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The Isles is a group that’s had over a dozen members but never more than four at once. The music always starts as Andrew Geller’s acoustic songs. The lyrics are observations. Sometimes fairytales. The words have a dreamlike quality and a poetic bounce. The singing rhythmic and crooned counters the starkly composed music. Songs are written, arranged, adored and often destroyed. Many pieces come back and songs coalesce from pieces years apart but inseparable in theme.
Most of the recording has been in the dark, dingy basement of their headquarters, Action Jackson. The house stands in Long Island City and has hosted dozens of cultural events and rock shows including: Japanther, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Au Revoir Simone, Jeff Louis… The name comes from the address (Jackson Ave) and the late 80’s super action movie starring Carl Weathers (Action Jackson).
The first release, "Back to Terrific"(EP), was recorded in the basement of AJ and released on Binder records in 2005. “True South” was featured in the PBS documentary “The Education of Shelby Knox” and “Flying Under Cheap Kites” then known simply as “Fuck” made it on the NY Noise Compilation and the video was in rotation on channel 25. The first full length, "Perfumed Lands" was also recorded at AJ and took eight months of hard labor. The basement became known as the dungeon and tempers ran hot. Upon release on Melodic Records, “Perfumed Lands” was praised by major publications such as "The Guardian", "Magnet" and "NME". The songs were featured on various compilations, The Eve of the Battle video made it to MTV Europe and “Perfumed Lands” made the radio charts. The band toured for a month in Europe and was interviewed live on the BBC by Phil Jupitus.
On July 19th 2008, the group stepped into a commercial studio for the first time and began recording their third release, "Troika". The album was written and demoed at home in the spring of 2008. Songs were often written on Monday, arranged on Tuesday and demoed over the weekend. The same spirit traveled to Excello studio where The Isles recorded for 21 days. The record was written and arranged by Andrew Geller, Turner Stough and Timothy McCoy; that is the reason for the title "Troika", which refers to a governing body of three people.
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"PERFUMED LANDS" - ASSORTED PRESS
THE GAURDIAN: "Flashes of contemporary color in flighty rhythms but a wash of late 1980s British Indies influences" (4/5)
NME: "a slow burn album for all seasons" (8/10)
MAGIC RPM: "In thirty minutes and ten meticulous songs, The Isles have promised an eternity." (Album of the Month September 2006) (6/6)
MAGNET: "Subtle, Skillful Smiths-Riffing"
BABYSUE: Easily one of the best new bands of the year. (5++/6)
PITCHFORK: "Nearly as over-the-top as My Chemical Romance but even less believable" (4.7/10)
XXXX Buy Our Record: www.melodic.co.uk/melo039.htm XXXX
Radio: Dan at Terrorbird
PR: Clyde at Fanatic
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