MR MIKE ALLOWAY: drums, percussion, voice
MR BENJAMIN BRUNEL: clarinet, keys, melodica, glockenspiel, percussion, voice....
MR PETE CLARKE: bass, keys, guitar, voice...
MISS FRAN FOWLER: singing.....
MR EUAN HINSHELWOOD: guitar, mandolin, bass, singing...
MR JAMES INGHAM: clarinet, bass, upright bass, glockenspiel, voice...
ALEX MATTINSON: voice, guitars, lyrics, songs...
with additional help from:
MR NICK CIMA: honorary trumpet...
MISS EMMA HOOPER: honorary viola...
MR HONG-TIN LAU: extremo audio svengali...
Influences
phosphorescent elliott smith conor oberst silver jews and malkmus tiiiny viiipers roy orbison beirut mountain goats sleeeeping staaates jeffrey lewis K records Drag City saddle creek sub pop bella union animal collective panda bear british sea power neutral milk hotel castanets grandaddy sebadoh max richter andrew bird karen dalton joanna newsom death vessel mt eerie low pavement microphones my morning jacket cat power pg six bonnie prince billy explosions in the sky scott walker william blake mike mogis neil young micah p hinson mark lanegan clinic the wall of sound buddy holly midlake calexico snakes and muddy waters tom waits cocorosie messrs bill brandt and brassai of the camera lense lcohen smog psychiatric image making and the art of the insane leadbelly woodcutting mr gustav klimt the room the vestal virgins thee single choir
Sounds Like
bang bang thud thud boom boom strum strum hmm hmm end.
We write songs about drowning towns, lyrical Christian campfire traditions and the smoking of herbal anxiety medications. Once the spirit of older, cracklier times and rhymes, we now play rock music.
The music of Thee Single Spy is refreshingly out-of-synch with any kind of movement you could name in Britain right now. Singer Alex Mattinson’s cryptic lyrics hint at images of betrayal, fools and turn-of-the-century opium dens, displaying a literary sensibility and a fondness for the drama at the hinterland of life. That the band pull-off their conceit with such panache, and entirely through their own labours, marks them as an act to look out for. CULTURE DELUXE
I find it hard not to be attracted to a band that puts so much detail and love into their releases, that matched by their equally beautiful songs of love, loss and despair delivered with a vocal akin to Conor Oberst meets (a sober) Shane McGowan you have the ingredients for a very special act indeed. THE LINE OF BEST FIT
Thee Single Spy are the latest folk band from London that seem to have an endless supply of talent. Based around singer and songwriter Alex Mattinson, the music reveals a darker, more twisted side of folk. Haunting, stirring and quite wonderful. XYZ MAGAZINE (BRIGHTON)
The immediate folk feel of this AA is comforting in a strange way. It’s simple and yet craves attention. ‘If You Walk on Gravestones‘ is a brilliant lead - the acoustic shadowed by gentle strings are reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens. THERE GOES THE FEAR
Thee Single Spy layer rich, melodic baroque-indie lushness over intricate lyrical creations. AAT MAGAZINE
T H E E
S I N G L E
S U P E R M A R K E T
DEBUT 7" AA-SIDE SINGLE "IF YOU WALK ON GRAVESTONES / SMOKE THAT TEA" FROM THEE SINGLE SPY, RELEASED 2008/09 - HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL : SCREEN-PRINTED ON HANDCUT AND HANDSTITCHED CANVAS.
Please use the order form below to be sent a copy of the record for £4... CD copies are available for £2... Half-price postage and packing to anywhere in the Unending Universe, because we're kind.
you guys get better and better every time I hear you new songs are incredible I very much look forward to an album from you guys soon All the best, Loz x
I know, it's been too long! I've been so busy working these days. But I'm still making music (of a different variety) and hoping to put an album together in the near future. Glad to hear you have more songs in the pipeline! I need to get down to one of your gigs soon :) xx