Tuesday 3 November 2020

New Double-A-Single

Our third set with the lovely bunch of dudesses & dudes at Big Stir Records in Burbank CA is now out and this single link will take you to streaming at Apple Music, Bandcamp, iTunes and Spotify. Here.

The new pair of songs is Radio Safe and No Kicks and we have again collaborated with photographer Natalie Paddick (see our fabulous bunny t-shirt), using a crop-and-cut her fabulous 'Red Rope' picture (available as a print from Saatchi online) within the sleeve artwork. Here's the landscape view:

Exciting is an understatement. The feeling of releasing new music in these impossible circumstances is pretty big. A definite sense of achievement and joy at being able to share it. 

More to follow including video...


Sunday 11 October 2020

Karin B on Aldora Britain Records compilation

We can now reveal that Karin B from our Everything Changes album features on the new compilation from Aldora Britain Records. Snappily titled Everybody's Out There Doing Nothin'New (It Doesn't Matter To Me) and you can get the entire compilation from the Bandcamp shop for £1.60 here

And why wouldn't you at that price. 
Exciting to be involved. Click the link above for full track listing and of course you can stream it on Bandcamp too.


Friday 2 October 2020

Wow! ...that is quite a review

Yes. Needed a cup of tea and a sit down after reading this - Mick Middles writing in the printed Fall Edition of Rock at Night which has the theme of 'Revolution'... Here we go:

"Of all the angles, colours, shades, clouts clangs and dances that have given life to Manchester music since the advent of punk, none have felt or tasted quite the same as The Speed Of Sound. With a history over 30 years deep and a smattering of musicians adding up to - and beyond - 18, Speed Of Sound have remained a vibrant scream from the Manchester shadows.

It HAS to be a scream, too, at times literally so, for this perennial Manchester outsider band. Now deep into middle age, the lovely intelligent and softly spoken people who take refuge within this band explode into life when their feet hit the stage.


I recall a gig three years ago at Manchester's funky-if-not-downbeat Thirsty Scholar. Sitting chatting within the wicker-lined interior, we chatted as they unpacked their gear, carefully lying their guitars to rest before studiously replying to my measured questions.

As the set began, they instantly transformed into some kind of weird raging torrent. John Armstrong slashing an arm viciously across his guitar while Ann-Marie Crowley vocals howled as an untamed banshee. I swear that a gaggle of attendees, seasoned punks to man and woman took two steps back in disbelief. In that modest arena, it became one of the most spectacular gigs I had witnessed for decades.

Around that time, I received a copy of their sumptuous double album, Everything Changes. It proved to be  a gorgeous product, this, especially in vinyl format, where the main affair was accompanied by an additional 10 song CD.Essentially therefore, that rare beast, the 'double album' and a most intriguing one at that. Fear not, this is no Frampton Comes Alive where the entire career hinges on a gimmick-laden, video friendly head bug of a song. Although bugs do abound and kind of twist your brain with repeated plays, offering visions of, I guess, Whalley Range or thereabouts.

The beautiful cover features four photographic tints of what looks like a Manchester park and a stunning marble statue on the reverse. There is more: A lyric-heavy inner-sleeve neatly overlays undoctored images of the band who also appear cartoon-esque on a separate sheet and - more, more again - a neat A4 glossy poster insert. I do apologise if this initial talk of packaging might seem rather crass,  as I mean no disrespect. What is important here is that the parade of artwork and extraordinary care built into it reflects the equal care embedded in the music.

What I particularly adored about this album is the unlikely relationship between the languid New York style vocals of songwriter John. Armstrong and the infectious evocative bass of Kevin Roache. It is a marriage that governs the album recalling - for me at least - a rather bizarre cocktail of Television / The Only Ones, Henry Crow and, when Ann-Marie Crowley's vocals kick in, touches of 'Meet On The Ledge' circa Fairport. The comparisons might seem lazy, but this is precisely where the album sits...oh, perhaps with elements of off-kilter John Marty. Maybe...maybe, definitely.


In 2018, there followed a further extraordinary slap of vinyl. A single this time, in support of Manchester Women's Aid. A double-A-side of two songs "I'm Real" and " I Don't Want Your Attentions", both ferociously exploding with feministic intent... and both written by John Armstrong. While the song titles may seem self explanatory, the jagged edges of the lyric certainly snagged on unexpected territory. "I won't put up with this anymore you've pushed me near the edge, every time I see you I want to get away, I just wish you were dead."

John Armstrong is an enigma; Perhaps Manchester's greatest, squealing form under the floorboards. Interviewing him is, itself, a curiously beguiling task.

I ask him about his writing... he replies: "There's a literary approach in my writing, partly because of writing about actual things rather than generic stuff. There are enough people writing predictable pop songs already. We need more songs about a ship full of toxic waste or a mannequin tied to a pub roof or the ring road in Rio de Janeiro. I am trying to find something that interests me. Something that won't be boring in ten years". As carefully posed question...are Speed Of Sound comfortable with being tagged 'outsiders'? "Very much Outsiders." He replies. "We are not interested in the music business, labels fashions and trends and didn't start making music to end up of the cover of Smash Hits or being a major label signing. All this people who have played with The Speed Of Sound over the decades make music because this is what they do. The industry is about 'product'. The sound, the textures is irrelevant to record companies. Whereas we are simply doing it for the music which is the other way around to the mainstream. Doing it our way gives us a level of artistic control that is impossible in the major label world. I am happy with that."

A new album edges towards completion. Themes will edge towards sci-fi in a typically off-kilter manner. Shots will emerge before the album release, in Spring 2021, in the form of planned singles. But of course, this being 2020, nothing is ever going to be nailed onto anything. This is the uncertain world in which we live.

Bu Speed Of Sound remain elegantly adrift, from anything and everything."

Mick Middles




Friday 4 September 2020

Remembering The Chords

Hot off the press is the fabulous new book on the highly influential and cult status mod-punk band The Chords, and it is already collectible having sold out its first print run. Aside from it being a great read combining information (of the interesting kind) with flavoursome inside anecdotes; it is herd written and is by far the best of its kind in that format, giving a real sense of what it was to be there. Ray Butler did an excellent job in compiling and whipping into shape the diverse contributions on a band that is ultimately one of the reasons that The Speed Of Sound exist... so, extra delighted to say we're in it too, occupying pages 247-248. 

There will be a reprint so if you fancy seeing it in your own hand get in touch with Ray via the link here.


Wednesday 5 August 2020

The Importance of Sharp Footwear in Wonderland

Long term Speed Of Sound artistic collaborator Natalie Paddick has a new website which has a feature on the work we've done together over the years & yes; the stunning T-shirt is back in stock on our 'shop' page and via Bandcamp again. 
I'm quite sure there are many lasting relationships that begin with footwear and fortunately all is explained within, but suffice to say shoes are essential. 
The Wonderland Clockwork Orange crossover images worked superbly in the Checkered Land video:
and the building 'renovation' scenes fitted Shut All The Clubs equally, gig posters and assorted website elements followed. Enter sinister Bunny stage left.

You can find the piece here and we're happy to say despite viral interventions there is more mixed media collaboration on the way... 
Cut off their tails with a carving knife... (or some sharp scissors) ...Snip snip snip...

Friday 17 July 2020

Keep It Quiet

Keep It Quiet, no don't do that, shout it from the rooftops! It is here: The new single is No.82 in the Big Stir Records catalogue is here (scroll to 82) released into the world to fend for itself and have adventures of its own. As we welcome its twin themes of climate change plus the metaphor of the human relationship with Mother Nature as domestic violence, all set to a pulsating buoyant bouncing rhythm, here, is the video:


Saturday 11 July 2020

Something New

31 years in and The Speed Of Sound are not averse to new things; the imminent release of the new single sees the addition of keyboards to the sound of Sound. And it is none other than Henry Armstrong, (yes, son of JohnA) that can be found twirling the Korg knobs and pressing the keys.
Adding a new dimension of sounds and textures.

On the Everything Changes album the idea was to capture the live sound. Similar to The Clash's first album; it was a simple plan - go in the studio, play the songs and record them. It is essentially a live album without audience noise.
With the current recordings the live approach was retained, playing together, set-up as a live band, but adding a lot more studio nuance and way more things that can't be done live.
The keyboards however, are part off the long-term plan and will be out there with us once it is sensible to play gigs again post-pandemic.
Until then we don't want to put an audience, sound-crew or obviously ourselves at risk.
Stay safe out there people!

And, before there is more live music there will be more recorded music... very soon...

Wednesday 3 June 2020

Saturday 30 May 2020

Busy in lockdown

Strange Days, as the say - and they are; we hope you're adapting to the circumstances.
We've been a little quiet lately, but its because we've been too busy to tell any one about it. We have a new single coming again on the lovely Big Stir Records of LA. We've been making video too, which is not easy when you can't get anyone together or film anything outside your house. But here's a teaser shot from one of the videos, we've edited in a little bit of film taken from a gig in back September, it feels so much longer ago than six months since then:
To add to that, we're still here and the website shop and Bandcamp are still open, the post is still going out and still arriving so don't be shy about picking up some limited edition independent music on vinyl or any of the other exciting items we have for you.

Wednesday 19 February 2020

The 5th Wave - CD Compilation

Big Stir Records of Burbank California have included two songs by The Speed Of Sound in their 5th compilation CD.
In their own words:
BIG STIR SINGLES: THE FIFTH WAVE crashes on your musical shore Friday, March 6, on CD and Digital Download, and is available for pre-order at www.bigstirrecords.com/storenow. It's the first instalment in the series for 2020, after the First through Fourth Wave CDs released throughout 2019 debuted to rave reviews and broke new ground for collections of their type, landing on Year's Best lists among proper single artist albums. The series is now firmly established as an ongoing journal of the best new music on the global pop rock scene, beyond boundaries of geography and label affiliation, and a reliably exciting rebuke to the charge that “there's no good music any more these days”.
What makes The Fifth Wave special? As always it features an A-side and a B-side from each of the artists featured across the most recent months of the Big Stir Singles Series. As always it sports liner notes from a trusted authority on the music scene, as Tsar / Brothers Steve / GoAllTheWays drummer STEVE COULTER, under his crime fiction and pop critic nom-de-plume S.W. Lauden, joins the ranks of noted music writers Carl CafarelliDon Valentine and John Borack in doing the honors. And artist Ridley Broome has created a unique cover graphic depicting each of the A-sides in fantasy/superhero personifications, adding the character and quirk that collectors have come to expect from Big Stir's physical releases.
Yep. It's that cool.