Pinkie Maclure: Vocals, concertina John Wills: Guitars, loops, samples
Influences
who knows, but we like -
Can, Nina Simone, Juliette Greco, Tim Buckley, 16 Horsepower, the Warsaw Village Band, Bessie Smith, John Lurie, Dinah Washington, Lene Willemark, Tom Waits, Moondog, Ligeti, David Lynch, Nico, Shelley Hirsch, Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Love, Bert Jansch, Syd Barrett, Jacques Brel, Marta Sebastyen, 13th Floor Elevators, Seeds, Bad Seeds, Funkadelic, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, Kurt Weill, Eric Satie, Ennio Morricone, Eno, Pentangle, The Velvet Underground, Burial, Boards of Canada
Sounds Like
Ancient melodies mutating into into psychedelic laments
PRESS REVIEWS
Pumajaw - Becoming Pumajaw
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For Becoming Pumajaw, the Scottish-based duo constructed a new identity around their initials. Instrumentally it's based around Maclure's vocals and concertina and former Loop drummer Wills' guitars, while on Rosemary Lane, his bodhran thumps out punctuation to the traditional tale. As a vocalist Maclure demands greater recognition. Hers is a voice that ranges from a seductive throatiness to a soaring upper register. But importantly it always serves the song. There's a glut of new folk combos at the moment, but what makes the duo's music outstanding is that while it's tender and lyrical, there's also an earthiness, a saltiness to it. Mike Barnes MOJO
PUMAJAW transfixed the audience in the maritime-themed room with their spectral sea shanties etched out on squeezebox and effects-laden acoustic guitar and crowned with Maclure's eerie voice. Fiona Shepherd, THE SCOTSMAN
"This is remarkably ego-less music, the very blood and guts of emotion; human and true to the psychedelic spirit. Becoming Pumajaw is one of my favorite records of the year thus far" - Lee Blackstone ROOTSWORLD
"...... extraordinary dark , smoky vocals from Pinkie Maclure, combined with partner John Wills.. sonic wreckage put this duo at the top of the psych-folk tower of song,while preserving their own sense of ambient timelessness. Strange folk , indeed.
Tim Cumming SONGLINES
An inspirational marriage of acid-folk strings and bells with dark, sensuous melodeon-backed torch songs delivered by Pinkie 's seductive velvet vocals, and John Wills' rich and crystal clear production. Evokes images of smoky Parisian night-clubs as much as it does hill-top performances by travelling folk troubadours. ....absolutely hypnotic - simply a great album.' BRAD ROSE, FOXY DIGITALIS
'Eccentric, stunning, sensitive and subtle - this is clearly a product of one of those almost-telepathic musical partnerships that are exceedingly rare and to be much savoured whenever they are found, the two musicians have an instinctive rapport that comes across in every note and line.' IAN SIMMONS, nTH POSITION.
'Timeless, extraordinary......... Cat's Cradle is the product of a potent musical chemistry.' MIKE BARNES, THE WIRE
'Transporting and ritualistic music at its best -Cat's Cradle is a concoction of all sort of dark folk that rivals the uncrowned masters of the so-called acid folk scene.' MATS GUSTAFSSON, THE BROKEN FACE
'Pinkie Maclure & John Wills have a fearsome reputation, taking their songs into sonically adventurous, progressive realms that leaves audiences stunned.' MARK COYLE, THE UNBROKEN CIRCLE
' At once pastoral and urban, mellow yet menacing, Cat's Cradle recalls the landscapes that populated children's stories, akin to sunlight breaking through the clouds after a storm. ' JOON KIM, DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
'......almost animalistic and ritualistic, difficult not to become such a kitten after all this. Recommended. ' GERALD VAN WAES, PSYCHEDELIC & ACID FOLK
Pinkie's staggering voice - soaring above John's weave of eerie noises. 4/5 STUART McHUGH, THE LIST
'hi my friends how are you , how your new album, when I could get it ;) I will sent to you our new music soon , with our new Irish singer, I hope you would like it , greatings michal
hi guys, thanks for finding us. what an interesting sound you got going on. i think ive still got an ''loop'' tape somewhere from back in the day. let us know when/if u come to the rainy city of manchester. go easy, love peace and strange psychedelic noodlings.. ''a knife...'' xx
Hallo ! What a GREAT news about your album. I cant wait.I hope you will back to Poland for a gigs. Can I expect a new album on lp ? Greetings from Poland Michal/monopium
Thanks for the add! Your music is beautiful! I am happy to report that my anti-war song "Summer Rain" is #65 on Neil Young's "Living With War Today" chart.You can show your support by playing it at LWW Songs.
Congratulations on getting signed -- I can't wait to hear your new album! I'm glad to hear that good things are happening to good people. Will you be touring to support the new release? Any chance of you coming to the City of Brotherly Love? ~S
hi guy, have spent some time absorbing the last album. really wonderful and enhanced by the recent snowscape. looking forward to the imminent release. peace jeremy
