Thursday 5 December 2019

30th Anniversary CD

Here it is: the 30th Anniversary, and the 30th Anniversary CD.
Specially remastered and balanced for this release, a selection released here on CD for the first time Only available on the shop page of the website:

I See You
Seen It All Before (acoustic)
I Don't Want Your Attentions
I'm Real (without fade)
Shut All The Clubs (single version)
Love (single version)
Girl On The Roof (single version)
Checkered Land (2014)
Maid Of The Grey (single version)
There's No One There (live 2013)
Nightmare (1989)
I Wanna Feel Good (1989)

Postal delivery of physical music

30 years of independence

Monday 21 October 2019

The Speed Of Sound Go America

And here it is: The new single and the first release to feature the new line-up. Big Thanks to Big Stir Records of Burbank California for having us in their exceptionally good catalogue, it is a pleasure to be there and without further ado here is their press release:
'The next BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLE comes to you from The Speed of Sound, who have many fine releases headed your way. We’re proud to showcase the wonderfully original band that come to us all the way from Manchester England! We showcase two fine recordings for your listening pleasure: “I See You” backed with “Seen It All Before” will be released Friday, October 25, and this wonderful pair of songs is available for pre-order now! (As always at: www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles)
Formed in the rainy city of Manchester UK, thirty years ago (with a pre-history dating directly back to the day Andy Warhol died in 1987), The Speed Of Sound ventures across the pond to California with an exclusive new recording released digitally as Big Stir Records’ Digital Single Of The Week. The catchy track “I See You,” (a McGuinn/Crosby song) is the first cover version The Speed Of Sound has released in seven years! This powerful pop pleasantry is paired with an acoustic rendition of their original “Seen It All Before”. These original underground independent veterans have a busy 2020 ahead of them with an EP. Next year will bring a double-A-side single plus there is a brand-new full-length new album on the way! Lord Litter, DJ extraordinaire from Berlin, (and also on California’s Sonoma County’s KWTF) described The Speed Of Sound as, “A cool mix of punk and The Byrds’ 5th Dimension LP!”. Appropriately, the natural beauty and order of the alphabet places The Speed of Sound between Sonic Youth and Dusty Springfield. The band brings an original, distinctive, and identifiable sound - impossibly described as “like The Stranglers” and “like Jefferson Airplane” by different people simultaneously watching the same gig!
Since their first release in 1989, they have produced hard-edged music filled with optimism and a lyrical bite merged with a DIY ethos derived from punk, topped with a lust for experimentation taken from the best of psychedelia. The sound is enhanced by their long-term creative partnership with both Manchester’s Vibratone Sound Studio and their new collaboration with visual artist Local Hotel Parking.
The Speed Of Sound
John Armstrong – Songwriting/Guitars/Vocals: John has developed a vivid style of guitar playing born from combining lead and rhythm techniques in a flow that pulls the music like an ocean tide steeped in unresolved chords that beautifully underscore John’s entrancing vocals.
Ann-Marie Crowley – Vocals/Guitars: Ann-Marie returns the listener to the 1989-era format of dual lead vocals and male/female harmonies. She hadn’t performed rock based music before joining The Speed Of Sound. Ann-Marie brings her vast experience of Irish, folk and classical singing.
Kevin Roache – Bass guitar: Kevin has performed with John since 1990. Kevin contributes a wide understanding of different genres including music of Indian origin. He has a unique, beautiful and wholly individual outlook when it comes to playing the bass.
John Broadhurst – Drums: John brought his wealth of skills to The Speed Of Sound in August 2018. He is effortlessly comfortable playing jazz, pop, rock or blues. John has the ability to play within the spaces or straight down the centre. He finds the freedom of playing originals to be liberating while the fluid and improvisational sections are something he embraces and relishes.
Paul Worthington – Drums: Paul played in The Speed Of Sound from May 2015 to May 2017 and can be heard on “Seen It All Before” and the highly acclaimed “Everything Changes” album.'

Yes. It is exciting.

Wednesday 16 October 2019

News Ahoy!

Yep, we have some news coming up; we have been very busy. Major announcement next week. Before then, we've a bit of catching up to do: The gig at Wigan on 20th September was a lot of fun, thanks to everyone that came to see us instead of the rugby and thanks to Nikos Pavlou for the live stills from the night.
Set List:

I'm Real
Checkered Land
Uhrwerk
Seen It All Before
The Day The Earth Caught Fire
Shadow Factory
Tomorrow's World
Love
I Don't Want Your Attentions




Next gig is Manchester on 16th November... more updates soon!

Sorry for being a bit slack with blog updates this year, its just too busy to keep up with it... back shortly!




Sunday 11 August 2019

And five months later

Nothing has stopped apart from the blog: we're back in real time on here too now... things we've been too busy to add in here:
The gig at 'Summer of Lev Festival': a great night with sweaty alternative rock in the summer heat,
set list:
Love
I'm Real
opium Eyes
Tomorrow's World
Charlotte
Shadow Factory
Impossible Past
No Kicks
Last Orders
I Don't Want Your Attentions

Thanks to everyone that turned out for Levy Fest and to the other bands and of course to Jo and Les for organisational skills

 Recording: Loads of it. We're still at it and there is still a lot to do but we're getting there and are slightly ahead of schedule which is always nice and also not very rock-and-roll so quite on-brand.

30th Anniversary: Big news coming, the first EP was recorded on 17th September 1989 and we've got something interesting lined up for 30 years on.

Art work: A very exciting art collaboration starting with the30th Anniversary Thing mentioned above.

The Kite Collectors: AnnMarie and John are both providing guest vocals to different songs of the new The Kite Collectors album which is due for release in September, more on that still to come. We've gigged with them before and they are buddies so it is very nice to be on there. Look for it on Paisley Records.

Upcoming Gigs: Wigan, The Boulevard 20th September might also be linked to the 30th Anniversary Thing in some way, and
Manchester at The Peer Hat 16th November with Stephen's Ruin of Dusseldorf bringing their own brand of 60's infused power-pop to Manchester for the first time.

Recording: More of it. Lots more of it. Will update more when we can! mega busy!
Have fun out there!


Friday 5 April 2019

St Patrick's morning in Germany

Live in Germany 16/17 March 2019
It was a great pleasure to play The Irish Pub in Hilden on St Patrick's Eve/Morning. A great support set from One Night Stand and a chance for us to run through 27 songs in a single 90 minutes set.
Set List:
Tomorrow's World
Girl On The Roof
I'm Real
Last Orders
Always Seems To Fall
Brand New Cadillac
Leaf Blower
Day In Day Out
Uhrwerk
Seen It All Before
Only Everything
Femme Fatale
Opium Eyes
Wired And Tired
Charlotte
Smokescreen
Crash
Love
Little Miss Restless
Karin B
Zombie Century
I Don't Want Your Attentions
Impossible Past
The Day The Earth Caught Fire
Shadow Factory
No Kicks
Checkered Land

Thanks to all that came out to see us and enjoyed a wild weekend!