Nick Mulvey has announced details of his second album, ‘Wake Up Now’, released through Fiction Records.

In conjunction with its announcement, a second track from the record, ‘Myela’, is streaming now: https://nickmulveyuk.lnk.to/NMMYPR/

‘Myela’ perfectly harnesses those two very distinct elements that Nick does so beautifully, sewing together electronics and off-kilter rhythms with his atmosphere-drenched, incisive songwriting. It’s capped by an undeniable groove to its mantra-like refrain and was written alongside one of Nick’s close friends and a new member of his band, Federico Bruno.

The song was born out of the refugee crisis, and a real desire to help in a heart-breaking situation. To report, not to preach. It came to life during final sessions with producer Dan Carey at his South London based studio.

“Having been deeply touched by the crisis I wanted to write about it, and did so in partnership with Federico. We felt unworthy to write poetry about this subject. Exploring first-hand accounts of refugee journeys, we wanted to give them voice. To share with people who listen to my music, to make them aware the situation continues”.

Nick is supporting Help Refugees UK with the track’s release, and will perform as part of the Give A Home For Human Rights Campaign on 20th September in association with Amnesty.

‘Wake Up Now’

At a time of great uncertainty, it helps to surround yourself with those things you trust, and so marks the timely return of Nick Mulvey. His standout debut album, ‘First Mind’, in 2015 was the introduction of an artist who shirked the conventional and side-stepped the expected. It was a record of opposing shades, all leftfield rhythms, and harnessing an exquisitely natural guitarist doing extraordinary things, painting unique colours across a very moreish collection of songs.

‘Unconditional’ is one of a number of standout songs from the album, an album rooted in the conscience and all that it stands for. It’s also a record that harbours great community, welcoming a host of new and multi-talented musicians with a flourishing skillset. That sense of community was drilled home by Brian Eno in a few pre-recording meet-ups between the two, who implored Nick to open himself up more and consider sharing the weight-load. The idea of opening himself up more has filtered into Nick’s lyrics too, once swathed in metaphor upon metaphor, they’re now at the heart of this record’s identity. Clarity. Humanity.

Production duties here are handed to Ethan Johns at Real World Studios who recorded Nick and his band live and at their most raw to reinforce that key community spirit, and whose eventual finished tapes Nick then took up to London and presented to First Mind producer Dan Carey who meticulously sewed in the electronic elements.

Pre-Order Wake Up Now: https://nickmulveyuk.lnk.to/WUNPPR/umgtest9

Nick Mulvey Live:

27th September – The Empire Music Hall, Belfast
28th September – Button Factory, Dublin
1st October – O2 Academy, Liverpool
2nd October – Lemon Grove, Exeter
3rd October – O2 Academy, Bristol
4th October – O2 Ritz, Manchester
6th October – The Leadmill, Sheffield
7th October – Church, Leeds
9th October – O2 Institute, Birmingham
10th October – Wylam Brewery The Palace of Arts, Newcastle
11th October – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
12th October – O2 ABC, Glasgow
14th October – Great Hall, Cardiff
15th October – O2 Academy, Bournemouth
16th October – The Junction, Cambridge
17th October – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
19th October – De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea

Glasgow’s Catholic Action have unveiled another taste of their forthcoming album ‘In Memory Of’ with the slick, low-slung anthem ‘Black & White’. A calculated and precise slow-burner, ‘Black & White’ inverts the raw and unpredictable sound showcased on previous single ‘Propaganda’.

Catholic Action are set to take their album out on tour this November alongside Nottingham upstarts Kagoule.

‘In Memory Of’ is the sound of a band in total control of their sound. Combining a youthful energy with the innate pop songwriting prowess of Chris McCrory, the album shines with a rarely seen confidence. Despite having nods toward guitar pop from the past and present, the album has its gaze truly fixed in the future.

Pre-order In Memory Of here – https://catholicaction.tmstor.es/

Upcoming tour dates

30th Sept Glasgow, Tenement Trail @ O2 ABC w/ The Big Moon, Anteros
1st Nov Oxford, The Cellar w/ Kagoule
2nd Nov London, The 100 Club w/ Kagoule
3rd Nov Nottingham, The Bodega Club w/ Kagoule
4th Nov Bristol, The Louisiana w/ Kagoule
6th Nov Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s w/ Kagoule
7th Nov Glasgow, Broadcast w/ Kagoule
8th Nov Leeds, Headrow House w/ Kagoule
9th Nov Brighton, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar w/ Kagoule
10th Nov Birmingham, The Actress & Bishop w/ Kagoule
11th Nov Manchester, Soup Kitchen w/ Kagoule

Catholic Action formed in 2014 and quickly began making a name for them with their memorable and characterful songwriting. McCrory is already a producer in his own right, having worked alongside Siobhan Wilson, Breakfast Muff, The Pooches, Palm Honey and more, and co-produced their debut album alongside Margo Broom (Fat White Family, Goat Girl, Dead Pretties). In Memory Of was then mixed by Rich Turvey (Blossoms, Clean Cut Kid) and Tom Longworth (Vryll Society, Tom Speight).

The band have received incredible support from BBC Radio 1 with their first two singles, as well as earning them spots at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and SXSW with BBC Introducing. Catholic Action are fast gaining a reputation as a formidable live act, having shared stages with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Swim Deep, Teenage Fanclub and The Magic Gang.

Catholic Action are Chris McCrory, Ryan Clark, Jamie Dubber, Andrew Macpherson

www.facebook.com/catholicactionband | www.twitter.com/_CatholicAction

The Lovely Eggs are back on the road in October, bringing their raucous live shows to audiences throughout the UK. This will be their first full-length UK tour in more than a year, after being hauled up in the studio working on a new album with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann.

The DIY duo, comprising of married couple Holly Ross (guitar/vocals) and David Blackwell (drums), have been selling out venues across the country without the help of management, booking agent or record label support. Described by the NME as “one of the country’s most beloved underground bands”, the pair combine punk rock abandon with splatterings of psychedelia, carving out their own very peculiar niche and a growing army of fans.

Their songs are beloved anthems of absurdity, truly unique and set apart from the mainstream music industry. Live, singles such as the fuzzed-out psych of ‘Magic Onion’ and ‘Goofin’ Around (In Lancashire)’ (from their most recent album ‘This Is Our Nowhere’) sit alongside classics such as ‘Don’t Look At Me (I Don’t Like It)’ and their philosophical mantra ‘Fuck It’.

This tour The Lovely Eggs will also be debuting new material from their forthcoming album due for release in early 2018. Titled ‘This Is Eggland’, the album was produced by legendary engineer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev), flinging the resolutely DIY Eggs into a whole new world. The result is far more ambitious and raucous than their previous work. The first single from the album ‘I Shouldn’t Have Said That’ will be released in November.

The Lovely Eggs Tour

Thur 26 Oct – Unity Works, Wakefield
Fri 27 Oct – Gorilla, Manchester
Sat 28 Oct – The Soundhouse, Leicester
Sun 29 Oct – The Actress and Bishop, Birmingham
Mon 30 Oct – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
Tues 31 Oct – Open Norwich, Norwich
Weds 1 Nov – Oslo, London
Thurs 2 Nov – Talking Heads, Southampton
Fri 3 Nov – The Haunt, Brighton
Sat 4 Nov – The Exchange, Bristol

Blackjazz trail-blazers Shining are due to embark on a European run of headline shows, including two in the UK, this September…

“I can’t wait to get out on the road again and play our asses off in clubs all around Europe! To make things even more exciting, we’re also going to play a whole host of brand new songs from our new album that will be out next year. This is your chance to hear this new and unique music before anyone else!” says front man Jørgen Munkeby of Shining.

Dates

SEPT 6 – UK – LONDON – The Underworld
SEPT 7 – UK – YORK – Fibbers

Liverpool based indie rockers Sugarmen have shared their punchy new single ‘Push Button Age’, taken from upcoming album Local Freaks, out on the 6th October.

Sugarmen have spent the past few years travelling the globe, taking their infectiously manic energy and sonic angst everywhere from Seoul to SXSW, all whilst performing alongside Blur, Paul Weller and The Who. Now the Scouse quartet are looking to bring their own brand of high octane, adrenaline punching energy to the masses with their first single Push Button Age.

Championed by Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, Sugarmen sound something like an unholy blend of neo-slackers The Magic Gang and Spring King on speed. You can hear the depth of the boys’ record collection in every track and their influences spread from Merseybeat to New York’s post punk movement, to Glasgow’s Postcard Records, and on, all while retaining a sound that manages to sound quintessentially, urgently, current.

The track takes its title from the retro-futurism of the 1950s when appliances and dishwashers and computers promised luxury and convenience all with the push of a button, and asks what’re we meant to do when we’re living in that bright new future. Pulsing with psychedelic guitar riffs and a frantically charged drum beat, Push Button Age joyously rockets through the narcotised haze of Gen X apathy, cheekily dancing between condemning and revelling in a generation “far too blazed” to do anything about gentrification. When an iPhone has the processing power of 120 million Moon landings, Sugarmen offer the only sensible response: play on while utopia spoils.

With their debut album ‘Local Freaks’, Sugarmen have taken their inspiration from Lou Reed and the streetwalking storytellers of the 70s to create a panoramic, polyphonic paean to Liverpool dedicated to “the mad, interesting people we’ve met along the way.”

Modern Sky UK have teamed up with Sire Records to release ‘Local Freaks’ which was recorded at the famous Parr Street Studios with producer Chris Taylor (Everything Everything, Hooton Tennis Club, Bill Ryder-Jones, Circa Waves, Miles Kane).

Sugarmen Live Dates:

2nd September – Hangar 34, Liverpool
21st September – O2 Academy, Liverpool*
25th September – The Foundry, Sheffield*
5th October – Sebright Arms, London

*Supporting The Jesus and Mary Chain

Listen to ‘Push Button Age’ on Spotify here