Neil Cowley Trio news! Neil Cowley Trio news!

Neil Cowley Trio announce Touch and Flee autumn tour & release first video, ‘Kneel Down’

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 9^th 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 4^th 2014

26^th Sept              SOUTHPORT       The Atkinson - www.theatkinson.co.uk  / 01704 533333

1^st Oct                   BRISTOL               Colston Hall - www.colstonhall.org / 0844 887 1500

3^rd Oct                   LONDON              The Barbican - www.barbican.org.uk  / 020 7638 8891

8^th Oct                   CARDIFF               The Gate Arts Centre - www.orchardentertainment.co.uk / 02920 483344

10^th Oct                 OXFORD               SJE Arts at St John the Evangelist Church - www.sje-oxford.org

11^th Oct                 GATESHEAD       Sage Gateshead - www.sagegateshead.com / 0191 4434661

14^th Oct                 BIRMINGHAM   CBSO Centre - www.cbso.co.uk / 0121 345 0600

18^th Oct                 MANCHESTER    RNCM –www. rncm.ac.uk / 0161 907 5555

23^rd Oct                DERRY                   Derry International Choral Festival -www.codichoral.com              

           

Hundreds "Aftermath" Out March 14th (Free Download and Video)

It's been two years since their self-titled debut album was released but with their second offering, Aftermath, Hundreds return stronger than ever with the same, if not more, conviction, passion and excitement. Only a band like Hundreds could return with the same vigour whilst maintaining that enchanting, cool elegance that has become their signature sound and attitude.

After endlessly touring half the world, the Milner siblings were searching for a new approach to writing their music. They moved to the countryside and built their own studio in the middle of nowhere, starting from scratch, they began to write Aftermath. In their quiet seclusion, the band found their new approaching, writing organically and eventually producing twelve perfect tracks.

Aftermath is the story of opening up and letting go, growing older, but also of refreshing naivety and unconditional utopia. "Beehive (Prelude)", an instrumental version of a track from the album, is the perfect introduction for what's to come. 

"Beehive (Prelude)" Video:http://youtu.be/B0CxG9oInFI
"Beehive (Prelude)" Download:https://soundcloud.com/hundreds/beehive-prelude

Lotte Kestner "Cliff" Video

Lotte Kestner is probably my favourite singer songwriter. Ever since a transfixing first viewing of Trespasser's William, somewhere around 2004, I have been progressively more spell-bound by everything that has emanated from the pen, and the voice of Anna-Lynne Williams. This is far from the first time I've eulogised about her voice in writing, and I'm sure it won't be the last, either. Lots of people have special voices, but not many use them to their full, spectacular potential.

Having released a couple of albums independently, Lotte Kestner now returns with a new album, Bluebird of Happiness, on a new label, Saint Marie Records. The video for the album's first single, Cliff, can be seen below.

I'll have a review for the album here in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime, sit back, bask in the wonder of this single, and then pre-order the album forthwith. Perhaps this will finally be Anna-Lynne's time to enter the spotlight of the wider public consciousness that her beguiling talent undoubtedly deserves.

With Anna-Lynne currently hard at work with Robert Gomez on the follow up to last year's triumphant debut Ormonde album, Machine (featured in my albums of the year) as well as a follow up EP of her own, 2013 is already shaping up to be a special year.

Joel Peter - Wrap My Ankles

Joel Peter's new video is a cracker. Joel used to be in Retrofect, who I liked a lot, and used to play gigs with a fair bit. One of the few bands I used to look forward to going to see (I sound so jaded!). It was really quite sad when they called it a day, and it's great to see Joel Peter has now come along with a debut, self-titled EP of intelligent, articulate summery-pop. I'm looking forward to digging into the EP further and I'm sure I'll find more delights when I do.

(I also quite like it because my bandmate Ben is in the band, favouritism is allowed, right?)



In an entirely uncynical aside, it's nice to see a video of an indie-ish song in which the band look as if they like each other and are having fun. I must be getting old....

Check out the video, download the EP. Keep an eye on Joel Peter this year

The Good The Bad "034"

The Good The Bad were one of my favourite musical discoveries of last year. I was pleasantly surprised earlier on today to receive news from their PR that they have returned with a new album. It doesn't seem five minutes since the last one to be honest, but who am I to quibble. This is one of the "funnest" bands in Europe. No doubt. If you want the evidence of the continued growth and greatness of these instrumental genii, watch the video for new single "034" below.

'034' (The Film) by The Good The Bad from The Good The Bad on Vimeo.

Billy Vincent - Dead Man's Shoes Video showcase

Billy Vincent to showcase their new video for ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ tonight

Billy Vincent release the second single from their debut album ‘She’ on August 20^th through Something Nothing Records.

Highlighted in Paul Moody’s excellent review in Q Magazine as “conjuring up visions of a debauched Mumfords”, ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ embodies the heady mix of influences that makes their debut album ‘She’ such an intriguing delight.

Centered around the fabulously playful lyrics of Billy Barratt - “If I was a preacher, I’d get Jesus to meet ‘cha……” - and an irresistible chorus, Dead Man’s Shoes initially embraces a country flavour, embellished beautifully by the guest appearance of pedal steel legend B J Cole, before heading into territory inhabited byThe Kinks or The Faces.

The video for ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ was directed by Brendan Cleaves and can be seen just above this.

Billy Vincent will be breaking into their festival schedule (placed at No1 in The Evening Standard’s “must see this summer” list), to headline Club NME at London’s Koko on July 27^th to celebrate ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ release.

Billy Vincent are: Billy Barratt & David Vincent – vocals, guitars; Joseph Kinsey – bass, harmonica, vocals; Matt Woodward – fiddle, vocals; Jack Blenkinsop – drums, vocals.

Help Gaz Coombs (You know you want to)

Gaz Coombs (he used to sing in Supergrass you know) has just released his debut solo record. Gaz Coombs Present...Here Come The Bombs is a brave new step in a career which has been full of brave steps.

And now, if you're in the UK, you have the chance to be in his new video (tomorrow). Head to the link below, and get ready to simulate!

Sign up here - http://assets.emi.com/gazcoombes/signup/images/index.html