Everything; most of the stuff we play live is acoustic, but influences and tastes are much broader. Obviously stuff by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Beatles, Nick Drake etc, but also Violent Femmes, Wilko, Iain Archer plus those musicians who are friends; Husky's track "unusual flower" is a killer; www.myspace.com/huskysounds
Not the easiest pair to pigeon hole, but for a clue think Bew Hewerdine meets Nick Drake meets Jeff Tweedy...with a bit of XTC They write about human experience; narratives in which the characters come to life. Tales of betrayal, love lost and found; one man's invisibility under a government boot; the story of the boy who finds himself lost when he "falls between the paving of a conversation." They are creative and original, but we can relate;
"Listening to them play–you just might find that you've been there too; thought what they were thinking ...when they wrote that song ...'though you might not want to admit it; ...."Disappearing, is really so simple....the art is to leave not a trace of yourself"...Easily done; a tale of walking away.
The "hallmark" of their music lies in the blend of their two voices; Castle's is rich and worn and complements Brodbeck's purer tones. The combined effects are stunning when the harmonies cut in; see chorus on "Safe Hands", or Valhalla. Guitar work is detailed and the pair envelope each song though their contrasting approaches. Brodbeck provides sparkling clarity in his finger picking, whilst Castle is the percussive engine room -favouring open tunings and drone strings.
Live, they have that easy confidence that comes from having written and played music together for longer than would be polite to mention. Expect to be charmed by beautiful songs, waves of deft guitar and cracking harmonies.
It would seem that everything needs a label; but today's concerns are not so far removed from those of yesteryear. "Folk" works; these are original songs woven from our past into our present; "hallmark alt-folk"
"Together in my Head" debut album available from January.
Summers spent busking Amsterdam and Ireland, and what must now be hundreds of gigs have given Brodbeck and Castle a tone all their own and a string of timeless melodic songs that fuse light and dark, the tragic with the comic.
Brodbeck and Castle recorded their first full album "Together In My Head" at West Orange Studios, Preston, engineered by Alan Gregson (www.myspace.com/alan gregson) and featuring Jeremy Procter ..s and bass.
The music will be available soon to download or at gigs - preview tracks on this page.
All photos by Darren Andrews; www.myspace.com/darrenandrews
Names on the Wall is absolute gold dust. Really really really good! hopefully I'll get to come and see you sometime around christmas? Hope all is well.
Thanks so much for taking part in our Big Bash on Saturday. We raised £551. 77 for the Christmas Shelter, as well as having a great (but exhausting) time!! Nonie xx
Saturday 11th Oct - Stonewell Tavern - 16 live music acts playing noon to midnight!! Celebrating bandsinlancaster's first anniversary and raising money for The Lancaster Homeless Action Centre Christmas Shelter. Entry free. Details at www. bandsinlancaster. co. uk
well well about time too.good to see and hear you again. i'll give you a call hugh about stina nordenstam, i've missed that cd greatly.also got some of your violent femmes.
