Artists
WORLD OF FOX
“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.
Listen to “Everything Is For The Best”
Buy “Everything Is For The Best”
RICHARD BURKE
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
Listen to “An Ocean Full of Broken Stars”
JAMES SUMMERFIELD
James Summerfield has seen much in his 27 years; still in his teens when his first band, Buick 6, came to the attention of the late John Peel’s audience through the wonderful “Drunk on my Porch” single and 2 sessions for the show, and not even 20 before the band split after Major Label dithering and management company disasters. Only 21 when he self-recorded his debut album, “Hailah, Hailah” (Bearos Records), and already a happily married man by the time his second album, “Paint The Road” (General Records) hit the streets in 2004 to great reviews from Mojo and Uncut.
Since then, the acrimony of divorce and all the chaos this brings has dogged him. He endured a period of self doubt and reflection that saw him briefly retreat from music, his genuine true calling, dealing with troubles that could and have broken a weaker artist.
On “Count To 10 and Start Again”, his 3rd solo album and first for Commercially Inviable Records, Summerfield returned with a lightness of touch, dark and strange humour and his ever present fantastic ear for melody to tell sweet tales of the biggest blows. It was widely acknowledged are his finest work to date.
Co-produced with fellow Peel veteran and labelmate Simon Fox (Grover), “Count To 10…” is undeniably frank and deals with his dark period, yet contains the beautiful melodies and musical arrangements that followers of James’ work will fondly remember. The 12 songs and the 36 minutes of your life that this record asks for are more than a hint of what the future holds for this fantastic artist
Listen to “Count To 10 & Start Again”
Buy “Count To 10 & Start Again”
FRIENDS OF THE STARS
Friends of the Stars are a Country/Folk collective loosely based in 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.
Listen to “Lighting & Electrical”
