Tuesday 12 July 2011

PUBLIC SPEECH LAUNCH DEBUT ALBUM

Striking out from the heart of London’s trendy Dalston, agit-pop punkers Public Speech put their words into action with the release of their debut album Publicity on their own P-SPEAK! label.

Fronted by singer and guitarist Joe Pollution, who’s joined by drummer Bill Austin and bassist Kevin Byrne, the band recorded the album at the end of 2010 at Reservoir Studios in North London. Raised on punk, like many an East End teenager, Joe served his time in the fabled Hackney hip-hop wars, under the banner of 3rd Rok, eventually resulting in 2007 in Small Whisper-Ins, an album of short, sharp observations on global dumbing-down and economic crisis.

Fast forward to now, and these same influences and impulses are brought to bear in Public Speech as the Hackney native goes back to his roots. A refreshing, cathartic mix of ’77 punk energy, whipsmart funk, pop hooks, hip-hop techniques and searing rock licks, the band’s sound provides the perfect base for Joe’s quickfire delivery, a witty and confrontational social commentary, equal parts Strummer, Dury and Ice Cube.

Roadtested in the unfashionable divebars of Dalston and Camden, and on a brief expeditionary foray to the Netherlands, Publicity follows April’s download single ‘Queen’s Speech’, the band’s toast to the Royal Couple on the event of their nuptials. The video for the single has already brought them unwanted attention from London’s finest on duty outside Buck House.  Having gained considerable press and airplay, the band now look forward to annoying many more with their debut album. You have been warned.

“We don’t like your negative and offensive attitude.”    The Sun

Dates:

28 July                          Proud Gallery (SAUK Label Launch), Camden, London NW1
21 Aug                          Supernormal Festival, Braziers Park, Oxfordshire



Tuesday 5 July 2011

THEE FACTION - UP THE WORKERS!

Reigate’s Socialist r’n’b revolutionaries Thee Faction introduce their debut studio album on the Soviet Beret label. Up The Workers! follows on from the limited release of their debut live exposition ….At Ebbw Vale.

Allegedly lost somewhere behind the Iron Curtain since 1985, like Dr Feelgood before them, burning a hole in a 70s scene bloated to exhaustion by the pomposity of prog and paving the way for punk, Thee Faction come hurtling pell-mell into a 21st Century musical climate ripened for agitation by economic gloom and crushing banality.

Recorded with renowned producer and engineer Ian Shaw, Up the Workers! comprises eleven tracks of rattling r’n’b proselytising and anthemic soul banner-raisers. Songs such as ‘Deft Left’, ‘Join The Party’ and ‘Capitalism Is Good For Corporations; That’s Why You’ve Been Told Socialism Is Bad All Your Life’ have already drawn a number of early devotees to the cause, including Nicky Wire, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, comedian Josie Long and Whitbread Prizewinner, Patrick Neate.

Having already established a bolthole with their regular DDR of R’n’B events at The Half Moon in Putney, the band is planning a series revolutionary activities throughout the Autumn. However, in the meantime you can catch them at…

13 Aug... Mods Against The Cuts, Blow Up Club, 4 Denmark St London W1
1  Sep…. Uncle Bob’s Wedding Reception, Upstairs at The Garage, London N5

PRESS:

“Bringing down the Tories one song at a time”  The Guardian

Timely. I love these mad bastards”  Simon Price, The Independent on Sunday
“What a cracking record” Paul Brannigan, Kerrang!

“I have always been particularly fond of this lot” Gideon Coe, BBC 6Music

“Dr Feelgood meets Citizen Smith”  BBC Sussex