The wonderful phrase, "The oblique gait of his melodies" combines three words I have never seen together before. That may be down to Google Translate, or may be the literary skill of the original author; either way, it's one of many lovely turns of phrase/praise in this Italian review of our new and unmissable album!
The full review reads, "The endless paths of British pop authors meet sometimes surprising intersections, so much so that it is not easy even for its most avid aficionados to keep track of the collaborations and the changing names assumed from time to time by some of its creators. The "post-Brexit" European Sun acronym is in fact completely new and yet hides a trio of experienced musicians, which revolves around the song writing of Steve Miles, already in the duo The Short Stories, accompanied by none other than the duo of Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, together already protagonists of a variety of artistic adventures (Heavenly, Marine Research, Talulah Gosh, Tender Trap…), up to the most recent The Catenary Wires . Well, precisely to the "adult" pop approach, disenchanted and subtly ironic of the latter, they can in some ways refer the songs of "European Sun", in which the personality of Miles is decisive, with his sparse writing and his interpretations of placid, almost decadent, elegance. There is, in fact, something refined out of time in the songs that make up the album, imbued with a pop taste fuelled by the measured production and instrumental contributions of Fletcher and Pursey, ranging from delicate acoustic arpeggios ("Never Too Old To Be Young "," Now I'm Ready To Be A Princess ") to jangly hints that allow ancient fascinations for Sarah Records to resurface, in particular in the songs in which Amanda's vocal parts play a more decisive role (" Favourite Day ", "A Song For Sisters"). However, this is not just a nostalgic work, on the contrary the particular personality of Miles, the oblique gait of his melodies and in particular the sometimes resurfacing spoken word make the line-up anything but monochord or predictable, even if all pieces are basically enveloped by an aura as if detached from the current historical and musical climate. The formula, however, works in full, as the anticipation singles already suggested, suitably included in the album as digital bonuses, in which even more evident was the pop imprint of Miles, who also thanks to his two "new" exceptional companions can well be said to have fully blossomed." See it in the original Italian here. Ciao! https://musicwontsaveyou.com/2020/09/23/european-sun/ "WATCH! Love this new video from European Sun – classic English indie whimsy from former Talulah Gosh/Heavenly members," says John Robb, at Louder Than War.
He continues... "Love this! A classic piece of whimsical English indie pop from some of the key architects of the scene. It drips melody, whimsy and love and a lone grey cloud on a rare and perfect blue English sky…great video as well… Bristol-born Steve Miles writes, sings and plays the songs of European Sun. Rob Pursey and Amelia Fletcher play, sing and produce. Rob and Amy have an unrivalled indie heritage with Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, Marine Research and Tender Trap. These days they perform and record as The Catenary Wires. Ian Button plays the drums. Steve also plays in The Short Stories with bassist Chris Wilson (Lloyd Cole, Love Spit Love). Favourite Day is the fourth single from European Sun, another essential release for fans of Jonathan Richman, the Television Personalities, BMX Bandits, Felt, the June Brides, the Velvet Underground, C86, early Creation, Subway, Postcard and Sarah Records. Favourite Day is released in time for the August Bank Holiday weekend; a paean to Lou Reed, a kitchen sink indiepop retelling of Perfect Day, with melting ice creams, sandy Pringles and a verse that feels like it was written in another world: Far too noisy in the club Far too crowded in the pub Way too cold to stay outside Walked her home and went inside But that’s when they both knew That it’s a perfect day, it’s true When you both sing along with Lou Their self titled debut LP hits the shops in September. Pressed on beautiful white vinyl, inside a gorgeous sleeve that marries Warhol and Saville to sumptuous effect, the album brings you 12 songs about birds, belonging and Brexit, growing up, growing old and going to the seaside, looking back, looking forward and looking bewildered, dreaming, driving and despairing, and many more moments of frivolous profundity, all packaged inside conveniently-sized pop songs for your enjoyment and consumption. Digital extras supplement the deal and the whole thing is guaranteed to bring a smile and a sense of balance to a world with too much anxiety and uncertainty. The band’s first release, The Future’s Female, was a straightforward song for the new decade, a rallying cry for progressive people to have hope in a decade that threatens to be dark. The proceeds from all Bandcamp sales are being donated to Refuge. You can also donate here – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraisin… My Station was the second digital release, written and recorded in a simpler time, about travel, forgetfulness and childhood. ‘Always check the luggage rack.’ The band’s third single, and first to be taken from the vinyl release, is My Friend Robin, wherein European Sun befriend a Look & Learn annual worth of heroes:Robin Hood, Prince Hamlet, Vincent Van Gogh, Emmeline Pankhurst and Robert Johnson." - Award winning journalist and boss of Louder Than War. In a 30 year music writing career, John was the first to write about bands such as Stone Roses and Nirvana and has several best selling music books to his name. He constantly tours the world with Goldblade and the Membranes playing gigs or doing spoken word and speaking at music conferences. https://louderthanwar.com/watch-love-this-new-video-from-european-sun-classic-english-indie-whimsy-from-former-talulah-gosh-heavenly-members/?fbclid=IwAR33TJBcrUF0uyb3C3q2RwV4hl14wL7Uu-656-KR9NEyVarfWhvTh7RpD-8#.X1dwUXebqRE.twitter Well, that's what this nice blog review says...
"The presence of members of Heavenly and The Catenary Wires is what's, admittedly, going to draw people to this debut album from European Sun. But the truth is, the music of Steve Miles is infectious and charming on its own. The group he's commanding now, European Sun, drops its debut album this Friday. And while the WIAIWYA release succeeds on its own terms, it's also the kind of thing that fans of recent work by Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey will enjoy a whole lot. How's that for a schizophrenic opening? Early single "The Future's Female" revealed the spry sort of folk-tinged rock that Steve Miles is pursuing here. The leader of The Short Stories, Miles favours a kind of direct, faintly whimsical approach that sees his material poised somewhere between Billy Bragg at his most kitchen sink, and Robyn Hitchcock at his most earth-bound. Lots of European Sun is just as good as that first single, with "A Song for Sisters" soaring in its own quiet way, even as "Favourite Day" adds bits of feedback, and Amelia Fletcher backing vocals, to anchor a number that's in debt to both VU and Belle & Sebastian. That one is a real highlight here, even as "Never Too Old to Be Young" suggests that Miles is capable of pursuing a kind of stately chamber rock with ease. Sounding a bit like "Sunday Morning", "You Belong Somewhere" is another gem here, even if "Small Steps" is, for me at least, far more affecting. Steve Miles can hit a nerve with a turn of phrase, or a melodic twist, and he really didn't need help from Fletcher and Pursey. That said, the contributions from those members of Heavenly and The Catenary Wires (among other projects) are used in a conservative fashion, such that their additions to this material are just light enough to not be obtrusive, and obvious enough on a few numbers as to link this material up with their own current endeavours." http://www.apessimistisneverdisappointed.com/2020/09/never-too-old-to-be-young-quick-review.html?m=1
Lou Reed and the British Seaside.
A Perfect Day in a normal person's way. No sangria, no blazing row (as his soon-to-be wife reveals actually happened that day), and all a bit too chilly. Romance, yes - but more Weston-super-Mare than Waikiki, more Hastings than Hollywood: chip shops not chiffon, seagulls not surfboards, and sunburned shoulders not Sunset Strip. But being together is what matters. And singing Lou's songs is a great way to do it. So here's the duet:
Favourite Day
Oh yes it was her favourite day He bought her a la-la-latte Then she browsed the seafront stalls And she bought nothing at all The sea was brown, not blue, But it was love she knew When they both sang along with Lou She got sweaty, holding hands Ice cream melting on her chin She spent too long in the sun With not enough sun cream on Sand in her Pringles too But it was love she knew When they both sang along with Lou Far too noisy in the club Far too crowded in the pub Way too cold to stay outside Walked her home and went inside But that’s when they both knew That it’s a perfect day, it’s true, When you both sing along with Lou
European Sun played their first live gig via Facebook earlier this week and, after only several minutes of staring at the screen wondering if the technology was working, they played five warm and whimsical songs: My Friend Robin, Favourite Day, You're Never Too Old To Be Young, The Future's Female (with some new 2020 lyrics and an apology), and She'll Fly Away, all bar one of which will appear, in more electric arrangements and often with drums, on their debut LP in September.
Enjoy it here:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCatenaryWires/videos/742272073217779/
A triple debut! European Sun will be making their online debut, performing a short sample of songs from the imminent debut album, all being well, in a debut double bill with The Catenary Wires. How much fun might that be! Please log in to https://www.facebook.com/TheCatenaryWires/live/ at the allotted time and date, and enjoy a short, live and probably somewhat shambolic set in mini-lieu of the real gigs we had planned for this time of year, literally alongside (yet socially distanced) The Catenary Wires, who will also perform.
There will be no algorithms involved. Some of my best friends are people I've never met. Isn't that what music is for? Isn't that why we read books, watch films and look at pictures? You feel confused and someone paints a picture that kind of explains it. You feel sad and someone writes a poem that makes you feel less alone. You feel love and someone writes a song that says it better than you can even think it. And those people feel like friends. And because they have had time to think about and craft what they say, and because in real life it's not always so easy to talk about some things, they can even be better friends than most of the people you know in person. You feel you know them, even though you've never met. You feel you're like them. You think they'd like you. That's what this song is about. My Friend, Robin. Sometimes I wish Robin Hood was my friend Then right and wrong would be simple again We’d rob the rich and give it to the poor I’d be more healthy from just living outdoors I’d say to him, ‘Robin I find it so very Hard being a man, let alone being merry…’ Sometimes I wish young Prince Hamlet would call And say, ‘Steve, y’know the readiness is all. Your mind’s a prison and the jailer is you Be kind to yourself, and you might just get through.’ I’d say, ‘You’re telling me, your Dad was a king Mine left school at fourteen, it’s a whole different thing…’ I’d like to hang out in the cafés at night Just hoping Vincent Van Gogh will drop by I’d buy him a beer and say, ‘You’re weren’t wrong Being so true to yourself for so long.’ He’d say to me, ‘Steve, but I feel so all alone.’ So we’d swap numbers and I’d call him on the phone. I wish I hung out more with people like Sylvia And Emmeline Pankhurst - people who’d fill ya With hope for the future, and treat you the way You hope that everyone is treated some day. We’d discuss the future of the feminist agenda: Toxic masculinity, non-binary, transgender Then one dark night, when I’ve got really old I’ve had enough of doing all that I’m told I’ll go to the crossroads and wait there in the rain For Robert Johnson to come by again. He’ll say, ‘Hey, Steve, won’t you come on in my kitchen?’ And I won’t say a thing, I’ll just sit there and listen… “If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” So said the great William Morris, and the debut album from European Sun that has arrived into the warehouse we think fits the bill. Pressed on beautiful white vinyl, inside a gorgeous sleeve that marries Warhol and Saville to sumptuous effect, the album brings you 12 songs about birds, belonging and Brexit, growing up, growing old and going to the seaside, looking back, looking forward and looking bewildered, dreaming, driving and despairing, and many more moments of frivolous profundity, all packaged inside conveniently-sized pop songs for your enjoyment and consumption. Digital extras supplement the deal and the whole thing is guaranteed to bring a smile and a sense of balance to a world with too much anxiety and uncertainty. Find it now: https://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/album/european-sun Tracklisting: - Side One - A Song For Sisters My Friend Robin Never Too Old To Be Young The Robin So Small Now I'm Ready To Be A Princess - Side Two - She'll Fly Away Favourite Day Bohemian Blasphemy You Belong Somewhere Small Steps Sleep Cottage - Extra tracks (digital only) - The Future’s Female My Station Hugs Twitter: @european_sun Instagram: europeansunband Facebook: facebook.com/europeansunband For more information, contact: John Jervis [email protected] @wiaiwya 07932 874 914 |
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