandcamp page. With stunning artwork by drummer Bryn Thorburn this CD is well worth adding to your collection. Grab your copy now before they run out.
Keltrix return with a new release on 8th June. In a change from the recent electronic approach of the band they have stripped back the sound to acoustic and the new album is appositely titled “Naked”.
Violin and acoustic guitar dominate the soundscape and Keri’s voice is brought to the fore. Sharon’s playing on the album is exquisite with melody being the watchword.
The album consists of two new songs and a selection of re-imagined material from Beneath and Beyond Storms and Bobby Says.
The band will return to the more electronic side of things however with the album that follows “Naked”, which is planned for early 2019.
