British indietronica synthpop artist Rodney Cromwell has announced his forthcoming new ‘Rodney’s English Disco’ EP, his first collection of all new material in three years. Previewed by the song ‘Comrades’, which also features a 12″ extended dance mix by electronica act Vieon, the new EP will be available on 7″ vinyl, CD and digitally via London-based Happy Robots Records.
Where the debut album ‘Age of Anxiety’ by Rodney Cromwell (real name Adam Cresswell) drew on personal demons, on this new EP, social and political tribulations in the UK inspired these wry songs of woe. ‘Comrades’ is a robotic turbocharged rebel song for the twitter generation. ‘Barbed Wire’ is a song from across the barricades of the supermarket checkout. ‘Technocrats’ is a song for our illusory robot masters. ‘Dreamland’ is a breakup song for someone who just wants to go back to bed and pretend none of this ever happened. Sonically, this music sits between Kraftwerk, Pye Corner Audio and the Best of Divine.
Rodney Cromwell’s evocative synthpop looks to the proto-electronica of the 70’s and 80’s to construct a twisted soundtrack for the post-truth world. The instrumentation of the new EP has been kept intentionally minimal with its drum sounds taken entirely from a vintage Boss DR-55 drum machine and with a self-imposed limit on the amount of hissy analog gear used in its making. Melody and dark humor combine with simple motorik rhythms, soaring bass lines and the bleeps of retro synths, all within a lo-fi pop aesthetic.
Cromwell’s sound has been compared to the analog electronica of Kraftwerk, Section 25 and the ‘retro-futurists’ of Ghostbox Records. His miserablism and dark humor have been compared to that of The Cure and John Grant.
Rodney Cromwell’s debut album and subsequent EPs found crossover appeal, gaining Cromwell coverage from the likes of NME, Electronic Sound Mag, Huffington Post and Steve Lamacq and Gideon Coe on BBC 6 Music and on Spain’s national RNE3. At the end of 2015, Rodney Cromwell featured in 25 ‘Best of’ lists and was named ‘Most Promising New Act’ by The Electricity Club. ‘Barry Was an Arms Dealer’ featured in the 2015 Official Festive 50.
The video for ‘Comrades’ was produced by Dariy Karyakin, who has produced for David Lynch pet fave Nocturne Blue, has been praised by 6-time Emmy Winner Dutch Rall, and has earned various awards and honors. The sleeve artwork is by Latvian photographer Jelena Osmolovska, whose distinctive gritty post-Soviet fantasy aesthetic compliments the sound of this record.
Along with four original tracks by Rodney Cromwell, the EP features remixes by Rémi Parson, Vieon, Pattern Language and the debut release by Alice Hubble (Arthur & Martha, Mass Datura).
‘Rodney’s English Disco’ EP will be released on May 25 and available on red 7” vinyl, CD and digitally. Distributed by Cargo, this album is already available for pre-order via the Happy Robots Records store or Bandcamp. Catch Rodney Cromwell on tour in May.
LINKS:
http://www.facebook.com/happyrobotsrecords
http://twitter.com/robot_rocker
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZvCbaApGUVuQA7m7jaJtg/videos
http://soundcloud.com/happy-robots
http://rodneycromwell.bandcamp.com
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My Secret Circus – The War Game
New video footage obtained through secured, Australian sources have revealed a potential meeting between the US and North Korean governments, proving that the on-again, off-again negotiations for a peace summit between President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un are more ongoing than previously acknowledged. The video shot at an undisclosed location appears to document the two leaders meeting in a typically judicious fashion to determine the future relationship of the mutually antagonistic powers.
The encounter, clearly witnessed by an international audience of diplomatic and political power players that seemed to include, Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, My Secret Circus, and what looks to be a hookah smoking Zombie Bin Laden, reveals the previously underestimated negotiation skills of the oppositional leaders. Throughout the meeting, witnesses are confirmed to be appropriately contributing to the globally critical arbitration between the staid and decorous commanders, and the audience ultimately supports the appeasement goals achieved in the secret summit meeting.
We…have …the Korean summit commemorative coins Trump’s people had made up. Maybe they can become the official currency of the apocalypse?
– Jimmy Kimmel“…President Trump announced that he is calling off his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After he broke it off, Trump told him that he could have custody of Don Jr.”
– Jimmy Fallon“In his letter, Trump’s like, ‘I can wipe your country out with a level of nuclear force you can’t even comprehend… but I’m here for you if you need to talk.'”
– James Corden“I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire,”
– Kim Jong Un“We really wanted to do something that’s happening now. ‘The War Game’ track is tough, strong and makes a statement about a real-life war that’s happening, which we don’t see as we go about our everyday lives. Where on the other hand the video has the quirky side. (No world leaders were hurt in the making of the video) Haha! It’s a piss take for those with a sense of humor but the song is very serious. ”
– My Secret CircusAbout My Secret Circus
My Secret Circus (MSC) mesh together Alt’ metal, rhythm and catchy vocals to create a distinctive sound. Taking you on a ride of energetic anthems, this Melbourne, Australia rap/rock outfit is now about to launch their new music to the world.The forth-coming recorded music has been a work in progress, and after a few abbreviated starts MSC have evolved and are excited to continue the process that has brought them to this point
Developed over the course of a few years, the band also worked with names such as Marcos Curiel (P.O.D), DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit), Matt Sorum (GNR / Velvet Revolver) and Producers Brandon Friesen, the late Kato Khandwala, and at home with Australian Ricki Rae.
Look out for their Forthcoming EP The War Game on Hangry Records.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/mysecretcircus
https://www.twitter.com/mysecretcircus
https://www.instagrm.com/mysecretcircus
http://mscband.com -
Evi Vine – Sabbath
Ethereal alt-rock outfit Evi Vine presents ‘Sabbath’, a sweet and heavy preview of their long-awaited long-play ‘Black Light White Dark’, due out in early 2019 on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally. This powerhouse track features Evi Vine’s gossamer vocals and precise orchestration, cleverly woven together with bass guitar by Simon Gallup of The Cure and guitar by Peter Yates of Fields of the Nephilim.
Produced by Dave Izumi (Nordic Giants, Ed Harcourt, Magic Numbers) and mixed by Phill Brown (Talk Talk, Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, John Martyn, Robert Palmer), this album also features contributions from several other celebrated artists. Apart from Simon Gallup (The Cure), this album also involves Martyn Barker (Shriekback, Billy Bragg, Marianne Faithfull, Goldfrapp), Peter Yates (Fields of the Nephilim), and Geraldine Swayne (Faust).
As a group, Evi Vine is joined by Steven Hill, Matt Tye, and David ‘GB’ Smith. Their music explores the dark elemental nature of the human heart, as well as environmental and post-apocalyptic themes. Evi Vine’s sound is both sublime and haunting. Creating a unique and uncompromising atmosphere, the effect is reverential, physical music, evoking a rare experience that is beautiful, sparse and deeply intimate.
“I know a lot of people are being shaped by experiences in our lives, ghosts of childhood, self-destructive pain and sorrow, all our personal struggles, doubt, and change. I can feel the earth dying and it makes me so sad. We write reflective songs about the circular patterns of man, and reflecting beauty and violence in the world,” says Evi Vine.
“We recorded live for the first time, which meant we were perhaps able to express the energy in the room together, vibing off one another and experimenting with new sounds, in a new space. Writing in the room was a new experience for us. Its the first time we’ve gone in with no finished songs. We had a few ideas and riffs but took the time to let them breathe and worked on them until we felt we had captured a special moment. After producing two albums essentially at home, this feels like a re-birth for the band.”
Evi Vine’s debut self-released debut album ‘…And So The Morning Comes’ was heralded as “the underground gem of 2011” by Drowned in Sound and championed by Simon Raymonde (Bella Union, Cocteau Twins) as his album of the year. Directed by Oscar-winning Nick Brooks (Fight Club, The Matrix, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Evi joined with internationally acclaimed photographer Patrick Fraser to make the stunning video ‘For the Dreamers’.
Their second album ‘Give Your Heart to The Hawks’ (2015) was co-produced by Richard Formby (Mogwai, Spacemen 3, Wild Beasts) and mixed by the legendary Phill Brown (Beth Gibbons, John Martyn, Talk Talk, Led Zeppelin, Robert Palmer). The album also featured Martyn Barker, Peter Yates, Tatia Starkey (My Vitriol/Lola Colt), and Billy Cote (Madder Rose).
Evi’s career has been filled with color. She formed this band while living in LA, quickly getting a support show opening for Slash at the Whiskey-agogo. She has collaborated with Graham Revell (SPK, The Crow Soundtrack), The Eden House, Tony Pettit (Fields of the Nephilim), and Peter Yates (Fields of the Nephilim). In 2016, Evi sang on Phillip Clemo’s ‘DreamMaps’ album, together with Talk Talk’s Simon Edwards and Martin Ditcham, subsequently making appearances on BBC6, BBC3 Late Junction and Jazz FM.
Most recently, Evi Vine contributed backing vocals on The Mission’s 2016 album ‘Another Fall From Grace’, which hit the UK top-40 album chart, and collaborated with Michael Ciravolo on the debut album from LA-based Beauty in Chaos, involving members of The Cure, Ministry, The Mission, Cheap Trick, The Offspring, King’s X and Ice T, among others.
In recent years, Evi Vine has toured with The Mission, Chameleons Vox, Wayne Hussey, And Also The Trees, Phillip Boa and The Voodoo Club, and Her Name is Calla. After hearing Evi Vine’s debut album and including it among his top five albums, Wayne Hussey invited them to tour with him in 2016 and subsequently with The Mission in 2017. Invited on stage to sing three songs by The Mission, the seed was sown and Vine joined The Mission as the featured vocalist for their 30th Anniversary Tour.
“The new album is intense – dark, layered, wonderfully atmospheric, fragile, and at times stripped bare – an album to get lost in….and then surface with Evi’s haunting and delicate vocals and the endless space,” explains Phill Brown.
The Cure’s Simon Gallup elaborated on his involvement in this project: “Hammersmith …me drunk …meet Evi for the first time I mumble that I’d love to play on a couple of tracks …don’t hear anything for ages than an email out of the blue …Three songs …feel nervous but really enjoy the songs …a day trip to the coast and a lovely welcome with dogs ..have beer and made to feel even more welcome ..worry that what I’m playing isn’t right or not going to fit in but enjoy myself and the warmth of everything ..have to dash as there is a prom on …a very bad hill start and a dash back down the motorway ..a quick day that had started 20 months before.”
LINKS:
http://www.evivine.com
https://www.facebook.com/evi.vine.music
https://twitter.com/evivine
https://evivine.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/evivine
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcPbQaScYhloAHQFURajuZg?view_as=subscriber
https://itunes.apple.com/mn/artist/evi-vine/433578453
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pZRfgJDhjBjNuYQV09lLt -
Cathal Coughlan – Owl In The Parlour
Cathal Coughlan has released the video for his new track titled ‘Owl in the Parlour’. Given a dark tone only highlighted by the video, the track has an almost dark alt jazz feeling to it. Almost a cross between Leonard Cohen and Joe Jackson. The chord progressions are brilliant and the originality factor is above ten.
As of February 5, ‘Owl In The Parlour’ is available digitally across online platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify. Lead track ‘Song of Co-Aklan’ can already be found on these same platforms. The full album, set for release on March 26, can be pre-ordered HERE.
ABOUT CATHAL COUGHLAN
Irish indie music legend Cathal Coughlan presents ‘Owl In The Parlour’, the second single from his forthcoming album ‘Song of Co-Aklan’, his first new music in ten years, to be released via London label Dimple Discs. The accompanying video was created by Andy Golding (The Wolfhounds, Dragon Welding), presenting Co-Aklan in an infomercial of the most hallucinatory and lurid kind, which is nonetheless friendly and persuasive in tone.
“This song is, in part, a survey of the options in personal couture, animal husbandry, and ‘inexpensive’ domestic staffing which are now available to the spry middle-aged man in this era of global communication. In this gilded age, we are simultaneously interlinked and mutually repelled as never before, whether we live in remote settlements in war-torn parts of the world, or in the mosaic of postage-stamp-sized semi-detached fortresses and gargantuan fulfillment hubs that is the English Hinterland in 2021,” says Cathal Coughlan.
Earlier, Coughlan released the title track ‘Song of Co-Aklan’, along with a video that is a hermetic visual feast, created by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker George Seminara.
Best known as co-founder and vocalist for seminal 80s/90s bands Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions, who toured internationally with U2, the Cork native has been described as “the most underrated lyricist in pop today” by The Guardian newspaper. DJ John Peel was also such a fan that he stated he could “listen to Cathal Coughlan sing the phone book”.
Recorded in London, this song features Coughlan’s long-time collaborators from the Grand Necropolitan Quartet. Namely Nick Allum (The Fatima Mansions, The Apartments) is on drums, James Woodrow is on guitar, with cello by Audrey Riley (notable collaborator of Lush, The Sundays, The Smiths, Nick Cave, The Cure, The Go-Betweens, Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine Wheel, Moloko and Coldplay). Anchoring the song is Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti) on bass.
This album also features contributions from Luke Haines (The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) on bass and baritone guitar. The eye-catching cover art for the ‘Song of Co-Aklan’ LP is by outsider artist Cristabel Christo and originated by Bruce Brand, award winning designer for The Darkness and Whites Stripes.
Cathal Coughlan is widely considered to be one of Ireland’s most revered singer-songwriters, beloved by fans of caustic literate lyricism and erudite songcraft. Since Fatima Mansions’ demise in the mid-90s, he has released five acclaimed solo albums, taken part in an array of collaborations, and made numerous guest appearances. Along with Microdisney bandmates, he was the first recipient in 2019 of Ireland’s National Concert Hall Trailblazer Award, which celebrates culturally important albums by iconic Irish musicians, songwriters, and composers (for 1985’s ‘The Clock Comes Down The Stairs’).
Feautred image by by Gregory Dunn.
LINKS:
http://www.cathalcoughlan.com
https://www.facebook.com/cathalcoughlan
https://twitter.com/realcathalc
https://www.instagram.com/cathalcoughlan
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazYm7FpGdnSORnFUGqHHtQ/featured