What started as two friends popping into each other’s houses and then home studios, putting down an idea here and a melody there developed into a set of songs with a Christmas theme, then a theoretical album, then, following help from their friends on additional instruments and as backing voices, a real album with a release date and a title.
Tom Smith of Editors and Andy Burrows once of Razorlight and now I Am Arrows have been friends for years, classic drinking buddies whose pub visits frequently ended with them at either’s house talking about and listening to favourite songs or setting the music world to rights. Both share a love of the classic Christmas songs and a fascination with the idea of Christmas records of the past, good and bad. Feeling that the innocence of the Christmas song had been lost in commercial plans and TV-sponsored drivel, the plan to make a traditional Christmas record - the kind of album that goes on after Christmas lunch for a singalong and a slump on the sofa as the wintry weather peeks through the windows - took on a life of its own.
‘Funny Looking Angels’ is above all a record born out of friendship. A mix of original tracks and covers chosen because they remind the protagonists of Christmas in direct or oblique ways, the album features vocals from both Tom and Andy and an eclectic choice of cover versions from Yazoo’s ‘Only You’ and Black’s ‘Wonderful Life’ (which they performed together some years previously) to The Longpigs ‘On and On’ and cult Birmingham band Delta’s ‘Funny Looking Angels’, which also gave them their album title and is an affectionate nod from Tom to his formative musical years in the city. The album also features a guest vocal from rising star Agnes Obel, already a major name in mainland Europe, in duet with Tom on the closing track, a sumptuous version of ‘The Christmas Song’.
The album is unashamed in its use of classic Christmas style backing vocals and strings, jingle bells and lyrical references to winter and Christmas. It is a record to enjoy in the purest sense, to listen to with friends over the holidays, to put on when everyone comes back from the pub, a soundtrack to the winter break. It is neither a naked grab for a hit nor a tongue in cheek joke. It is two friends and two very capable musicians trying to restore a sense of the community and joy of the season.
Making it's long overdue debut on CD is the second album by Spear Of Destiny which hit No.22 in the UK National Charts when first released in 1984.
Containing the British hit singles 'Liberator' and 'Prisoner Of Love'. It nowow comes with seven bonus tracks with the whole package b re=mastered by Tim Turan. The booklet contains original LP artwork, liner notes by "No More Heroes" author Alex Ogg, lyrics to all the songs plus pictures of all the relevant singles sleeves. Still very much active on the live scene to this very day, vocalist Kirk Brandon also fronts Theatre Of Hate and the Dead Men Walking collective.
Tracklist:
Rainmaker / Young Men / Everything You Ever Wanted / Don't Turn Away / Liberator / Prisoner Of Love / Playground Of The Rich / Forbidden Planet/ Attica / These Days Are Gone / Rosie / Grapes Of Wrath (1984 Version)/ Rainmaker (Live) / Don't Turn Away (Live) / Liberator (Dub) / Forbidden Planet (12" Mix) / Liberator (12" Mix)
The Canadian Synth Wave | French Style Minimal Pop Automelodi will soon have an European tour, including a gig in Belgium
CONFIRMED DATES:
30.09.2011: Paris (FR), Le Klub ("Bunker Bal")
01.10.2011: Rome (IT), Closer Club
02.10.2011: Milano (IT), TNT Club
04.10.2011: Stuttgart-Esslingen (DE), Komma
05.10.2011: Vienna (AT), Fluc ("Future Echo & Disco Frisco")
06.10.2011: Berlin (DE), King Kong Klub ("Death # Disco")
07.10.2011: London (UK), Bethnal Green Working Mans Club ("Brave Exhibitions")
08.10.2011: Cologne (DE), Blue Shell
10.10.2011: Antwerp (BE), De Kleine Hedonist
13.10.2011: Limoges (FR), La Fourmi
14.10.2011: Bordeaux (FR), Le St Ex
15.10.2011: Toulouse (FR), Le Cri De La Mouette
BIOGRAPHY:
Lead by vocalist and songwriter Xavier Paradis who has long garnered a cult underground following with his solo minimal synth project ARNAUD LAZLAUD active in Canada since the late 90's, the band was formed in 2006 and is a welcome new addition to the international wing of the Wierd Records community in Brooklyn. Like labelmates LED ER EST and FRANK (JUST FRANK), AUTOMELODI combines guitars with synthesizers and drum machines to create a truly idiosyncratic, cerebrally sophisticated, and elegantly composed album of modern minimal electronic music.
Highly unique for a North American band in 2010, AUTOMELODI proudly embraces the infinitely rich ground of French pop musical influences - including the legendary chanteurs of the 60's and 70's, classic French Cold Wave, Minimal Synth and early UK New Wave. The album carefully weaves together a series of hook-laden uptempo pop trax with with a set of stylishly confident, yet vulnerably melancholic downtempo songs that allow the listener to catch his misty breath in the mix, with nearly all vocals smoothly delivered in French.Lees verder
Mannequin Records will release on 26th October a brand new single by Vision Fortune
"Black Coral" is described like travelling on the train of Savage Republic, Red Temple Spirits and the Californian Trance and on the other side "Void Of The Valley" it seems like Vision Fortune are channeling in the same breath the spirit of King Crimson, so full of sax wails over a steady hynotizing bass line which frames the dual vocals that is almost a chant.
Here are some press-snippets:
"It's downbeat, pretty dense in it's recording and doesn't really seem to care if the listener is having a good time." (LOST LOST LOST MAGAZINE)
"Picture, if you can, a bunch of other-worldly belly dancers beaming down to Earth, bringing with them a musical language consisting of avant garde, jazz fusion, a raw sense of garage rock and a talent for a creating damn catchy pop hooks." (CANT HEAR MY EYES MAGAZINE)
"Each moment that passed was one step closer to our insanity as we wandered through the void of the valley" (GOOD POP BAD POP MAGAZINE)
"Vision Fortune sound like an unlikely jam between Abdullah Ibrahim's Dollar Brand, Bill Laswell's Material, King Crimson and Joy Division. And they definitely sound like a bunch of great musicians with a rich musical background and a true songwriting craft" (SPIRIT OF EDEN MAGAZINE)
"Do check out their Soundcloud (in the most stable frame of mind you have) for more material from these South London drone-smiths. I'm not joking; these guys literally open new doors on perception." (SPOONFED MAGAZINE)
Musiclovers of dark ambient, noise, industrial and neofolk wil probably know the label Steinklang Industries. Now you have a chance to buy loads of that kind of music for peanuts! They are doing a big sale and a lot of older items are all going out the door for just 3 euro's. If you are very adventurous, you can buy special surprise packs of cd's or vinyl. These are the options:
11 vinyl mixed style pack for 25 euro's.
20 electronic/noise/industrial cd's for 39 euro's.
20 neofolk/dark ambient/martial cd's for 39 euro's.
