Mull Historical Society – Room of Masks

Scotland’s Mull Historical Society aka Colin McIntyre returned with his new single ‘Room Of Masks’. Featuring lyrics from crime writer Val McDermid, ‘Room Of Masks’ was released last Friday via Xtra Mile Recordings. Banner image courtesy of Sonic PR.

McIntyre, forever seeking new creative avenues for his blessed songwriting tasked McDermid to pen lyrics about a room with significant meaning. In return, McDermid reflected upon the bedroom which gave those formative years of musical discovery.

McIntyre’s sonic accompaniment is an effortless piece of magic. Dawn-lit guitars akin to Noah and Whale’s masterpiece ‘First Days of Spring’ glisten and build to hymnal euphoria. The gentle build documents McDermid’s teenage escapism from her working-class Fife backdrop.

A fine return to form a criminally underrated songwriter! McIntyre’s new album ‘In My Mind There’s A Room’ will be released 21st of July and will feature other authors such as Ian Rankin, Nick Hornby, Jacqueline Wilson, Jennifer Clement, Sebastian Barry, Alan Warner, Jason Mott, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, and Stephen Kelman.

Gazelle – Lady Blue Sky

Leicester’s Gazelle are back with their new single ‘Lady Blue Sky’. Produced by Matt Cotterill, it marks the run towards their hometown gig at the OMC.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band

Post-lockdown, Gazelle have been in a transformative mood sonically. The early bombast of ‘Finger On The Trigger’ and ‘Have You Found Forever Now?’ has matured, still loitering with intent but now shrouded in nodes of Motown, northern soul, Johnny Marr licks, and flashes of Noel Gallagher’s HFB melancholic songwriting.  On ‘Lady Blue Sky’ they’ve added psyche to their ever-growing repertoire.

The playful trips of Weller’s ‘Sonic Kicks’ hook up with the atmospheric grooves of Kasabian’s first three albums and the muscular immediacy of The Rifles. Stealing the show of this instant classic though is the array of backing vocals.

Drummer Danny Wright’s “ba ba ba’s” set the groove running before frontman Ryan Dunn calls upon Serge Pizzorno’s understated soaring melodies to take the band to another level. It is though, Dunn’s higher pitch backing vocal in the closing stages which take this single from good to great. Blessed with the mesmeric soul power of Noel’s ‘Black Star Dancing’. The only thing that could take it higher would be the dearly departed Denise Johnson.

If 2022’s run of singles wasn’t firm enough proof, ‘Lady Blue Sky’ is the confirmation that Gazelle are the real Deal!

Click the image below for tickets to their headline outdoor gig in Leicester:

Marseille – Freedom EP

Derby’s Marseille made huge inroads into the hearts and minds of British music lovers on their recent sold-out tour. To cap it all off, they release their debut EP on the 5th May. Banner image courtesy of Paul Dixon.

Artwork courtesy of Mr. Shaw

The title track ‘Freedom’ is lit up by drummer Tom Spray’s drumming. What begins as a glorious nod to Tony McCaroll’s spiky drumming cascades into something far more flamboyant that Reni would rejoice in. It allows frontman Will Brown to slide into the limelight with his angelic rock ‘n’ roll star vocal. Brown gives the record a soaring sense of destiny but, through his beauty and fragility, lets the masses into the world of Marseille, which is becoming untouchable talent-wise.

On the latest single ‘Thinker’, the love of Oasis turns to Noel’s ‘Masterplan’. Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t here to reinvent the wheel, it is, however, a great tool to reignite old flames as Oasis did so well with Slade and T-Rex on ‘Definitely Maybe’. Blessed with sumptuous guitars and big key changes, they tap into Gallagher’s penchant to unite big crowds with even bigger universal sonic.

Former single ‘Only Just Begun’ steps back into a hazier realm. As weightless as ‘Twistarella’ and freeing as Shambolics’ ‘Dreams, Schemes, & Young Teams’, they’ve conjured images of ‘Sally Cinnamon’ flirting with The La’s and DMA’s. Vocally, the band has stepped up with harmonies enhancing what was, already a rich sound. As Brown decrees “I don’t want to be that guy”, he emits a level of emotion not seen by him before. His soul, for a fleeting moment, is left exposed and vulnerable. This level of openness and generosity of feeling is so often wrapped up in angst and rage. Brown and co have encased it with lysergic licks of love which breed hope and togetherness.

EP closer ‘Lost and Found’ finds a sweet spot between DMAs and Oasis. It allows for their sun-kissed instincts to connect with the raw pop-rock power of ‘What’s The Story…’. Lennon Hall’s power chords give this an urgent, almost desperate quality that Owen Morris’ reckless soul would surely smile through studio glass at. Hall’s rhythm is met by Labrum’s innate ability to stand on the shoulders of guitar giants. As carefree as The View’s debut he unleashes a sprawling melody that Lee Mavers and John Squires will marvel at.  

Indebted too much to the past? Possibly. There is so much joy and emotion emanating from this EP it’s near impossible not to be enamoured with it. Always pastiche, never parody, Marseille can fly the flag of their heroes with pride.