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Charlie Barnes: ‘More Stately Mansions’ stream released!
“Truly promising…” - Drowned in Sound
"...music that moves you in ways you didn't even know was possible..." - Gigwise
"Graceful, soothing songwriting..." - Clash
Charlie Barnes has released the title track to his forthcoming debut album More Stately Mansions as a stream. The album is released via Superball Music on 11th May 2015.
More Stately Mansions premiered on Clash Magazine's website, who described it as "Both personal and epic...". You can stream the track now via the Superball Music SoundCloud page.
“I'm so proud of this song. It's one of the most bonkers things I've ever written, but without being obtuse." explains Charlie. "It's still fundamentally just a pop song with a melody you can whistle. Unusually for me, the lyrics came together very quickly and easily. I don't even remember writing half of them. It's nothing groundbreaking really; early twenties contemplation of your place in the world and why we do the things we do, how the hell to keep your head above water and all that."
The video for album track 'Sing To God' premiered on Gigwise and you can now watch it via Superball Music's YouTube channel.
'Sing To God' is also available to stream via the Superball Music SoundCloud page.
Although this is Charlie Barnes, it’s not a solo project, Charlie Barnes is very much a band in every sense of the word. Musical inspirations range from Edith Piaf to St Vincent to Mew and it’s this rich tapestry of influences that have given More Stately Mansions diverse sound ranging from sweeping melodies and crescendoing vocals (“Sing To God”) to quieter, more introspective moments (“Balloons”, “Ghosts”) and joyous moments of pure alt rock (“Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth”). It’s this explorative sound that sets Charlie apart from the array of bland singer songwriters currently on the scene.
The album was produced by Steve Durose of Oceansize. The band are all massive fans of Oceansize which is prevalent from their precise musicianship and the more cerebral elements of the album.
Drowned in Sound and Prog Magazine have already noted Charlie’s talent and he’s already supported bands like Secret Chiefs 3 and opened for Vessels and The Twilight Sad as a solo artist.
To help promote the album, Charlie was also asked by Leeds based coffee roastery North Star to create his own signature blend. He spent a lot of his early twenties playing solo in coffee houses around the UK and Europe, whilst working part-time making coffee back home in Leeds and it seems to have paid off.
You can catch Charlie Barnes live at the following dates as he tours the UK and Germany:
3rd May – Handmade Festival - Leicester
12th May – Brudenell Games Room (Album Launch) - Leeds
13th May – Eagle Inn (supporting Vennart) - Manchester
23rd May – Way Back When Festival - Dortmund, Germany
24th May - Maifeld Derby - Mannheim, Germany
More Stately Mansions is bold and elegant, proving that Charlie Barnes is a strong contender for one of the most exciting new acts of 2015 - a true, rare talent.
Lewis Fieldhouse’s single ‘Not Done Loving You’ out now!
"...moving and musically skilled...
- GigSlutz
Lewis Fieldhouse has released his latest single Not Done Loving You via Theodore Washington Recordings. It is available to buy digitally on iTunes.
A heartfelt vignette that cuts to the very core of Lewis as a songwriter, backed up by hooks that dig in and won't let go, Not Done Loving You is just the song to welcome in the springtime.
The video for the single premiered on GigSlutz and you can watch it now via Lewis Fieldhouse's YouTube channel.
You can also stream the track via the Lewis Fieldhouse's SoundCloud page.
Not Done Loving You was written when Lewis lived in Liverpool and he explains, ‘I used to busk a lot on Liverpool’s Church Street and a couple of months after I broke up with my ex, she walked past whilst I was playing. Now, the break up was fine, it didn’t hurt at all until that moment. I don’t think she even saw me, but I wanted the ground to swallow me up. So I wrote a song about that feeling. I wrote the guitar part and then the rest just kinda fell out.’
To celebrate the single’s release Lewis will be playing several acoustic shows. There will also be two free entry full band shows tonight at Oporto Bar, Leeds, and tomorrow, the 14th of April, at The Finsbury in Finsbury Park. Other tour dates to be announced.
Not Done Loving You is released via Theodore Washington Recordings and is available to buy digitally on iTunes and BandCamp..
Siv Jakobsen’s single ‘Dark’ is out now!
"...glittering acoustic melodies, swooning strings and acoustic bliss."
- The Line Of Best Fit
Siv Jakobsen has released her second single Dark via Nordic Mellow Records. It is available to buy digitally on iTunes.
A follow up to the intimate How We Used To Love, Siv's new single Dark explores themes of mortality, loneliness and existential angst. The video for the single premiered on The Line Of Best Fit and you can watch it now via Siv's YouTube channel.
You can also stream the single via the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Dark is a deeply sad, yet beautiful song. Siv’s ability to capture and convey emotion with her voice, combined with heart piercing lyrics, demonstrate once again that she is a songwriter who, one day, could stand proudly beside inspirational artists such as Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, as well as her contemporaries Ane Brun and Laura Marling.
Siv has been performing in Europe and the US since 2011, creating emotive music that embraces the themes of melancholy and sadness. However, there is a distinct contrast between her music and stage persona, as Siv's naturally sunny personality juxtaposes beautifully with her brooding music, making it all the more effective in a live setting. She honed her talent while living in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn which she describes as “a door with a bed”, firmly immersing herself into the world of the struggling artist and challenging herself to reach greater heights.
You can catch Siv's enchanting live show when she plays The Alternative Escape at The Fishbowl, Brighton, on 15th May 2015 and Marwood Coffee Shop and Studios on 16th May as part of this year's The Great Escape Festival.
With an EP planned for the summer, and support for her previous single from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Folk Radio UK, 2015 looks set to be Siv’s biggest year yet.
Dark is released via Nordic Mellow Records and available to buy digitally on iTunes, Amazon and BandCamp.
Introducing… Urvanovic!
"Lilting vocals, swirling strings and some gorgeous glockenspiel..."
- Clash
"…thoughtful, delightful orchestral pop with a refreshingly lo-fi aesthetic." - Scotland on Sunday
Urvanovic are delighted to announce the release of their debut album Amateurs via Survivalist on 18th May 2015.
The video for album track 'Open Ground' premiered on Clash Magazine's website, and you can watch it now via the Survivalist YouTube channel.
You can also download the track for free via the band's BandCamp page.
On Amateurs, Urvanovic have created a spectacular amalgamation of live and programable instrumentation that creates an overwhelmingly powerful sound. Tom Irvine and Seonald Stevenson’s vocals blend together effortlessly throughout the release, riding on a wave of polyphony that dances from your speakers and fills the room.
Straddling the line between traditional folk and indie electronica, for every lo-fi song on the album, such as ‘Waterworks’ and ‘Onomatophobia’ there is an equally anthemic counterpart, whether it’s the distortion heavy and immediate album opener ‘Open Ground’ or the electro heavy ‘Bubblewrap’. Urvanovic are not a band who can be easily pigeon holed, and their ability to create a noise that’s both deliciously complex and eminently listenable is a credit to their ability as musicians.
Originally created as a studio experiment in Edinburgh, Urvanovic formed in 2012 as a byproduct of songwriter Tom Irvine’s (vocals, keys, guitar) composition projects at university. He then created a musical collective with the aforementioned Seonald Stevenson (vocals, trumpet) as well as Niall Sinclair (laptop & keyboard, noises), David Hill (drums, percussion), Emma Donald (violin), Bethany Coyle (violin), Rachel Wilson (cello), David Norris (violin), Amanda Currie (violin), Tim Cais (cello) and Graham Coe (cello) to create the intense and captivating sound you hear on this album.
With an EP on the horizon the band also have a host of Scottish shows planned in the run up to the album’s release, including a special collaboration with Edinburgh’s Tinderbox Orchestra where the band will be performing orchestral arrangements of some of their songs. There are also plans for UK tour and the band already have festival slots lined up at Hidden Door and the Kelburn Garden Party, making 2015 a busy year indeed for this Scottish musical collective.
You can catch Urvanovic's impressive live set at the following dates:
15th May - Wee Red Bar (with extended band) - Edinburgh
18th May - 13th Note (album launch) - Glasgow
24th May - Hidden Door Festival - Edinburgh
Amateurs is released via Survivalist on 18th May 2015.
Idlewild release video for ‘Every Little Means Trust’ starring Jay Baruchel!
"A Grateful Dead-like grace which could be their best work so far." - The Independent
"...their best album yet." - The Times
“…a genre-traversing, surprising, melodic, poetic, anthemic record with heart, smarts and soul.” - Drowned in Sound
Idlewild have released the video for their forthcoming single Every Little Means Trust, starring Canadian actor and writer Jay Baruchel (How To Train Your Dragon, This Is The End).
The video premiered on The Guardian's website, who also captured the moment Idlewild and Jay met for the first time in an in depth interview, and you can watch it now via the band's YouTube channel.
Every Little Means Trust is the third single taken from Idlewild’s critically acclaimed album, Everything Ever Written, which has been championed by the likes of The Independent, The Times, Guardian, Drowned In Sound, Q, Kerrang!, The Skinny and many others.
The track has a laid back and disarming melody that showcases just how much Idlewild have matured as a band during their hiatus, with vocals and guitar flowing together perfectly. The single was woven together with the idea that hope sits side by side with disappointment, as visited in classic Idlewild singles such as American English and Love Steals Us From Loneliness.
After discovering Jay was a long time fan, the band invited him to Scotland to feature in the forthcoming video for the single.
“Idlewild have been the soundtrack of my life since I first heard them in Bristol when I was 19.” remarked Jay “To say that I’m excited would be an understatement. I am proud and honoured and kind of still floored that I get to be a part of their work in any way whatsoever.”
Jay currently stars in hit FXX series Man Seeking Woman, which has just been confirmed for a second season. He is also about to start shooting Goon 2, the sequel to Goon, written by Baruchel himself and Evan Goldberg, with Baruchel taking on directorial duties this time around.
Idlewild front man Roddy Woomble had this to say about Jay’s involvement: “We were delighted to find out that Jay was such a big fan of the group. It is always nice to know that your work is appreciated. The fact that he’s also been so generous with his time by agreeing to come to Scotland and appear in the video was wonderful. He is a very talented and interesting actor.”
You can stream singles Collect Yourself and Come On Ghost now via the Idlewild Soundcloud page
Everything Ever Written is out now via Empty Words and available to buy from all good record stores and online retailers, including iTunes and Amazon.
To keep up to date with the latest Idlewild news follow the band on Facebook, Twitter or visit their official website.
Every Little Means Trust is due for release on 27th April 2015 via Empty Words.