Category Archives: SINGLE RELEASE

City Reign – Making Plans

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Impact date: 11th March 2013

Label: Car Boot Records 

Strongly-tipped Manchester indie rockers, City Reign, have announced the first single ‘Making Plans’, from their forthcoming debut album ‘Another Step’.

BBC 6 Music‘s Steve Lamacq loved ‘Making Plans’ so much that he played the demo on his show as soon as he heard it – and interviewed the band on the show shortly after.

The single follows taster tracks the band offered as free downloads ‘Ahead of Ideas’ and ‘Retaliate’.

First taster ‘Ahead Of Ideas’ propelled them on a UK tour and led to Clash Magazine asking them to open their inaugural issue launch gig in Manchester, recognising them as one of the best bands on the circuit, naming them “One of the best new young bands to follow.”

The band teamed up with Mancunian-based producer Sam Jones (Bromheads Jacket, Alex Turner) to record and re-work the album. He took the band into Sacred Trinity Church in Salford – choosing the church for its rich natural reverb, which helped to bring depth to the band’s classic guitar sound.

The sound builds on the raw energy and exciting promise of the early demos, including the demo version of ‘Making Plans’ which caught the ears of The Independent in late 2011.

The video was shot in Manchester’s legendary Night and Day venue, where the band played their first ever gig.

City Reign are song-writing pair Chris Bull and Mike Grice with Duncan Bolton on drums.

The album, ‘Another Step’, is due for release the same day (25th February).

February Live Dates:

Thursday 14th – Edinburgh – Bannermans
Friday 15th – Glasgow – Buff Club
Wednesday 20th – Cardiff – Buffalo Bar
Thursday 21st – Bristol – Golden Lion
Friday 22nd – London – The Garage
Saturday 23rd – Manchester – The Castle

March Live Dates:

Friday 15th March – London Bull & Gate.

 

cityreign.net
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Darktown Jubilee – Stay

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Impact date: 11th March 2013

Label: Parade Recordings 

‘Stay’ is the emotionally charged follow up to 2012’s ‘Breakdown’ and was mixed for radio by world renowned engineer Cenzo Townsend (Vaccines, Maccabees, U2, Snow Patrol, Editors et al).

Taken from the forthcoming album The World, The Flesh & The Devil (Feb 25th), ‘Stay’ is Influenced as much by Springsteen and The Doors as they are by contemporary artists like The Temper Trap and The Killers, Darktown Jubilee’s core resonates with a fundamental knack for melody, timing and simplicity.

David Boardman from the band comments:

“Stay is the most emotionally direct song on the record and has always connected with audiences so it became an obvious choice when we were considering singles. It was a dream to get Cenzo to remix it for us. He has mixed some of the greatest records of the last 10 years and I think brought out the best in the track, bringing to it an increased energy and dynamic range”.

“For the video, however, we were keen to show another, more playful, humorous side to the band whilst still remaining true to the essence of the song. The initial idea was to have the lead character enter a surreal, dreamlike scenario in which a procession of weird and wonderful characters were singing the song in karaoke style.”

“Finding the venue (a karaoke bar in Manchester’s Chinatown) was key to the look of the finished film and once Emmerdale‘s Emma Atkins agreed to play the lead role, it all began to take shape. It was a cool video to make which included nods to some favourite films and formative influences!”

LIVE DATES:
Sat Feb 9th – Manchester, Night & Day
Fri Feb 15th – Newcastle, The Cluny 2
Thurs March 7th – London, Nambucca

darktownjubilee.com
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City Reign – Ahead of Ideas

Label: Car Boot

Impact Date: NOVEMBER 12 th 2012

Manchester indie-rock trio, City Reign, have announced the release of the first single from their forthcoming debut album ‘Another Step’. ‘Ahead of ideas‘ builds on the raw energy and exciting promise of their early demos, including ‘Making Plans’ which caught the ears of BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq in late 2011.

The band teamed up with Manchester-based producer Sam Jones for the album, who took the band into Sacred Trinity Church in Salford to record. Jones chose the church for its natural reverb, which added more depth to the band’s classic guitar sound. City Reign’s vocalist and guitarist, Chris Bull, said: “I think we’re taking a risk with this single, it’s one of the most ambitious tracks we’ve recorded. The church was a great venue to record in and we have Sam to thank for that. We’re really happy with the rich and atmospheric sound we achieved on the album.”

Using the church as a venue wasn’t without its drawbacks, with the band once having to clear out in the middle of a crucial session recording the string quartet after realising that the church had been double-booked, allowing some confrontational locals to attend a memorial service.

City Reign are song-writing pair Chris Bull and Mike Grice with Duncan Bolton on drums. The album, ‘Another Step’, is due for release in early 2013 and you can catch the band at the following live dates in support of the single:

October 6th – The Deaf Institute – Manchester – Clash Magazine Launch w/ Jim Noir
November 2nd – Belushi’s – Edinburgh
November 3rd – Audio – Glasgow
November 7th – Viper Rooms – Sheffield
November 8th – Lomax – Liverpool
November 9th – Escobar – Leeds
November 20th – Pop In – Paris
November 22nd – Winstons – Amsterdam
November 24th – The Castle Hotel – Manchester

Check out the video for Ahead of Ideas below:

Blind Atlas – These Days

Label: Fallen Swine

Impact Date: 19th November

Fresh from their recent session for  Whispering Bob Harris’ Radio 2 show, Blind Atlas release ‘These Days’, taken from their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Kodiak Bear‘. As we’ve come to expect from the band, there’s a brilliant video to accompany the single too:

“Mancunian country blues grooving to a Burritos beat…Kodiak Bear brooding and reflective…hints of Exile on Maine Street, Calexico and Frontier Ruckus…” Classic Rock Magazine: 7/10

The Rainband – Rise Again

Impact Date: OUT NOW

Rise Again is the new single from The Rainband and is released in tribute to MotoGP legend Marco Simoncelli on 17 June with profits going to the charitable foundation named in his memory.

With a live tribute to Simoncelli already in mind for their June gig in front of 60,000 race fans at Silverstone, The Rainband were approached by the newly formed Marco Simoncelli Foundation and agreed to write a song to help raise funds to build disabled care homes across the world, a cause close to the racing hero’s heart.

The Rainband were booked to play at Silverstone after event organisers got in touch following the band’s sell out hometown show at Manchester’s HMV Ritz at the end of last year.

Martin Finnigan, lead singer of The Rainband, said
:

“Being invited to open the British and Italian MotoGPs is a big honour for us. When we met Marco’s dad Paolo he talked about his vision for the Foundation. I agreed straight away to donate everything from the single to the work of the Foundation. It’s a great cause, in the name of a great man and I am proud we are involved. MotoGP champion and friend of Simoncelli, James Toseland plays keyboard on the single, another huge honour. It’s also wonderful that so many sport and music personalities have agreed to get behind the track including; Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Jensen Button, Bradley Button, Guy Garvey, Elbow, Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce, Ocean Colour Scene, James, Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Minds…”

Alex Hulme – The Start EP

Impact Date: 30th July 2012

Label: Cityscape

A beautiful song and a wonderful melody (Sir Paul McCartney)

It’s been a good year for Liverpool based, Alex. He has just graduated from LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) where  he played for its patron Sir Paul McCartney. He has also supported a wealth of artists including Willy Mason, Willis Earl Beal and Emmy the Great, 2012 certainly seems like the start of something good for this 21 year old singer/songwriter. Alex’s first two EPs caught the attention of BBC DJs, and festival programmers alike, but Alex’s third EP, The Start, showcases his best work to date. We advise you to listen to the EP in it’s entirety, the final track Sparks has become a firm favourite.

“I’m tired of always hearing down beat tracks from solo acoustic artists,” says Alex, “I really want to write the songs that people sing along to, the ones that make you want to turn them up, jump around and enjoy life!” The title track of the EP does just that. The Start is a pulsing, pounding, feel-good, acoustic pop song with glorious boy/girl summer harmonies. This could just be your feel good track of the summer!

Daystar – Sleeper

Impact Date: 11.06.12

daystarband.com

twitter.com/Daystarband

‘Great Stuff, and very Manchester, too’ ED O’BRIEN (RADIOHEAD) 

‘Daystar is a band I’ve been listening to a lot lately’ CLINT BOON (INSPIRAL CARPETS / XFM)

‘Wonderfully melancholy…already sounds classic’ THE SUN

 Manchester indie/rock five-piece Daystar is set to release their latest single ‘Sleeper’ on 11th June. Their rise over recent months has been impressive to say the least. With a sound drawing expertly from contemporary influences like The Smiths and The Stone Roses and with song craft reminiscent of legendary groups like R.E.M. and The Beach Boys, the band have rapidly developed a reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming indie acts while supporting the likes of The Rifles and The Twang on tour.

Captured by legendary Liverpool producer Ronnie Stone (the man behind Mansun’s hit album ‘Attack of The Grey Lantern’), ‘Sleeper’ is a beautifully hypnotic and mellow song boasting chiming, shimmering guitars with front man Simon Monaghan’s sweet melodies soaring above. It’s an indie lullaby of real quality and, lyrically, a poignant rallying call to the lost souls who drift through life without ever fulfilling their potential. ‘Sleeper’ will be available on iTunes a week ahead of the release of the eagerly anticipated album ‘Daystar’ on the 18th June.

There’s evidence aplenty of the band’s respect and admiration for the work of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd and perhaps more than a passing nod to the classic harmonies of Brit-pop heroes such as Mansun and The Charlatans.

Lead singer Simon has a voice that exudes distinction and class, delivered amidst a sound that, while unashamedly steeped in familiarity, resonates with a fresh urgency and vitality that has won the band many high profile fans, including Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Clint Boon (XFM/Inspiral Carpets), BBC Radio 2’s Janice Long (‘They Said I’d like this, they were right’), presenter Terry Christian and BBC DJ Gary Crowley (‘I’m absolutely loving this, I can certainly hear the Syd Barrett and Brian Wilson influences’).

Catch Daystar live at:

CLUB NME @ KOKO LONDON 1st JUNE 

THIS FEELING @ FAC251 MANCHESTER 16th JUNE

Jack Robert Hardman – Lights of London

Impact date: OUT NOW on iTunes

jackroberthardman.co.uk

twitter.com/jrhardman

‘Lights Of London’ is the second single by 22 yrd old singer-songwriter/producer Jack Robert Hardman through Pleasant Pursuits / Essential Music.

Packed full of pulsating rhythms and intricate melody lines, ‘Lights of London’ tells the tale of a relentless desire to reach the bright lights of the big city. Fusing Hardman’s distinctive vocals and trademark production style, the song paints a dreamy picture of life in London, looking from the outside in.

Since releasing debut single ‘Famous’, Jack’s quirky pop music has attracted great excitement and interest from music scene luminaries such as  Huw Stephens (Radio 1), Tom Robinson (BBC 6music), John Kennedy (Xfm), and his local BBC Introducing presenter Linda Serck.

Quotes: listen to what Huw Stephens has to say about Jack below…

“His sound and writing have grown in range, and daring every time we’ve heard him”
Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

“Harks back to happier days like a pleasing meld of Belle & Sebastian and The Postal Service”
Middleboop

“Jack Robert Hardman should come with a warning label: his insanely catchy pop will stick in your head pretty much forever. He’s a supreme talent with a unique voice and take on life.”

BBC Berkshire Linda Serck

You can also listen to a sampler of Jack’s album from our SoundCloud page:

 

Bibelots – The Revolution Will Be Digitised

Impact date: 11th June 2012

bibelotsband.com

“Swaggering but never cocky, Bibelots mix electronic pulses with big choruses, coming off

like an early incarnation of Kasabian with added attitude. “                          Clash Magazine

In 2010, East London’s Bibelots won an opening slot at the prestigious Snow bombing festival in Austria, and were quickly spotted by John McClure of Reverend and the Makers. By the summer of that year the lads had started their own club night at Buffalo Bar, Islington and were starting to really make a name for themselves, along with support slots for such heavyweights as Detroit Social Club, Chapman Family, The Rifles, Starsailor , Dinosaur Pileup and Ocean Colour Scene, Miles Kane and Kasabian.

Already crowned HMV Next Big Thing for 2012, ‘The Revolution Will Be Digitised’ is receiving support from Geoff Lloyd at Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio & BBC Introducing and the band recently performed the track live on ESPN’s Talk of the Terrace.

Check out the video for “The Revolution will be Digitised”;

Darktown Jubilee – Breakdown

Impact date: 25th June 2012

darktownjubilee.com

If you’re not one of the more than 3,500 people who’ve already watched the excellent video for Manchester’s Darktown Jubilee‘s Breakdown on YouTube over the last 5 days, you won’t know that it stars the ace Salfordian actor Steve Evets (Looking for Eric, Pirates of the Carribean), or that it was directed by multi award-winning film director Jason Wingard (Grand prize winner of the Virgin Media Shorts competition). You probably won’t know that the video’s storyline is set against the backdrop of last summer’s riots either.

Breakdown is the first single from Darktown Jubilee‘s debut album ‘The World, the Flesh and the Devil’. Big things are likely to happen for these guys, so you might want to remember where you heard about them first.