New single

And here it is: with a timely review from Louder Than War:

Manchester’s The Speed of Sound have been crafting their genre-melting underground alternative sound (New Wave post-punk blood powered by the heartbeat of 60’s influences) for nearly thirty years now, a time-frame which may have seen progression for women but, as they themselves seek to address with this latest release, we have a long way to go. Their new double A-side single “I’m Real/I Don’t Want Your Attention,” has been created to mark the 100^th anniversary of suffrage for women, whilst addressing the issues facing women in the modern world. Recorded at the VoltaLab in Rochdale (previously The Cargo, a legendary

studio with an impressive post-punk history), the video was filmed in the parlour of Emmeline Pankhurst’s old home, now the Pankhurst Centre (all profits from this release also go to the Pankhurst Centre and Manchester Womens’ Aid, and have drawn heavy influence from sources like Charlotte Newson’s “Women Like You,” exhibition (pictured).) As ever, John Armstrong has also shown that he really knows how to craft an ear-grabbing melody with both of these songs. “I Don’t Want Your Attention,” sees vocalist Anne-Marie Crowley singing in a fashion both despondent and defiant about sexual harassment in the workplace, whereas “I’m Real” deals with the brutal subject of a possessive relationship. The language used as Crowley tries to articulate all the doll-like things that she isn’t reinforces the problems of the traditionally feminine whilst kicking against them. Both songs have a jangly indie feel which to a casual listener has a sense of optimism: the perfect hook to grab attention before pulling in the listener with the hard-hitting issues at hand. Speed of Sound clearly want us to reconsider the wider representations of women – in history, in social politics, in modern homes and workplaces, and yes, with the music industry – in a fashion that is accessible and far-reaching. Their

long-term DIY spirit is full of anti-conventions and the way industry women should be portrayed is another part of that. The objectification of women in popular music, they claim, is part of the problem. “I Don’t Want Your Attention” and “I’m Real,” are both excellent, melodic indie records. But it is the bold and defiant way that they tackle what the band see as a lack of social progression which means everyone really ought to sit up and take notice of what The Speed of Sound have to say.
The full piece is here (thanks Amy)
Go on, be inspired and get one

Line-up

It has 'been a bit intense' lately, very very busy, which means there is a lot happening. Thing One is: Huge thanks to Anthony 'Eddy' Edwards of Weimar for sitting in on drums since September 2017 and a big welcome to John Broadhurst who will be playing his first gig with The Speed Of Sound at the soon to be announced new single release gig.

Meanwhile - for those that like lists - here's the updated personnel listing since the first EP released in 1989:

Stay tuned for more updates!

All-Nighter

Zombie Shack in Manchester hosted the first in an irregular series of all-nighter gigs, with The Chords UK providing the headline and The Speed Of Sound playing a 50 minute set before them, 9pm doors, 10pm live and a bar licence to 5am with DJ's through the night. It might have been October outside but it was hot and bouncing inside. It all added up to great sound, great atmosphere and great people. There will be more.
Chris Pope & The Chords UK (photo Alan May)

The Speed Of Sound set list:
Shut All the Clubs
The Moment Is Now
Seen It All Before
Nothing But A Heartache
Tomorrow's World
Opium Eyes
No Kicks
Day In Day Out
Crash
Only Everything
I'm Real
I Don't Want Your Attentions
Glide On By

Fringe

It was a splendid at Ruby Lounge on Saturday, thanks to Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and everyone that turned out to witness Stuart's first outing in our drum chair and Lucy playing three gigs in one night plus terrific sets from the lovely French Boutik and the superb Kite Collectors

Set list:
Girl On The Roof
I'm Real
The Moment Is Now
Seen It All Before
Tomorrow's World
Karin B
Crash
Little Miss Restless
Love
Shut All The Clubs
I Don't Want Your Attentions

 

acoustic and out of the ordinary

A gig with a difference - The Speed Of Sound and Turner are both playing an acoustic performance in the Drawing Room of Elizabeth Gaskell's House at 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester M13 9LW on   Thursday 7th April 

Ticket link : https://www.quaytickets.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=E21164D6-A427-4CAC-8500-9DE8ED429030 A song so new that it is too late to be on the next album will be unveiled and new LP songs will make their live debut. The recently restored Victorian Villa has hosted contemporary music since the 1850's house guests include Charlotte Bronte and Charles Halle, marinaded in atmosphere, steeped in time. 

Be quick!

When we were three

This would have been the LP sleeve; now we need a complete rethink because we are not three, we are four. AnnMarie has added the fourth dimension to the sound, so everything changes yet again and this becomes the sleeve that never was. 

Huge thanks to Shay Rowan photographing the shoot this one came from.

WTA? November

We're live again on Saturday (14Nov) with Killamonjambo as our What's The Alternative? guest, seven piece hot ska funk to wake up the night. Ignore the chill in the air outside as Killamonjambo bring their raging hot ska-funk to Manchester.  August 2014 saw the release of their debut studio album “Fiesta Moon Landing” which reached number 16 on iTunes reggae/ska album chart. 2014 saw their Glastonbury debut on the Avalon Café and Croissant Neuf stages following which they were hotly tipped by BBC Radio 2’s Jonny Walker.

And The Speed Of Sound start the next five live shows of the solar year.

Back on top

Sometimes charts are cool :

Its nice to be there again.
Much appreciated - Thanks!

looking for a new drummer

This is on Saturday (14Mar), we've got drum-assistance from Jonny of The Electric Stars so massive thanks to him/them for that as we're looking for a new drummer. If anyone knows someone that might be interested get in touch on any of the social media things. Gender/hair-colour/whatever are all irrelevant, we're just after a drummer. Spread the word. Thanks.

Stuff about Bone-Box:

"Lyrics that sometimes sound like Milton... a sound that somehow transplants Manchester to a plain near Tucson" Q MAGAZINE

"Darkly insidious and wonderful" CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE 

"Shudderingly Ace" MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

"Bone-Box weave webs of faded fairytales and cross palms with slivers of shattered tales of the everyday thrown from an out of control carousel...a ghostly gospel of drama and dented dreams far more feral than the plaintive lap-steel sometimes suggests. As an epic whole, they are The Master and Margharita filmed by Glenn Ford and scripted by Tom Waits with executive producer Leonard Cohen" BBC.CO.UK

"'Death Of A Prize Fighter' marries its brooding, bruised feel and a distant foreboding that reflects the darker Northern skies these tracks were penned under, with Americana flourishes and a musical yearning and heart located over the other side of the Atlantic" NEW-NOISE.NET 

mono

Our last gig of 2014 is at Mono in Chorlton on 20 December, DJ from 8pm, Luke Gallagher is doing an acoustic set too, There are three albums to pick from and we like to change the set round a bit so we've been working on some new songs and some old ones Owen hasn't done before and its looking like a 60% different set to our last gig its going to be a good night. Get down there if you can, its free entry.

live photos

Thanks to the audience, here are some Photos from our gig on 7Nov 

Set List:

I See You Everywhere That I Go

Checkered Land

Uhrwerk

The Wargame

Girl On The Roof

Maid Of The Grey

I Can't Say

Love

Sit By The River

There's No One There

Post gig, outside the Kings Arms

The Transmitters also played an excellent high energy set, big thanks to them too

No.1 for 100th post

Coincidence but the 100th post on the blog gets to say we're No.1 in the Reverbnation Alternative Chart for Manchester. Nice. Thanks for listening. Charts are like opinion-polls, they only get quoted when they give the desired answer, But, we've been at it for a while and not everyone gets there so the band are just going to feel a little smug about this for a day or two. Thanks again, its you lot that put us there.  

here

Gigging

Live again for the bank holiday weekend, we're playing an unsigned night at The Roadhouse Manchester, we're 4th on at 21:25, it might get noisy.
 
We'll have a few copies of the single with us if you fancy, if you can't make it there its still available by post on Bandcamp and the digital issue is everywhere you'd expect it to be, nab one.

Record Shop

As well as via Bandcamp the physical single is now available at Vinyl Revival in Manchester:
Try it because record shops are there all year round not just one day a year.

Vinyl Revival
5 Hilton Street
Manchester
M4 1LP

Electric and Live

Psyching-Out at Night and Day's Showcase 25 May 2014: Set List

Girl On The Roof

Checkered Land

Only Everything

Love

The Wargame

Chalk Circle

There's No One There

New drummer Pete, two practices in and then a gig. 
Fearless and confident, but that's because he's good. 
Welcome.                                                

Kevin, relaxed and ready - the Bass Rock  - poised with plectrum in mouth, ready to rumble rib-cages with the low notes.      








Thanks to Night and Day for having us, sound engineer Jimmy (monitor sound was great first time) and to the people that turned out to see us. Much appreciated. 

Next one scheduled is this... 
and we can't wait: