Stateless, the Leeds electronica collective whose two albums, a self-titled record on !K7 and the more recent Matilda, put out by Ninja Tune, are on of my favourite bands. I think the combination of indie, singer-songwritery other-wordliness, groove-based rhythms and dance-infused elements are truly special. Ultimately though it's the beauty of Chris James' vocals which really put the icing on the cake and make this band truly captivating, and important. Now James is finishing up his debut solo album. "Force (Song for Dylan)" is, to my knowledge the first song released from it. Watch the video here:
From this auspicious beginning we can see that an album from Chris James will be one of the albums to look forward to in 2014. Stripped of the layers and intricacy of Stateless, James' voice steps even further to the fore, with a beguiling tone and melodies which will take up residence in your soul. Watch this space for more in the rest of the year.
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Neil Cowley Trio news! Neil Cowley Trio news!
Neil Cowley Trio announce Touch and Flee autumn tour & release first video, ‘Kneel Down’
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Any day which includes news of new anything from Neil Cowley Trio is a good day. The band with the best beards in Jazz, Neil Cowley Trio today announces dates for their forthcoming tour spanning ten concert halls this autumn. The trio take to the road presenting music from their fifth studio album, Touch and Flee, released June 9th June on Naim Jazz Records.
Today also sees the unveiling of the first video taken from Touch and Flee. Filmed at RAK studios, Kneel Down is a haunting, compelling three-movement piece whose pulse, power and sweeping majesty sheds light on the new direction of the band.
Touch and Flee marks a defining moment in the evolution of Neil Cowley Trio. It is their bravest, most daring album to date, spotlighting the ever-increasing brilliance of Cowley as a composer. With long time band mates, Evan Jenkins on drums andRex Horan on bass, they present more expansive melodies and longer elegant passages for what they describe as “our concert hall record”. As always though, Cowley’s power to move through music is on full display. Here are a collection of tunes best savoured in a darkened room at full volume. They demand attention, but as always, deliver to the listener the most blissful of rides.
'Kneel Down' is available to download instantly when pre-ordering Touch and Flee from iTunes. Touch and Flee is released on 9th June 2014 on Naim Jazz Records (naimcd206)
Neil Cowley Trio tour in the autumn Presenting new music from Touch and Flee alongside Cowley classics. Expect a captivating show of high drama and playfulness that demonstrate exactly why the trio have earned their reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting live bands.
Neil Cowley Trio ‘Touch and Flee’ UK Tour 2014
On Sale April 4th 2014
26th Sept SOUTHPORT The Atkinson - www.theatkinson.co.uk / 01704 533333
1st Oct BRISTOL Colston Hall - www.colstonhall.org / 0844 887 1500
8th Oct CARDIFF The Gate Arts Centre - www.orchardentertainment.co.uk / 02920 483344
10th Oct OXFORD SJE Arts at St John the Evangelist Church - www.sje-oxford.org
11th Oct GATESHEAD Sage Gateshead - www.sagegateshead.com / 0191 4434661
Daniel Carlson - Eko Video
Daniel Carlson is a new name to me. He has an album out next week, Me You You Me. This is the video for the track Eko
I've yet to fully dig in to the album but I"m very much looking forward to doing so. The press release tells me that it sounds like Air and the Beatles....I can see (or hear) that I suppose, particularly the Air comparison. If you dig off-kilter Scandinavian pop this one might be for you. I'll work up an album review in due course, but for now enjoy the video.
Tuesday 25 March 2014
Disciples "Catwalk" Remixed by Plastic Plates
Following the release of his latest EP, LA-based producer Felix Bloxsom (AKA Plastic Plates) offers an upbeat house remix of Disciples’ latest track Catwalk. ‘The Catwalk EP’, a collection of Catwalk remixes, will be released on the 30th of March on Beatport. Disciples will follow ‘Catwalk’ with ‘Poison Arrow’, a collaboration with underground maestro Shadow Child.
Reflecting the stylisation of New York’s Ball scene of the late Eighties with a contemporary pop edge, ‘Catwalk’ encapsulates Disciples’ ability to weld the old with the new, creating a future-retro sound that can snare fans of both eras of music.
“Our influences come from so many different places that we’re not part of the any one scene which is what sets us apart from other people,” says Duvall, one-third of Disciples alongside Gavin Kool and Luke Mac. “If you look at people like Daft Punk and NERD, they’re not part of a scene but they have their own sound. It’s the same for us when it comes to house music. We’ve got our own section in house music.”
Formed by three ambitious, music-obsessed friends in south London, Disciples honed their genre-splicing, uplifting sound before debuting with the ‘Remedy’ EP last summer. Subsequently championed by the likes of Mistajam, B Traits, Toddla T, Pete Tong and DJ Target, Disciples have also remixed artists as varied as Robin Thicke, John Newman, Grouplove and HAIM.
Disciples – Catwalk EP
1. Catwalk
2. Catwalk (Bot & Astronomar Remix)
3. Catwalk (Plastic Plates Remix)
4. Catwalk (David Herrero Remix)
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