Showing posts with label Psychedelic Rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psychedelic Rock. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

UK Music Legends The Pretty Things Announce New Album “Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” - The Final Recordings Of Phil May and Dick Taylor


photo credit: Judy Totton

Cult British band The Pretty Things have announced their new album “Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” will be released on 25th September via Madfish Music. Please see below for a comment from the band’s management and the full album press release.

Mark St John, Manager of The Pretty Things: 
On May the 15th 2020, Phil May, the lead singer with “The Pretty Things” died…. Despite his well-documented ill-health, his death was unexpected and resulted from a tragic accident and not his embedded health condition. His is a catastrophic loss and has been felt and acknowledged across the world of music and the arts.

At the time of his death, he was hugely excited and enthused about the impending release of the first-ever, all-acoustic “Pretty Things” album, which had been completed before his death.

I wrote the press release below, on the 5th May, just nine days before he died. We have left it unchanged – it remains as relevant to the record - and particularly to Phil and his connection to it, as it was while he was still alive and looking forward to performing these dark songs live and walking a new tightrope of performance…..

They will now never be heard live with Phil’s voice, and maybe never at all, but that does not diminish this remarkable record which will stand as a final tribute to one of the most significant artists of his generation, and beyond.


photo credit Mark St John

THE PRETTY THINGS – “BARE AS BONE, BRIGHT AS BLOOD” – THE NEW ALBUM.
On December 13th, 2018, following a sold-out show at London’s O2 Indigo, The Pretty Things retired from live, electric performances, after 55 years of touring and recording, due to the ill-health of lead singer, Phil May.

This was not something that the band, or their fans, wanted, but it was unavoidable, given the circumstances. At the time, there was already a new, electric album well underway, but this was shelved as it was clear that the band would never be able to perform any of these recordings. At the time of the retirement, some sort of return, possibly in a stripped-down, acoustic format was not entirely discounted, but it was not expected, due to the health issues, surrounding Phil May and also to the general lack of appetite that the bands’ two principals - Phil May and Dick Taylor - had always shown for acoustic performance as a mainstay for their work.

However, during 2019 there was a significant sea change in attitude within the band and, early in the year, the band, together with manager and producer, Mark St. John, returned to the studio and took the first, tentative steps toward the making of a new album, this time in an entirely acoustic format. The album - now completed and entitled “Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” – is a genuine first for a band that has been knocking down the walls with their aggressive and memorable, electric live performances for more than 55 years.

This record has little in common with their past work, save that, like so many “Pretty Things” records and projects, it is wholly unique and an absolute first. Arguably, this record is as ground-breaking as the band’s seminal Rock Opera and psychedelic masterpiece – “S. F. Sorrow” – which is acknowledged as rock music’s first Rock Opera. The levels of inspiration, imagination, originality and musicality displayed are at an equivalent high; in many ways, perhaps, because the whole record is a totally exposed, stripped down, acoustic project, principally featuring only the two band members. For them, this was an arduous and unfamiliar task, relying solely on their fundamental talents and undertaken without the support, comfort and benefit of the thundering band that had underpinned their work for so many years.

This is work stripped bare and reflects the frailties and insecurities of gathering age, ill health, painful failure and memorable success. It is a reflection on two long, long lives in art and music that have always been at the cutting edge, and that have always worked as they did at the very start, in their teenage years. “Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” does not allow for that luxury. This is not a pair of old rockers, still the oldest swingers in town. This is the work of two, old men, who are acting their age, maybe for the first time ever. If their health and energy is depleted, their skill, insight and experience is not, with the result that they have made a remarkable, exciting, unexpected and thought-provoking record, that is, against all the odds, another singular “first” for The Pretty Things.

It was a very sad day when we said an enforced goodbye to the astounding electric band that was The Pretty Things in December 2018. It is a very happy day to see them back, finally as the old men they truly are, and finally comfortable to release the young men that, for such a long, long time, they were. “Bare as Bone, Bright as Blood” – the remarkable and unexpected new album by The Pretty Things, still the tainted, dark royalty, banished from the rock establishment.

“Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” will be released on CD, gatefold 2xLP on red vinyl and digitally and is available to pre-order now. (https://theprettythings.lnk.to/BareAsBoldBrightAsBlood)

The first singles to be taken from the new album are the double A-side of “The Devil Had A Hold On Me” & “To Build A Wall” and are available to stream now. (https://open.spotify.com/album/57gCumw0Pj2ih9ALzfa8Sc?si=2hoAw1IeTsShEG0BpMoIAw)



Track listing:
1. Can`t Be Satisfied [03:04]
2. Come Into My Kitchen [04:17]
3. Ain`t No Grave [03:58]
4. Faultline [04:22]
5. Redemption Day [05:22]
6. The Devil Had A Hold Of Me [04:16]
7. Bright As Blood [04:44]
8. Love In Vain[04:17]
9. Black Girl [02:37]
10. To Build A Wall[04:25]
11. Another World [03:56]
Bonus Track:
I`m Ready [03:43]

Press Quotes:

“Mr. May’s snarling vocals and rebellious persona helped make his band, the Pretty Things, an influential part of the 1960s British scene.” - The New York Times

“The man David Bowie listed as God in his address book stuck two fingers up at rules about music, sex and life itself – and made the most glorious noise doing it” - The Guardian

“May’s yowling vocals were as ferociously potent as anything recorded during the 1960s British beat boom.” - The Times

“Although the Pretty Things did not achieve the fame of many of their peers in the UK rock scene, they were beloved by musicians, including Aerosmith and, most famously, David Bowie” - Pitchfork


Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Pretty-Things-115515605226
Website: http://www.theprettythings.com/
Label: https://www.madfishmusic.com/
For more hi-res images : www.madfishmusic.com/media/theprettythings

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Welsh Rock Heroes MAN Continue Their EVOLUTION With A New 6CD Box Set!


Los Angeles, CA - The unsung heroes of UK psychedelic rock, Man, have been quietly evolving over the course of their incredible 4+ decade career, transforming from the 5-piece upstart outfit who released their debut album in 1969 to a massively celebrated musical institution they've become in their home country and around the world. The key to that success, and their survival as a musical unit, has been the group's unflagging efforts to push musical boundaries further as they explore creative mutations to become ever more adaptable to the current climate. For proof, just check out the latest collection from the band, Evolution, a spectacular 6CD box set featuring 4 superb studio albums in their entirety from Man's turn-of-the-century period (1992-2006) PLUS a thrilling double concert album recorded in Berkeley CA 1976 with Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina!

Each CD is packaged in its own jacket, recreating the artwork from the original release, along with liner notes by music historian Dave Thompson. The CD box will be available starting November 2 from Purple Pyramid Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Track List:
DISC 1: ENDANGERED SPECIES (2000)
1. Conflict Of Interest
2. Stuck Behind The Popemobile
3. Saints & Sinners
4. Face To Face
5. Hangin' On
6. Tie Up The Wind
7. Victim Of Love
8. Love Isn't Love

DISC 2: THE TWANG DYNASTY (1992)
1. A Feather On The Scales Of Justice
2. Mad On Her
3. Jumpin' Like A Kangaroo
4. The Chimes At Midnight
5. The Price
6. Circumstances
7. Women
8. The Chinese Cut
9. Out Of The Darkness
10. Fast And Dangerous
11. The Wings Of Mercury

DISC 3: UNDRUGGED (2002)
1. Scotch Corner
2. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
3. I Always Thought The Walrus Was Protected
4. Dream Away
5. Manillo
6. Asylum
7. Trying To Get To You
8. Listen To Me, Sister
9. Georgia On My Mind
10. Sail On Sailor
11. Day And Night

DISC 4: DIAMONDS AND COAL (2006)
1. Diamonds And Coal
2. All Alone
3. Freedom Fries
4. Twistin' The Knife
5. Man Of Misery
6. Welsh Girl
7. Thank God It's Not Miss Cathy
8. Teddy Boys Picnic
9. When You've Got Someone To Hold

DISC 5: LIVE AT THE KEYSTONE
1. Let The Good Time Roll
2. 7171 551
3. Hard Way To Die
4. The Welsh Connection
5. Something Is Happening
6. The Ride And The View
7. Out Of Your Head
8. Born With A Future

DISC 6: LIVE AT THE KEYSTONE
1. C'mon
2. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up
3. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
4. A Hard Way To Live
5. Romain
6. Bananas

Buy the CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/man-evolution-6-cd/

Press inquiries: 
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com


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Monday, May 21, 2018

Sixties Psychedelic-Rock Legends The Chocolate Watchband Release Two New "Far Out" Singles


San Jose, CA - When discussing legendary psychedelic garage bands of the 1960s, the Chocolate Watchband is at the top of the list. The Chocolate Watchband formed in San Jose in 1965. The band's music was described as “a blend of 1960s-style garage and psychedelic rock with a distinguishable 'Rolling Stones'  San Francisco sound. Produced by Ed Cobb, the group's early music combined the influences of blues with a psychedelic edge that featured terse lyrics and  instrumental experimentation. The Chocolate Watchband appeared in the 1967 film “Riot On Sunset Strip” and the 1968 film “The Love Ins.” The band released three highly acclaimed LPs from 1967 to 1969 before disbanding in 1970. In 1999, they reunited at the San Diego event 66/99 in San Diego, CA,  organized by musician/journalist Mike Stax. They continue to play today at garage rock festivals in Europe as well as the States with Little Steven, The Yardbirds, Love, The Zombies, Bo Diddly, Iggy Pop, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Electric Prunes.

Now much to the excitement of the band's fans around the globe, the Chocolate Watchband are releasing two new singles destined to be classics! - “Judgment Day” and  “Secret Rendezvous”! The tracks were recorded in 2017 at Kingdom Voice Productions, Santa Clara, CA.



Says lead vocalist and founding member David Aguilar, “I wrote 'Judgment Day' as the country was still in recovery after every dollar you might have had invested suddenly tanked thanks to Wall Street. People were getting laid off, they were moving backwards in income, homes were being foreclosed on. Families were living in their cars. It was a terrible time for the American dream. But this was pure opportunity for those who enjoyed stratospheric wealth. Wall Street gangsters, bailed out by American taxpayers, were rewarded for their massive greed and stupidity. They immediately started buying up everything they could, hotels, new corporate jets, restaurants chains, radio stations, small businesses, big businesses, casinos, 300+ acre ranches with 16,000 square foot homes in compounds near Aspen, on Long Island, or in Florida. Their trophy wives were pampered like pet poodles….

“It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. And it's ironic, Judgment Day didn't come for the political party that remains the mouthpiece for the fat cats. And now the White House is filled with more Wall Streeters! The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!



“'Secret Rendezvous' changed names a few times, lyrics were quick and fast, the whole song came from the opening riff…I recorded it in about 40 minutes. I like songs like this-they write themselves as you track it. I recorded drums and guitar together, added bass, horns, cowbell, (yeah say it-“more cowbell”) and vocals. When the band got a hold of it, they ripped it! I can't wait to sing this song on stage!”

Watch the band's new live video “I'm Not Like Everybody Else” (the Acid Test 5/7/16): 


The Chocolate Watchband:
David Aguilar - Lead Vocals, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars
Gary Andrijasivich- Drums, backing vocals, percussion
Tim Abbott- Lead guitar, sitar, backing vocals
Derek See- Guitars, backing vocals
Alec Palao- Bass

Tim Abbott- Engineer/ co-producer,
Ross Peterson- Mix Engineer/ co-producer
Joey White- Mastering Engineer.

To purchase “Judgement Day” single: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/judgement-day-single/1384988843
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3GJN8Y

To purchase “Secret Rendezvous” single: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/secret-rendezvous-single/1385018605
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3GDT1F

Spotify:
“Judgement Day”: https://open.spotify.com/album/5eMrgSJN4Eapy8DZsmbd40
“Secret Rendezvous”: https://open.spotify.com/album/3v7ZALFFucwVrzEp6g3UOC

For more information:
The Chocolate Watchband official band website: http://www.thechocolatewatchband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chocolatewatchband/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com