MIDLAKE return in February 2010 with their much-anticpated third album: “The Courage Of Others”

One of Bella Union’s most successful and celebrated acts – MIDLAKE – make their long-awaited return in February 2010 with “THE COURAGE OF OTHERS”, their extraordinary third album…

It’s ironic that Midlake’s new album is titled “The Courage Of Others” because, if anything, the courage is all theirs. Namely, the courage to do what feels right and stay true to the spirit of artistic independence whilst ignoring any pressure to conform to expectations. The result is the Texas quintet’s third album, their most complete and beautiful body of work yet, best appreciated as a whole in the old-fashioned sense of an album – which makes perfect sense when you know Midlake linchpin Tim Smith’s fondness for the look and feel of past times.

So what’s changed since The Trials of Van Occupanther, their second, hugely loved breakthrough album? Just as that record was in part inspired by the soft(er) rock of the early-to-mid 1970s – from Neil Young and America to Fleetwood Mac – so Midlake’s new album also looks to a slightly earlier, and definitely British, trad-tainted folk sound. It may share the same gorgeously analogue-warm electro-acoustic template as Van Occupanther but it’s a slower, darker and more carved record, both eerier and dreamier. Perfect, in other words, for its February release date, at the height of winter.

Neither do the new songs feature any hermit-scientists like Van Occupanther, or the mythical Roscoe. The songs that constitute The Courage Of Others, Tim says, are closer to his heart than those of their first two albums because, “I don’t feel I’m looking at the songs through someone else’s eyes. I’ve tried to keep it as true to myself as I could.” Guitarist Eric Pulido adds, “We didn’t want to make the same album as Van Occupanther, so we carried on moving and creating and pushing for a newer sound and emotion.”

“The Courage Of Others” is released on Bella Union records on 1st February 2010. Track-listing below…

Acts of Man

Winter Dies

Small Mountain

Core of Nature

Fortune

Rulers, Ruling All Things

Children of the Grounds

Bring Down

The Horn

The Courage of Others

In The Ground

Press acclaim for “The Trials of Van Occupanther”…

“The songwriting is rich, delivering an almost hallucinatory mix of pianos, horns, guitars and painfully wistful reminisces… One of 2006’s best.”

The Guardian – 4 Stars ****

“It’s so rare for an album to come from nowhere and sound as if it has existed for ever, but Midlake’s extraordinary second release is just such a gem. This deserves to become a major word-of-mouth hit.”

Evening Standard – 4 Stars ****

“This unimpeachable record is a part-pastoral, part-rock curiosity, with trace elements of Neil Young, America and Grandaddy. All exquisitely sung and played, and as with Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinoise”, we’re dealing with an invigorating, many-faceted work of diverse instrumentation and durability.”

MOJO – 4 Stars ****

“Skilfully textured and beautifully written… Fans of Flaming Lips, Wilco and Grandaddy should get it immediately. And fall in love.”

WORD

“This Texas quintet could fill the gap left by Grandaddy. It’s all here: the dreamy folk-rock, the sadly stoical laments for the simple life progressleaves behind, the gentle and pastoral shadings. Mapping the territory between Neil Young and Mercury Rev, their warm, charming and wistful second album seems to glow from within.”

The Independent (Information) – 4 Stars ****

“Texans Midlake deliver on their gorgeous, escapist second album – an organic, pastoral thrill that updates 1970s Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills and Nash for a new generation. Classic, elegant songwriting.”

Metro – 4 Stars *****

“Midlake seek to uncover the spiritual magic hidden beneath the veneer of everyday life… Singer-songwriter Tim Smith imbues his songs with a beguiling mystery. The results recall the genial eccentricity of Van Dyke Parks”

The Independent – 4 Stars ****

“This is one of those rare albums that comes out of nowhere and knocks your socks off! Midlake combine warm West Coast harmony rock with the wonder and mystery associated with sonic explorers like The Flaming Lips. Exquisite.”

The Sun – 5 Stars *****

“The Trials of Van Occupanther is a bona fide classic, a record that unites Mercury Rev-styled psyche eccentricity with smooth rock’n’soul. Out on the ever-inspiring Bella Union, its very existence makes the world seem a better place”.

NME – 8/10

“Midlake make music descended directly from the golden era of American folk: the prairie-wide melodies and plaintive harmonies of Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young… This rocks.”

The Telegraph

“this is a collection of songs that will never sound dated, because they absolutely exist outside of the cycles of trends and fashions… incredibly engrossing”

Drowned In Sound – 8/10

The Dead Flags “Anymore” Single Out on CD/Download, November 6th, 2009

Sligo-based pop-punk masters The Dead Flags release their second single, the blistering, catchy, energetic ‘Anymore’, on November 6th in Ireland.  The band has been going from strength to strength since the release of their debut single “O My Love! O My God!!” and their EP “We’ve Got Ways And The Means”. Through non-stop touring and a top 30 singles chart position they have earned both an ever-growing following and increasingly enthusiastic critical acclaim in the past twelve months.

“The Dead Flags are not just good, they’re irritatingly good. Your daddies died in the punk wars for this” – Jackie Hayden, HOT PRESS Magazine

Produced by Karl Odlum (Ham Sandwich, Fionn Regan, The Frames, Mark Geary and The Aftermath) and mastered by Kevin Metcalfe (The White Stripes, Supergrass and Snow Patrol), this single represents The Dead Flags at their absolute finest and is the first sampler from their eagerly anticipated debut album. The song is inspired by, according to vocalist Billy, “those Eels or old Smokey Robinson songs where the lyrics are down and sad but the music is really upbeat and energetic”.

The Dead Flags are Billy (vocals, guitar), Dave (bass, vocals) and Kevin (drums, vocals). The band spent the summer of 2009 touring in Europe, with dates in Germany and Holland, as well as playing shows and festivals in Ireland.

To celebrate the release of this single from their forthcoming album, The Dead Flags are launching ‘Anymore’ at Whelans, Dublin on Wednesday, November 11th. The band is then setting off on a tour of Ireland, including dates in Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Donegal and Sligo.

Anymore is released in Ireland on Friday, November 6th 2009

For More Information on the Dead Flags visit their Website,

or check out their Myspace here.

The Sick And Indigent Song Club New Album – Punch Drunk Released November 6th On Millennium Boy Records.

Long-time Dublin live favourites The Sick And Indigent Song Club are set to release Punch Drunk, their long-awaited second album, on Millennium Boy Records.

Rightly celebrated for their brilliant live performances, the band brings the energy and vitality of their stage show to fourteen tracks that showcase brilliantly the versatility, musicianship and wide-ranging influences that have made them one of Dublin’s most popular bands.

Punch Drunk – which will be launched at The Sugar Club on Sunday October 18th at 8pm – shows off the song-writing talents of the band’s chief vocalists Gary Fitzpatrick and Angie McLaughlin, from the steamroller opening of Fitzpatrick’s Hudson Dusters to the drawing-room chanson of McLaughlin’s The Merry-go-round Song that closes the album. In between you’ll find every possible influence from old-time American music through blues, country, jazz and even Shane McGrath’s Pan-European The Night The Clock Fell Off The Wall.

Each song is a story in its own right, from the anguished self-admonishment of the title track to the joyful, innocent sibling-worship of (I Wanna Whistle Like) My Sister Kate – one of the best evocations of childhood you’ll hear this year – all hung upon almost criminally infectious melodies and fine, sensitive musicianship from a collective that have a rare intuition for the whole ahead of the individual.

Building on their live reputation and the success of their sold-out debut album The Instoige Folly, Punch Drunk catches the Sick and Indigent Song Club on top of their game.

For More information on the band visit their myspace here.

Coming soon!!!

We’re Very Excited………..

New Dodos Video – Fables.

Here is the new video for Fables by the Dodos. The first single taken from their latest album Time to Die!

For more information on The Dodos check out their myspace here.

Martha Wainwright Sings Piaf… ‘Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris. Covers Album Of Rare, Edith Piaf Songs. Release Date – November 6th.

Martha Wainwright stamps her je ne sais quoi on a beautiful selection of rare and acclaimed Edith Piaf songs, passionately sung and romantically interpreted by Martha on her stunning album ‘Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris. Martha Wainwright’s Piaf Record’ out November 9th.

The album was recorded over three intimate performances in New York’s Dixon Place Theatre in June. Produced by Hal Willner, Martha Wainwright assembled a unique band of musicians including long-time collaborator Brad Albetta, who produced Martha’s first two albums, pianist Thomas Bartlett and electric guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Doug Wieselman to capture the French chanteuse’s venerable catalogue, beautifully coupled with Martha’s incredible, evocative and characterful voice.

Cautious of avoiding the cliché of looking sad, pretending to be drunk with a glass of absinthe on the table, Martha creates tension and urgency on this charming 12-track record – delivered with paralleled emotion conveying Edith Piaf’s mystical vulnerability. Highlights include ‘Adieu Mon Coeur’, ‘Vieux Piano’, ‘Une Enfant’ and a transfixing version of ‘Le Foule’.

Growing up in Montreal and speaking French at school, Martha was totally influenced and captivated by Piaf as a child, having listened to her music since the age of eight. “There are certain things about her that I have always been influenced by,” says Martha. “The emotive sensibility of her voice. She’s an incredibly emotional singer and I’ve always been an incredibly emotional singer and pained singer.

Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris is released November 6th.

For more information on Martha visit her website here or her myspace here.

David Turpin – New Video for The Bone Dance

Check out the fantastic new video for the first single taken from David Turpin’s new album Haunted!

The Bone Dance -

David’s new album and single will be released on Friday, October 16th.

There is a launch gig upstairs in Whelan’s on November 7th.

Bad Lieutenant, Sink or Swim Music Video!

Here is the video for sink or swim the first single to be taken from never cry another tear the debut album from the Bernard Sumner fronted band Bad lieutenant.

For more information about Bad Lieutenant visit their myspace page here.

Threadbare – The New Album From Port O’Brien Released 9th of October on City Slang Records.

Port O’Brien began as the bedroom recording project of Van Pierszalowski and Cambria Goodwin.

As the songs grew legs and spread among friends, live performances became inevitable.  Sprouting from the isolated coastal village of Cambria, California (yes, her namesake) the band collected kindred spirits along the way and has blossomed into a full band.  The band released All We Could Do Was Sing in the summer of 2008.  All We Could Do Was Sing captured the life Van and Cambia lived throughout their never ending summers in Alaska.  Van is a commercial fisherman, spending every summer on his father’s fishing boat off the coast of Kodiak Island. Cambria is the head baker at the cannery in Larson Bay, supplying pastries, breads, and deserts for the entire seasonal fishing community. But with the release of their first album, their lives were no longer seasonal.  They toured.  And toured.  And toured.  They were on the road all year long, shifting inspirations from the desolation and hard work of Alaska to the experience of seeing the world through the windows of a tour van.

As 2009 began, the band started to prepare songs for what was to become  Threadbare.  What started as a light-hearted and loose effort quickly turned into a dense, introspective work following the tragic loss of Cambria’s younger brother.  They started recording at their friend Jason Quever’s living room studio in San Francisco.  The songs were given a certain warmth and intimacy that couldn’t be achieved in a larger space.  The sense of comfort they found gave them the ability to fully realize the weight of the songs.  “In the Meantime” explore the desire for contentment in tumultuous times.  “High Without the Hope” bookends the album, illuminating the emotion and sense of loss that was felt throughout the recording process.

After spending weeks recording with Jason, the band felt they could work in a more open space.  They worked on the more celebratory and rhythmic songs in Los Angeles with Aaron Espinoza at the Ship.

“My Will is Good” and “Oslo Campfire” describe the liberation that follows in the wake of making active changes in one’s life following tragedy.

Together these sessions create Threadbare. It’s become somewhat of a two sided record with dark, haunting, and at times meditative songs paired up with the untiring, somewhat aggressive and punchy anthems that Port O’Brien is becoming known for.  The last few years have seen many adventures for the band.  The creation of this record came with continuing changes both within the band personally, and sonically. Port O’Brien will continue to evolve. In the meantime, Threadbare stands as another mark this young band has left.

For more information on Port OBrien go to their official website or visit their myspace!

Never Cry Another Tear, Debut Album From Bad Lieutenant released 12th October Through Cooperative Music.

Bad Lieutenant formed in 2007 with New Order’s Bernard Sumner (guitar and vocals) alongside Phil Cunningham (guitar) and Jake Evans (guitar and vocals). We can now confirm that they have completed their long awaited debut album “Never Cry Another Tear” which is set for worldwide release on 12th October 2009 on Triple Echo Records / Cooperative Music. The album features sounds that have helped make New Order such a treasured, innovative force over the past three decades, but also featured is a brand new voice from exotic Macclesfield, Jake Evans.

The new album centre’s around crisp, streamlined, 21st century guitar music – underscored by keyboards and occasional melodica. The record includes Sumner’s seemingly effortless melodic invention, but now these familiar joys blend with vocals and the talented guitar work of Jake Evans.

“This album is very important to me,” says Bernard. “We’ve worked hard on it and I’m proud of it. It’s also important because it gives people the chance to hear a gifted new singer and guitar player who I think’s really talented.”

Together, the band have spent over a year writing, recording and mixing the album near Manchester, which features additional musicians including Alex James (Blur) and Stephen Morris (New Order and Joy Division) on several recordings. Song titles and live dates will be announced in due course. The live band will include Stephen Morris on drums and Tom Chapman on bass.

A debut single, “Sink or Swim” was released prior to the album, on Monday 28th September 2009.

“There is some continuity to the music I’ve made in the past,” says Bernard. “But this is very different – because different people are playing on it. This is just how I now want to make music – it feels right to me and I hope at least a few other people feel the same.”

For more information check out their myspace here.