New World of Fox download - “Tiny Children”

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World of Fox news….

tiny children: the respect project got off to a flying start in january, with loads of people downloading “don’t talk to me about love”. next up is “tiny children” which was originally by the teardrop explodes. you can listen to it now, and throughout february 2010 it will be available to download for free from here!

facebook fans: you can now become a fan of world of fox on facebook! click here to get to the page. become a fan and you’ll see the latest updates, offers and news in your facebook live feed. i won’t be twittering though. there has to be a line drawn somewhere…
fox gigs

5th february 2010
feel the folk! presents a commercially inviable showcase at
the grain barge, bristol
with friends of the stars and richard burke

14th february 2010
the free love club - valentines serenade
the yardbird, birmingham
with paul murphy, the j-tones and lots more
show starts 4pm - i’m on 7.30pm

6th april 2010
freedom of expression at
the green dragon, croydon

Commercially Inviable in Bristol!

Categories: Friends of the Stars , Richard Burke , World of Fox | 1 Comment

Commercially Inviable artists Richard Burke, World of Fox and Friends of the Stars will be sharing the bill in Bristol on Friday 5th Febuary at the Grain Barge.

FRIDAY 5TH FEBRUARY // GRAIN BARGE - HOLD BAR // 8PM // £3

Facebook Link

COMMERCIALLY INVIABLE RECORDS SHOWCASE featuring:

★FRIENDS OF THE STARS
★WORLD OF FOX
★RICHARD BURKE

Prepare for a full evening of music from the innovative label that is so commercially inviable! See below for a summary of what each act tends to get up to… Check out the music online and see you down in our intimate Hold Bar.

★FRIENDS OF THE STARS★
http://friendsofthestars.co.uk/
FRIENDS OF THE STARS are a Country/Folk collective from Birmingham, UK that has never done things the easy way. Nor have they often gone the right way; at least, not before a couple of ambitious, ill-conceived or simply stubborn blind alleys have been ventured down first.

— Not known for their work-ethic or good fortune, the band have nevertheless chalked up several achievements since forming (as Buick 6) in the summer of 2000. Their debut 7″ single, “Drunk on My Porch”, was well received in alt-country circles and lead to airplay and two live sessions with the late John Peel. An ill-advised deal with Sanctuary Music followed, as did a lengthy courtship with major label BMG, before the band imploded briefly amidst accusations of them being ‘too Country’.

— Regrouping, the band recorded “The Gun Quarter Tapes” at their own studio, before abandoning release plans for reasons unknown. Starting once again afresh they then recorded their debut album, “Lighting & Electrical”, which endured a tortured gestation before finally seeing the light of day in September 2007. Released on the Commercially Inviable label the record garnered many fine and complimentary reviews.

— They are currently recording their second album, “Faith’s Meat Kiosk”, and claim to be making significant progress. As with their debut album, this release will also be handled by Commerically Inviable Records.

★WORLD OF FOX★
http://www.worldoffox.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldoffox
“Everything is for the Best”, is the debut album by WORLD OF FOX and was released on Commercially Inviable Records in October 2009.

— A prolific and committed independent musician, Simon Fox was formerly leader of Birmingham’s post-rock pioneers, Grover. Between 1993 and 2003 Grover released a host of albums, singles and split releases on independent labels around the world. Broadcasts on BBC Radio1 (including a Peel Session in 2001), plus airtime on a variety of independent stations in Europe and the USA, helped Grover build a dedicated international fan-base and influence the UK post-rock scene.

— Since then, Simon has quietened down, trading sweeping guitar theatrics for more intimate, acoustic-led song-writing. The new songs, performed under the moniker WORLD OF FOX, show a more personal, reflective side, with deceptively rich arrangements, a disarming wit and a flair for creating intimate moods. Recordings feature Simon playing a wide variety of instruments, including guitars, banjo, percussion, keyboards, Theremin, mandolin, even occasional brass and woodwind.

— As well as performing solo, Simon can often be seen/heard collaborating with other artists. Most notably, he was one half of electronica duo Krafla, was a founder member of the Experimental Music Collective, recorded and gigged an album with Clair Horton, is currently working with James Summerfield and is a regular guest DJ for the Grumpy Man DJs.

★RICHARD BURKE★
http://www.myspace.com/richardburke
RICHARD BURKE is a 31-year-old singer from Birmingham, UK and the latest signing to Commercially Inviable Records.

— He previously screamed his way through seven years of Indie rock mayhem with the wonderfully shambolic Starries before deciding that his delicate, lusty vocal chords were much better suited to the comparatively quieter world of off-kilter folk.

— Burke’s forthcoming debut album, “An Ocean Full Of Broken Stars”, clocks in at just under 30 minutes and is simply a magical, mesmerising collection of songs. Listeners to the album will immediately be drawn to future single, “Brown Eyes, Dark Hair” and his stunning, highly personal take on Yazoo’s “Only You”.

— Throughout the record and at his live shows, Burke consistently wraps his words and melodies around musical arrangements that would fall flat in the hands of less dextrous vocalists.

— Whilst Indie Rock mourns his loss, then, Off-Kilter Folk can rejoice as he melds the fluent guitar style of Jose Gonzalez to the tunefulness of Teenage Fanclub, all the while incorporating his wonderfully quirky and often heart-wrenching lyrics.

— To paraphrase the shy, often self-deprecating man himself, some people just think he’s shit. A more generous, objective observer would suggest that such people merely fail to see his worth. For the record, we think the naysayers are misguided fools.

— “An Ocean Full Of Broken Stars”, will be released on Commercially Inviable in early 2010.

James Summerfield in Maverick Magazine

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James Summerfield’s ‘Count To 10 & Start Again‘ LP recently had a 3-stars-out-of-4-star review in UK Country/Folk magazine, Maverick.

For those who missed the print issue, here’s that review in full..

Friends of the Stars at Meadowlands 2010

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Friends of the Stars are late additions to the bill at the 2010 Meadowlands Festival in Lewes (which we believe is in Sussex), and takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend of 29th and 30th. We’re not sure at the moment whether the band will play on Saturday or Sunday, or indeed where on the bill, but we’ll post more details as and when we have them. In the meantime, here’s the festival poster.

New Year Podcast from Friends of the Stars

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This just in from FRIENDS OF THE STARS…

Happy New Year from Friends of the Stars. Here’s wishing you a safe, happy and prosperous 2010.

As for us, we hope to have a new record to tell you about shortly..watch this space. In the meantime, it’s time for another installment of our ever-popular Podcast. Somewhat amazingly, we’re now clocking in with Episode 21.

FOTS-POD#21 - “A Robson in Winter” - DOWNLOAD MP3

Episode 21 finds Campbell and Craig tucking into a couple of afternoon beers during the recent post-Christmas lull. The boys discuss Craig’s recent fatherhood following the birth of his son, Mac Charlie, and also the joys of accompanying Executive Producer Robson on a fraught trip to IKEA. The podcast once again features swearing and also music from Kris Kristofferson, The La’s, Randy Newman, Bobbie Gentry and more.

Enjoy

x

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TRACKLISTING

Feelin’ - The La’s
Closer To The Bone - Kris Kristofferson
Trains to Brazil - The Guillemots
Fancy - Bobbie Gentry
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Who You Gonna Call on Judgment Day - Prince Far I
Lyla - Oasis
Raspberry Beret - Hindu Love Gods
Everyday - Slade
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Baltimore - Randy Newman
Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) - George Harrison

LINER NOTES: (Now with Spotify links, where available)

The La’s - Feelin’

Way too long for one of the best British bands ever (with obvious caveats, natch) to make an appearance on a FOTS Pod

Kris Kristofferson - Closer To The Bone

Bob Dylan is on this recent high watermark from the former Oxford Don and chicken murderer. A sanguine ode to getting old - makes songwriting sound effortless, right?

The Guillemots - Trains to Brazil

Pretty amazing songwriting chops on display again. We kind of knew Fyfe a while ago when he was part of marvellous Brummie oddballs The Courtesy Group, a band fronted then and now by Fyfe’s brother and good pal of FOTS Al Hutchins, who performed at our album launch party for Lighting & Electrical.

Bobbie Gentry - Fancy

Bobbie Gentry is a bit of an unsung songwriting heroine - probably unsung because she was a looker too. But, in her own words, “”Fancy” is my strongest statement for women’s lib, if you really listen to it. I agree wholeheartedly with that movement and all the serious issues that they stand for — equality, equal pay, day care centers, and abortion rights.”

Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill

Man, Genesis and Peter Gabriel take a lot of liking but you can’t deny this tune. Amazing.

Prince Far I - Who You Gonna Call on Judgment Day

Scary Dub. The former Studio One bouncer’s first album “Psalm’s for I” features the Lord’s Prayer and various Psalms and was dedicated to the illiterate who could not read the Bible for themselves.

Oasis - Lyla

By a mile the best thing they have done in the last 15 years - great tune and confirms what all the cool people knew already, that they coulda been AMAZING (without the dough, the drugs, the genes)

Hindu Love Gods - Raspberry Beret

Warren Zevon and guys from REM give this classic Prince tune a nice Paisley (Park) Underground vibe

Slade - Everyday

Lovely ballad but if you was a burd, you wouldn’t want Noddy bellowing at you, wouldya? After a bottle of Mateus Rose, it would feel like the gates of hell were in fact mutton chops flecked with Banks’ bitter foam and pork scratchings.

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again

When Whitesnake were pioneers of British heavy metal (which, at its best, was just great rock music made by Wilfred Owen and Beano fans), they made this awesome tune. Then David Coverdale nobbed off to America and remade it, with a supermodel and spandex. The first one was better

Randy Newman - Baltimore

Randy Newman is becoming a bit of an obsession, as was The Wire when I finally got around to it last year. This is a FOTS tribute to both.

George Harrison - Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)

All Things Must Past was the best thing any ex-Beatle ever made

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World of Fox has 2010 covered

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Happy New Year from everyone at Commercially Inviable Records. We hope you had a good one. We’re looking forward to a great 2010 - we have a couple of releases coming up this year, and we’ll be telling you all about them soon.

To kick the year off, Commercially Inviable artist World of Fox has a special, year-long project for 2010. Over to you, Simon….

Dear Chums,

Happy New Year!

FREE download - first in a series of twelve monthly giveaways!r.e.s.p.e.c.t… i’ve got an exciting new project planned for 2010 which will result in you, my lovely friends, getting a whole heap of free music! i often play the odd cover at gigs and, in response to lots of requests, i’ve decided to record some of them and give them away. i noticed that several of the songs i’ve covered over the years have been from the 1980s (something to do with my age, perhaps?), so i decided to turn it into a bit of a concept.

so, throughout 2010, i will be releasing one new song a month. each one will be a cover of a song from the 1980s which has a special significance for me, so it will be quite a personal selection. some of them will be recognisable, some less so, but they’ll all be pure fox…

each song will be available to download for free during that month. after that, you will still be able to listen, but not download it, and the next song will be available to download. at the end of the year, i plan to release them all as a limited edition album, with some extra songs on it as a thank you.

first up is “don’t talk to me about love” by altered images. throughout january 2010 it will be available to download for free from WORLDOFFOX.COM!

Cheers
FOX