Victory

Thanks to Dave Franklin and NYCs The Big Takeover for their review of Victory - which goes live on streaming on 20th September and is already available physically: 

"If Minerva was the first piece of the triptych jigsaw that makes up a set called A Cornucopia: Minerva, Victory, Bounty, then it may come as no surprise to find that Victory, The Speed of Sound’s latest album, is the second installment in the series. And if that first one proved to be fun and eclectic, exploratory and unique, then at least your expectations are set for this new sonic adventure. To be honest, anyone following the Speed of Sound story for the last few years…or 35, will already be braced to expect, if not the unexpected, then at least the unusual, challenging, and thoroughly rewarding.

But if Minerva sought to stick two fingers up to the powers-that-be of the record label-dominated music scene, Victory perhaps takes a more laid-back approach. The songs are still laced with optimism and a sense of liberation, but they seem to be less picking a fight and just happy to make some less pointed points.

One of the main points is about the joy of making music for the sake of it, art for art’s sake. So here we find a collection of songs, and indeed a band, that isn’t looking to get rich, famous, look cool, or even be noticed but instead revel in the pleasures of creativity and expression.

Ironically, it is this freedom to not play the game enables them to produce songs that could easily be chart contenders in a more discerning world. If opener “Apocalypse Acropolis” feels like a tentative start, when taken as one half of the bookend set with “Apocalypse Metropolis,” its more measured way makes sense against its partner’s beat-driven, hazy vocals and trumpet-riffed nature.

Recent single, “Underground,” might not look to the mainstream for admirers. Still, those of us who have been around the block a few times will recognize its blend of indie and pop and slightly rawer edges, its jangling guitars and shuffling beats, sing-along refrains, and alternative ways, as precisely the sort of thing that used to create the unusual high points and left-field guile that occasionally peppered the 80’s charts as the wave of post-punk attitudes merged into a new pop sound.

And then there are tracks like “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” which revel in their otherness, a cornucopia (wink wink) of Eastern vibes and raga beats, a blend of masala rock that builds a bridge between late-era Beatles and bands such as Orphaned Land.

I guess when you stop conforming to the rules and regulations set by those around you, when you decide to leave the game and make music on your terms, that is when you make the music that matters, to you at least, music that goes where you want it to go, sounds the way you want it to sound and says what you want it to say. I’m sure Speed of Sound has always had such an attitude, but albums like A Cornucopia: Victory and the set that it is a part of are the perfect rallying point for those who don’t want to be dictated to…both music makers and those who want to listen to something new, authentic and different." 

The Big Takeover: https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/the-speed-of-sound-victory-big-stir-records 

All Links for Victory (physical/streaming/download): https://victorythespeedofsound.hearnow.com/a-cornucopia-pt-2-victory 

No.1 and No.3

Massive thanks Basildon Radio, and their listeners: The Speed Of Sound are No.1 and No.3 in their most played Independent chart last week.

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.

Mad Ferret

Mad Ferret's Music Blog has reviewed The Speed Of Sound In A Blood Orange Sky:

Here's a review of The Speed Of Sound's 2nd album which was released in 2012. Both their albums are widely available on  iTunes, Spotify etc. The album has quite a modern folk rock feel with a definite dash of 80's post punk/alt thrown in. Which is no surprise considering all the songs were written in that decade but sound fresh as ever.

Vocally there is a hint of Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, bit of Jagger, great sound. Musically the sound alternates between Rock; verging on heavy/psyche to alt/punk with some great instrumentation along the way.

 'You've Got To Move Too' starts the album off  zipping along with a jangly guitar sound and scatter gun drumming. 'English Electric Lighting F6' up next. Smart bit of bass at the beginning following by a virtuoso guitar performance on this (almost) instrumental track. Stunning. 'No Kicks' is another great track which will have you singing the chorus whether you want to or not. Track 4 'There's No One There' has an edgier vocal and a punkier sound. A song of despair and hopelessness, superbly played, has a fantastic guitar solo over a rat-a-tat drum line. Really like this one. 'Temporary Fault' is another with a punk edge, hammer drums, angsty vocal and jittery guitar. Has a feel of losing it in bedsit land. Lyrics are insightful and desperate. A wonderfully gloomy atmosphere to this track, 'Joy Division' like!! Next, 'The Changes', more solid drumming and shimmering guitars alongside a fine vocal. Track 7 is 'Uhrwerk'. It opens with a fine guitar solo and quickly turns into one of the best tracks on the album. Heavier, rocking sound, musical perfection with an instrumental section towards the end that will blow you away. 8 is 'Sit By The River' and it sounds exactly like you are. An eighties indie feel, summery and upbeat. A foot tapping, head nodding sing-a-long. If you close your eyes you can almost feel the breeze washing over you. A nod towards environmental concerns on tracks 9 & 11, 'Torrey Canyon' and 'Throw It Away', both tracks awesome with snippets of genius. I especially like the little guitar breaks on 'Torrey Canyon', reminds me of something, can't think what, I like it though. Sandwiched between these two is 'Intercept'. Forty two seconds of backwards magic! The final track and for my money, the best, is 'Overlooked'. A superb opening sound, very cool, subtle. Fuzzy guitar, tapping drum beat, lead breaks floating through the air and and understated vocal. Spoken word comes in quietly with the bass and other players mooching along. Has an indie sound to this track that a lot of today's new bands would kill for. Guitar is sublime, this has got to be a live favourite. Sure this would sound great at a gig or a festival somewhere.

These tracks ahve been around for a long time but that just adds to their quality I think. Can't wait to hear the new stuff when its ready... So check this band out, you won't be sorry. madferrit
Mad Ferret can be found here