FIREBIRD V11 – PHIL MANZANERA TAKES FLIGHT WITH INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
When Roxy Music exploded onto the nascent 'Glam' scene in 1972, they managed to do something that the leading lights of the day - Bowie, Bolan, Elton, Slade et al - simply could not. They appealed to Glitter Kids, who thrilled to the tales of otherworldly creatures, bizarre sexual proclivities and the absolute glamour of romance and fashion; they appealed to the hippies who wanted to meditate on subjects at the furthest outposts of the imagination; they appealed to the prog and art scenes, who respected the musicianship, invention and sonic experimentation.
Central to the Roxy sound was Phil Manzanera's guitar playing. It seemed to arrive fully formed, without any obvious references, but with a bite and attack that was matched by an ability to play with subtlety and restraint when the song called for it. Over the course of eight studio albums Manzanera was an ever present in the Roxy line up, alongside Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay. From 1975 onwards, Phil began his alternative careers as solo artist, producer and member of the highly rated Quiet Sun...
‘Firebird V11’ is an explosion of musical inventiveness, created in collaboration with ex-Quiet Sun and This Heat’s avant garde drummer Charles Hayward, top Polish classical/jazz pianist Lezek Mozdzer and renowned bassist Yaron Stavi from Gilad Atzmon’s Oreint House Ensemble and released on 10 November 2008 on his label Expression Records. This ambitious musical endeavour is inspired by the red and white Gibson Firebird V11 guitar, his signature guitar and one that Manzanera has had a 35 year musical partnership with.
The Firebird V11 album has its origins in a chance meeting at Gatwick Airport. Manzanera explains: “I was standing in the security queue and the man in front of me turned round and said “hello Phil”, it was Charles Hayward, school friend, drummer on our 1975 Quiet Sun album... who I hadn’t seen for 20 years. We agreed that it would be great to work together on another music project. Around this time Gibson Guitars called me about a signature guitar ‘inspired by Phil Manzanera’ and of course it had to be my Firebird V11: I bought it in 1973 and it featured on Roxy Music’s second album cover, ‘For Your Pleasure.’
With Charles Hayward on drums, bassist Yaron Stavi was recruited to the project, with the final place in the quartet taken by Leszek Mozdzer, the celebrated Polish pianist. In addition to his own composition, Manzanera asked that the three musicians each contribute a piece of music, as was ex-Quiet Sun alumni Bill MacCormick, with one track, ‘Mexican Hat’ improvised in the studio. The seven track album was recorded in one week at Manzanera’s Gallery Studios in June 2007.
Firebird V11 continues in the tradition of Quiet Sun and the instrumental side of the 801 Live project. MacCormick and Haywards’ tracks were in fact written in 1970 for Quiet Sun’s ‘Mainstream’ album, but until now, were never recorded.
Microvictories is the debut full-length release from Brassica, the project of Michael Anthony Wright. A collection of songs 'sculpted from a scrapbook of experiments, improvisations, and reactions to times and places', the album is a meeting point of analogue and digital sounds. Intricately constructed and produced, the release features various different instruments and electronics.
This was released as a limited edition CD of just 200 copies on the Tartaruga Records label earlier in 2008, and is now available as a digital download. CLICK HERE To Buy
“Talk about a great little album! A CD of deliciously varied sounds and the ability to take on organic instrumentation as well as classic electronics is really a complete joy to behold. A corking release and a big recommendation.” - Smallfish Records
“A cool mixture of electronic and acoustic going on with lots of happy sounding melodies a la Boards of Canada. There's a good flow to things with more structured tracks complemented by funny little interludes with lots of weird noises, bubbling analogue bits and siren sounds, sort of like listening to a mashup of recordings from the Radiophonic Workshop.” - Norman Records, Album of the Week
“Pick of the last post box has to be “Microvictories” the debut album by London sound sculptor Brassica. All kinds of samples, sounds and experiments are lovingly woven into the mix, with new elements being revealed to the repeated listener... there’s a well judged mix between the more experimental end and
lush beauty at the other.” - Music Like Dirt
BLEEDING HEART NARRATIVE - ALL THAT WAS MISSING WE NEVER HAD IN THE WORLD
The debut album from Bleeding Heart Narrative, the work of Oliver Barrett, will be available as a digital download from 10th November 2008. Working with layered cellos, repeating piano melodies, hushed vocals and mutant textures of sound and noise, 'all that was missing we never had in the world' is an assured and confident album that has already been picking up attention from various quarters.
Released as a very limited run of just 200 copies on the Tartaruga Records label earlier in 2008, this is long since sold out, and the digital release will ensure the album is available to a wider audience. Following this the album will be subject to a physical re-issue via the Cold Spring label.
While Barrett is responsible for all of the music on record, when Bleeding Heart Narrative take to the stage it is in the form of a full band with anything up to eight members, featuring, variously, three cellos, viola, drums, guitar, bass, electronics and group vocals. This year has seen performances throughout London, Brighton, Oxford, Luton and Leeds, while the album has picked up radio play and coverage as far afield as Australia, America, and throughout Europe.
'a marvelously complex album, displaying a compositional maturity usually garnered through decades of experience and learning.'
- Brainwashed.com
'incredibly emotive and one of the most interesting records we've heard here in a long long time. It pricked up the collective office ears which is rare thing these days.'
- Norman Records
'a layered, intricate and hugely eclectic collection, Bleeding Heart Narrative's debut release is a multi-dimensional fusion of noise, drone, orchestral and pop mentalities that's as fiercely experimental as it is strangely accessible.'
- Rock-A-Rolla Magazine
CLICK HERE and claim your FREE download and hear the brilliant Bleeding Heart Narrative
CLICK HERE To Buy Bleeding Heart Narrative on Digital
