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Storm the Palace release album Snow, Stars and Public Transport!
"Expansive, baroque-flavoured pop with a highly melodic bent..."
- Clash
"...a cinematic world of slow-moving melody and poised orchestration." - M Magazine
Baroque-pop five-piece Storm the Palace's debut album Snow, Stars and Public Transport is out now via Abandoned Love Records. It is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
To celebrate the release, you can also listen to the album in its entirety via M Magazine now.
Splitting their time between Edinburgh and London, Storm the Palace create beautiful soundscapes incorporating elements of European folk, sixties orchestral pop and nineties guitar bands, to transcend a number of genres over the course of ten captivating tracks. The gorgeous animated video for The Moon Above Villiers Street was premiered on Clash Magazine's website and is now available to watch via the Storm the Palace YouTube page.
The audio was unveiled on Vic Galloway's BBC Radio Scotland show. The stream is now available to listen to via the Storm the Palace Soundcloud page.
The band announced their album with the release of album track 'DLR Dreaming', which premiered on Folk Radio and is available to stream and download for free via the band's Soundcloud page.
A labour of love, the record was written over a nine year period while singer, Sophie Dodds, lived in London. Originally from Edinburgh, Sophie used her time in the city to write and create vignettes of her life; snapshots of the people who passed through it and how the city’s unfolding narratives impacted upon her.
The resultant record is an unintentional concept album full of compellingly memorable songs, both challenging and inviting, conjuring memories of chansonnier-style singers old and new; from Keren Ann and Chrysta Bell to Édith Piaf and Françoise Hardy. On songs such as ‘Nadir’ the band set the mood for what is to come; off kilter piano is accented by a simple, yet effective, rhythm section, all brought neatly together by Sophie’s pure, passionate vocals. The aforementioned single The Moon Above Villiers St creates a tension-filled atmosphere, built through a 7/8 time signature, with mesmerising repetitive mandolin fluttering and harmonies soaring, as the band come together as one to produce a rich tone and texture that is as welcoming as it is isolating. On Snow, Stars and Public Transport Storm the Palace have constructed an album full of contrasting styles and emotions, an ability that marks them out from current, contemporary indie-folk bands.
Comprised of Sophie (vocals, guitars), Reuben Taylor (piano, accordion), noted for his work with Meursault and James Yorkston, Pippa Murdie (backing vocals, mandolin), Gordon Webster (drums) and Sam Wilkinson (bass), Storm the Palace are based in Edinburgh and London and are signed to an American label; a transcendence that can be heard through the music they create. After Sophie began performing her own songs in 2013, she gradually accumulated band members along the way until Storm the Palace were officially born.
The album features a number of guest appearances such as Dan Simons (CYMBALS) and Jamie Kenny (The Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic) and was mastered by stalwart of the Scottish IDM scene C. Mantle. 2017 is setting up to be an important year for the band with their debut album on the horizon and a UK and Ireland tour scheduled for May to support the release. You can catch the band on the following dates:
Sat 13th May 2017 - Glad Café - Glasgow, UK
Sun 14th May 2017 - Wee Red Bar - Edinburgh, UK
Snow, Stars and Public Transport is out on now via Abandoned Love Records. It is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Mt. Doubt reveal new video for ‘Reference Books’
"...a blend of jangly guitars and stark
lyrics, creating dark, pure indie."
- The List
"...distinctive vocals and accomplished songwriting..."
- The Scotsman
Starting out as Leo Bargery’s solo project, Edinburgh-based Mt. Doubt has since expanded into a collective of six musicians, each bringing something unique to the table. Now, the sextet are ready to release their new EP The Loneliness Of The TV Watchers, out on 2nd June 2017 via Scottish Fiction Records.
Mt. Doubt have now unveiled the brand new video for their latest single Reference Books, which premiered on The List and is also available to watch on Mt. Doubt's YouTube channel.
The single originally premiered on Team Rock and is also available to stream via Mt. Doubt's Soundcloud page now.
Reflecting on the everyday sense of disillusionment and fear that affects all of us, The Loneliness Of The TV Watchers is a heartfelt collection of indie-rock ballads. From the luscious harmonies and uptempo beats of previous single Tourists - which is inspired by Bargery’s fear of flying - to the poetic lyricism and sweeping melodies of ‘Purity’, each track offers an insight into the banality of everyday life. As Bargery’s impassioned, deep baritone flows, with strong shades of the likes of The National or Frightened Rabbit, each anthemic creation tugs at the heartstrings with a twinkling honesty.
Since the release of their critically acclaimed albums In Awe Of Nothing and My Past Is A Quiet Beast, Mt. Doubt have received praise from the likes of The Scotsman, The National, The Skinny as well as BBC 6Music and BBC Radio Scotland to name but a few. They are also no strangers to the Scottish live circuit, having performed at T In the Park, Brew At The Bog and supported We Were Promised Jetpacks, Admiral Fallow and White Lies amongst others.
Catch Mt. Doubt live at the following dates:
6th June - Gwdihw Cafe - Cardiff
7th June - Servants Jazz Quarters - London
8th June - XPO North - Inverness
10th June - Tolbooth - Sterling
The Loneliness Of The TV Watchers, the forthcoming EP from Mt. Doubt, is out 2nd June 2017 via Scottish Fiction Records.
A Badge Of Friendship at The Great Escape!
We're extremely proud to announce that we have four fantastic female-fronted artists playing at Brighton's Great Escape Festival from May 18th - 20th 2017.
First up, we have ethereal Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly, who will be performing at The Hope & Ruin on Thursday 18th May at 1.45pm as part of Presented by BIMM.
Maria's single Far Below is available to stream on Soundcloud and Spotify now.
As a part of Showcasing Scotland at The Great Escape with Creative Scotland, both The Van T's and Be Charlotte will be performing at the Brighthelm Centre on Thursday 18th May at 2.30pm and 3.30pm respectively.
You can also catch The Van T's later that day at Sticky Mike's Frog Bar at 7.30pm and Be Charlotte at The Hope & Ruin at 9.30pm and at Komedia Studio on Saturday 20th May at 1.15pm.
The Van T's' latest single Fun Garçon is available now on Soundcloud and Spotify.
Be Charlotte's single One Drop can be streamed via Be Charlotte's Soundcloud and Spotify now.
Last but certainly not least we have Amsterdam's Pip Blom who will be performing as part of The Dutch Impact Party. She will be playing at Komedia on Friday 19th May at 2.30pm and again at the Brighthelm Centre at 8.30pm.
Pip's single I Think I'm In Love is available via Pip's Soundcloud and Spotify now.
The Nyx share new video for ‘Fire Breathing Lady’!
"... with Alice In Chains vibes this is
grunge with determined energy
running throughout."
- Louder Than War
"Fuzzed up riffs and scorching vocals..." - Clash
"...stings and excites..." - Q Magazine
Energetic rockers The Nyx have now shared a new video for their dynamic single Fire Breathing Lady, which features on their debut self-titled release out now via Rumours Music. These empowering women are making music with a purpose and they’re doing it with huge servings of attitude, emotion and raw authenticity.
The raucous new video premiered on Tom Tom Magazine and is available to watch now via the band's YouTube channel.
Fire Breathing Lady is also available to stream on the band's Soundcloud page now.
The EP kicks off with the band’s previous single Hideaway, immediately introducing you to the band's ability to create electrifying riffs and front woman Simone Picknett’s undeniably unique vocal blends effortlessly with the girls’ solid harmonies throughout. Simone explains “Hideaway is about the struggle of the push and pull of an over thinking mind. What's real and what’s not”. The next two tracks on the EP, Fire Breathing Lady and Myself, were written in the early years of the band’s formation. The first of which, an angsty track delivering a strong yet fun message, shows a grittier side to the band. Its brimming with quirky guitar licks and front woman Becky Wixon’s fierce vocal delivery is paired with almost glam rock style harmonies from the rest of band. Final tracks Myself and ‘Home’ build slowly, showing the band’s musical versatility whilst still evoking the same uncontrollable energy and intent that carries throughout the entire EP.
The band originally formed in High Wycombe, which included Becky and Simone (vocals and guitar) and Ruby Rose Lee (bass). Having already received praise from the likes of Q Magazine, Absolute Radio and having previously supported well-established acts such as The Subways, the girls decided they wanted to move in a different direction and thus The Nyx was born.
These fiery females are ready to redefine what it means to be a girl in a band. Their debut EP amplifies the energy of this flaring female-piece who have something to say and stand for.
Self-titled EP The Nyx is out now via Rumours Music. It is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify now.
Gallery 47 releases new EP ‘Bad Production’!
“…a soothing piece of melancholia
that dwells on mature, rounded
themes.” - Clash
“…Jeff Buckley-esque vibrato with sheer youthful exuberance…”
- Drowned in Sound
Singer-songwriter Gallery 47 aka Jack Peachey's latest EP Bad Production is out now via Bad Production Records. It is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify now.
The single Political Differences premiered on Folk Radio and is also available to stream via Jack's Soundcloud page now.
The first single to be taken from the EP, Lefty, premiered on Northern Transmissions and is also available to stream via Jack's Soundcloud page now.
Potentially his most politically influenced release yet, Bad Production feels as though it couldn’t have arrived at a more appropriate time. Singles Lefty, Political Differences and EP track ‘Overflow’ were written as a result of an alcohol-infused dispute between Peachey and some family members who commented negatively on today’s youth and their approach to finding work. This is an issue Jack has struggled with himself, making this release even more relatable and poignant. The other tracks on the EP follow in a similar vein, filled with Jack’s signature intricate guitar picking and a storytelling charm akin to the likes of Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley’s unique ability to create soft, bittersweet tales of melancholy.
Gallery 47 originally formed ten years ago as a six-piece band in Loughborough. Once the band went their separate ways, Jack decided to continue as a solo artist under the same name, becoming a regular on the live circuit in Nottingham and currently in his new home of South East London.
Amongst Jack’s supporters are BBC Radio 2‘s Bob Harris, BBC 6music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Radio Nottingham’s Dean Jackson, The Guardian, Drowned in Sound and Folk Radio to name a few. Gallery 47 has also supported a number of well established acts like Paul Weller, Alice Phoebe Loe, Ian McCulloch and Andrew Montgomery as well as playing on the BBC Introducing stage at T in the Park.
With Bad Production, Jack returns with with another delicately weaved collection of captivating alt-folk tracks. They tell an intriguing story of discrimination, sibling rivalry, school politics and drug abuse entwined with intelligent lyricism and beautiful arrangements.
Bad Production by Gallery 47 is out now via Bad Production Records and available to buy and stream on iTunes and Spotify.