As if recieving plays from BBC Radio 2‘s Whispering Bob Harris, Dermot O’Leary, and 6 Music‘s Tom Robinson, Absolute Radio’s Geoff Lloyd, Xfm’s John Kennedy… wasn’t enough, Straw Bear continue to attract breathless praise.
This time, it’s from the respected Rock ‘n’ Reel magazine, who gave their new album, Black Bank, a five star review:
The first single from the album, “Kitty,” is released on March 11th 2013.
Legendary radio DJ Bob Harris raves about Straw Bear‘s “Kitty” on his BBC Radio 2 show on Sunday 17th February 2013.
The band are booked in for a Tom Robinson session on BBC Radio 6 Music on 9th March – Bob said that this is “definitely a date to put in the diary.”
“Kitty” is released on March 11th 2013.
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
Impact Date: 13th June 2012
Label: Fallen Swine
Manchester’s own Anglo-American band Blind Atlas will release their debut album Kodiak Bear on the 18th June 2012.
Their live session for ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris’s BBC Radio 2 show was broadcast on 8th July.
Brother Moon will be the lead radio track from their debut album with another beautiful animation from collaborators Volkerfirma who have also animated a video for the title track Kodiak Bear. The animation will be released on 13th June a week before their album launch party. The song was engineered by both the Earlies and Blind Atlas themselves, with the Earlies again producing the track adding the haunting phaser and reverb to the vocals. The track also features Christian Madden of The Earlies on the Hammond Organ.
Impact Date: 11.06.12
‘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
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