The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Style Council, Genesis, Joni Mitchell, Talking Heads, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Francis Dunnery, It Bites, Peter Gabriel, Burt Bacharach, Nick Drake, Love, The Divine Comedy...
Sounds Like
UK press by Surface2Air: info@s2a.org.uk
For non-press enquiries, please email frizzrecords@gmail.com
‘Modern Mediaeval is the third LP from Birmingham based Singer / Songwriter / Auteur David Garside, and the first to receive the full Frizz Records vinyl treatment. It’s also clearly the most fully-realised statement of his distinctive vision so far…
It’s an easy route to locate David in the tradition of his ‘classic’ rock, pop & soul influences (McCartney, Nick Drake, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, The Beach Boys, Love, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Dexy’s…), but whilst there’s no denying that these are obvious reference points, to reduce his work in these terms is short-sighted…
There are few songwriters working today that have absorbed these influences so fully, and arrived at a mature style as David has which draws on them as a back-drop not for pastiche but instead for creative exploration into uncharted territory…
It can be difficult in 2009 to make yourself heard above the noise, and it’s never been David’s style to fight his way to the front with brash sonics or fashion statements. There are no 808s or Hi-Life guitars here. His palette is ‘traditional’ - acoustic picking, piano, bass, vibes, jazz-inflected drums, elegant chamber strings & crisp soul style horns. All tastefully and beautifully arranged. His innovation instead is to create a world through his melodies and chord patterns, his gently unfolding songs structures, and his consistently engaging lyrical turn of phrase, which is all his own. Without there ever being anything ostentatious about his music, nevertheless every song is very much his; there is a subtle mood which infuses everything which could only be David Garside…
Part of this equation of course is his singing voice. It says a lot that we can only evoke it’s qualities with such diverse comparisons as Steve Winwood, Nick Drake, Peter Gabriel, Brian Wilson & Arthur Lee, but there are pieces of each in his soulful yearning and very English tenor, which provides a consistency to the record’s stylistic roaming across everything from ‘Pet Sounds’ orchestrations to sparser chamber pieces and Zombies style psychedelic road-trips…
So this is ’singer-songwriter’ music in the sense that it’s focus is on song-craft and the unfolding of the lyrical vision of single individual, and it’s overall tone is one of reflection, designed for the most part for careful home-listening; but if so then it’s definitely at the sophisticated end of the scale (’progressive’ if that term isn’t too loaded…), filed alongside ‘Bryter Layter’, ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’, ‘Pretzel Logic’ or ‘Surf’s Up’…
Which is all the more remarkable an achievement when you consider that not only are there no computers involved (there’s no bedroom studio pro-tools simulation here - everything you hear is recorded to tape using ‘real’ instruments), but also that all aspects of the writing and recording process are pretty much David’s own work. Not only is he providing all the voices and an array of multi-instrumental contributions, and writing all the songs, he is also his own producer and arranger; and when you listen to the engulfing beauty of the strings on ‘Mr Wise’, or the psychedelic style-hopping master-class of ‘Glimpses’, the breadth of his skill becomes evident. Then you learn that the whole thing was done on zero budget and in a handful of sessions, and it’s difficult not be astonished at the maturity of his achievement…
After daliances with various bands in Leeds, London & his native Birmingham, David’s first release was the ‘Clockwatching’ EP in 2001 on his own Crockett Records label, followed in 2004 by his debut LP, ‘Take Control’, and then ‘Half The Man: A Paul McCartney Tribute’ in 2006, and the ‘Mr Wise’ EP in 2007…
Those with any affection for the songs of Paul McCartney should investigate ‘Half The Man’, David’s (When I’m) 64-th birthday present to perhaps his biggest musical hero, inspired by the discovery that he would be turning exactly half Macca’s age only a few days away from the ex-Beatle’s birthday. Featuring faultlessly tasteful stripped-down arrangements of mainly obscure solo and Wings songs, with just acoustic guitar or piano, and cello as accompaniment, he gets to the heart of these largely overshadowed tunes, and makes a persuasive case for their re-appraisal…
David's new album 'Modern Mediaeval' is now available on heavyweight vinyl, CD and download.
www.myspace.com/frizzrecords
www.frizzrecords.com
SHOP
Postage costs are £1 for CDs (£2 outside UK) and £2 for LPs (£4 outside UK). This is included when you are taken to the Paypal cart.
Half the Man and Take Control are also available from www.cdbaby.com and most digital download sites. You will soon be able to buy Modern Mediaeval in these ways.
All releases (including Modern Mediaeval download) are also available from www.frizzrecords.com.
To purchase my new album Modern Mediaeval at £8.99, click on the 'add to cart' link below to order through Paypal.
To order the HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL version of Modern Mediaeval at £9.99 *including free mp3s*, please click on the link below
To order the Mr Wise EP for only £2.00, please click on the link below.
To order Half The Man: a Paul McCartney tribute for £6.99, please click the link below.
To order my debut CD Take Control for £6.99, please click on the link below.
....FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our fourth LP release...
LEILA ADU has been described as 'A Nina Simone for the Noughties', and her two acclaimed albums infuse a broadly 'art-rock' approach with elements of torch song, speakeasy blues, avant garde jazz, gamelan, post-rock textures, and a David Lynch style dreamlike b-movie melodrama. As her website has it, exploring the "dissonant edges of familiar forms", but with that kind of 'dissonance' that they once accused Thelonious Monk or Debussy of, the kind that soon betrays it's own compelling melodic and harmonic logic to the attentive listener...
'Dark Joan', Leila's third album as a solo artist, was recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini (PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsome, Nirvana, Pixies), and Albini's genius has been to strip her sound back to it's essence, and hold it's most distinctive qualities up to the light. It doesn't hurt that this is by far Leila's most powerful set of songs to date, and if anything we are lead even deeper into her world by the pictures painted with just piano (or in some cases harpsichord or a grime-encrusted electric piano) and that voice...
Capable of anything from delicate heartbreaking purity to a fearsome dramatic power, her powers are seemingly limitless, yet unlike most other singers of her calibre, never does she resort to melodrama or show-boating, or any kind of pastiche, instead she employs her resources fully in the expression of her distinctive musical vision and the deep well-spring of her imagination. Nothing ever sounds as though it could have not been sung...
....FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our third LP release...
"Anutha Kinda Brotha" is the debut LP from underground legend ART TERRY. Since moving to the UK from his native Los Angeles in the early 90s, Mr Terry has established himself as one of London's characters.
Describing Art's sound to the uninitiated usually involves debunking some of the stereotypes of what the 'typical' black Californian might play. Despite his jazz training, and coming of age to the sounds of classic soul and funk, these styles are only a part of his musical vision. His fascination with folk styles, classical music, punk rock, pure pop, easy listening, musical theatre and the European avant garde have taken him on different paths from most...
The result is an orchestral pop record full of sonic inventiveness, whether it's the blend of Shuggie Otis's 60s California and Sun Ra's ancient Egypt on 'Bible', Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons leading a mariachi band on 'Escort', or the Walt Disney music box orchestra of 'Miss Dominatrix', but whilst this is very much a sonic feast, we shouldn't overlook Art's extraordinary lyrical adeptness, and the distinctive character this brings to the proceedings, with a knack for unique and colourful imagery, and how like a great short story writer he is able to paint an engaging picture whilst keeping back from casting judgement on his characters, always leaving open ends for the listener to tie; giving us the feeling that however far astray someone might have gone, there is always sympathy and human feeling for them in Art's mind...
Thank You For Being A Friend David. I bought from London HMV 'Modern Mediaeval' Simply A Masterpiece! 'Mr Wise' My Favourite Track (at the moment) Sending You All My Positive Vibes.
....FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our second official LP release...
"Modern Mediaeval" is the third LP from singer-songwriter DAVID GARSIDE, and the first to receive the full Frizz Records vinyl treatment. It’s also clearly the most fully-realised statement of his distinctive vision so far…
It’s an easy route to locate David in the tradition of his ‘classic’ influences (McCartney, Nick Drake, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, The Beach Boys, Love, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Dexy’s…), but there are few songwriters working today that have absorbed these influences so fully, and arrived at a mature style as David has…
This is ’singer-songwriter’ music in the sense that it’s focus is on song-craft and the unfolding of the lyrical vision of a single individual, but if so then it’s definitely at the sophisticated end of the scale (’progressive’ if that term isn’t too loaded…), filed alongside ‘Bryter Layter’, ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’, ‘Pretzel Logic’ or ‘Surf’s Up’...another FRIZZ RECORDS instant classic!
"Modern Mediaeval" can be downloaded from the iTunes Store
The album is also available on heavyweight vinyl LP, or on Digipack CD from www.FrizzRecords.com & all good retailers
FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our first official LP release...
"It's Not The Wand, It's The Magic" is the debut release from AUGUST, the London based band centred around the songwriting partnership between vocalist VEDINA MOSE and multi-instrumentalist / producer RAPHAEL MANN (MR HUDSON / JOY JOSEPH / ART TERRY), with master drummer CLEAN CUT MARK and clarinetist / vocalist MAREE CHOIE completing the core line-up, and a supporting cast including ART TERRY (keyboards), SHOHEI KAWAMOTO (AKA Japanese producer Baraki, Bass clarinet, soprano sax and flute), and KAI HOFFMAN (French horn)
Always an act that juggled a diverse set of influences, the album has been compared to artists as diverse as KATE BUSH, PRINCE, DE LA SOUL, SLY STONE, MADLIB, SERGE GAINSBOURG and THE DELFONICS, for its concoction of wild experimentation and traditional song craft, organic production and futuristic electronic touches, funk bass & drums and jazz & orchestral references, infectious melodies and lyrical flights of fancy...with nods towards classic soul, JB funk, Studio One, 60s pop, psychedelia, left field hip hop, new wave, doo wop, tropicalia, high life, & avant garde jazz, without any song ever fitting squarely into any of those categories...new music, basically...and an instant classic!
"It's Not The Wand, It's The Magic" can be downloaded now from the iTunes Store (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=319268431&s=143443)
The album is also available on heavyweight vinyl LP in a sumptuous gatefold sleeve, or on Digipack CD from the FRIZZ online shop (http://www.frizzrecords.com/?page_id=5&category=20) & all good retailers
Hey Dave I'm playing the dog in bearwood sunday be good to see you if you can make it.. hope the musics going well and the kids have been enjoying summer :-)
Hi David, Thanks a lot for the add ! Love your beautiful songs. Have a good day. listen "MOONSHOES" on myspace The new French sound of Blue-Eyed Soul !
Hey David I've been so busy lately so sorry I haven't been in touch! Was ace meeting you man and many thanx again for the lift! I am in Brum at the mo until Tuesday if your free to meet up or your playing any gigs get in touch. I've uploaded some recent footage of some gigs I've played in the past few weeks. Starrylion & Quiver been particular highlights. Some great arrangements on here mate totally different to what I was expecting can definitely see the beach boys infulence.. I was listening to pet sounds the other day! always been a Wilson fan! -- Well takiteze man :)
Live raw blues, freaky spirituals and primitive calypso happening - "Always fresh, no bullshit, proper."
Live in Sheffield this week: * Weds 19th November, Bath Hotel, Victoria Street (off West St). 8pm / no cover. * Friday 21st November, University Arms, Brook Hill (near Uni tram stop), 9pm / £3
www.myspace.com/storehousemusic
"By turns wild, angry, hypnotic and sensual it's as uncompromising as it is funky and some of the best live music I've seen," - Blues in London
"I danced so much I can now hardly walk, thanks so much," - DJ Sophie Toes.
