Some nice reviews in for ‘Whiplashed’ the forthcoming Ed Sykes single released on 8th June:
“Summoning the glam rock’n’roll 70s spirit of Bowie, Mott and the Stones, ‘Whiplashed’ includes a guest contribution from The Pretty Things’ Jon Povey, while a cover of ‘Ziggy Stardust’ on the b-side features Bowie’s longtime pianist Mike Garson”Vive Le Rock! – read full review here
“Using a vibe that harks back to the 70’s this is a toe taping stonker of a tune that will put a massive smile on your face”Spin Sunday Music Reviews – read full review here
“Sykes has written and produced the song which has a clean, retro 70s vibe with hints of Bowie, Rolling Stones and a touch of urban grit ala Tom Robinson”Rox Rock n Metal – read full review here
Ed Sykes Artist Profile at Pete’s Rock News & Viewshere
Whiplashed is released on June 8th by Maniac Squat Records.
‘Overrun’ is the new single from Cris Martin – a stunning slice of instrumental classic guitar rock from the virtuoso musician.
Cris Martin received critical acclaim for his 2016 solo album ‘Rock Dawn’, which featured former Iron Maiden front-man Blaze Bayley and former Samson drummer Barry Graham Purkis (Thunderstick). The single ‘Overrun’ is drawn from the album and a brand new accompanying video is also being launched on December 15th to coincide with the release.
“What Cris Martin does comes straight from the heart and soul, with the emotion flowing through the fingers. He has the ability to compete with any of the flash, hard riding guitar heroes who litter the world.” – Malcolm Dome
Talking about the new single, Cris Martin comments: “Overrun originated back in 2013 when I was thinking about recording again after many years out of a recording studio. I was using a small studio in Streatham and as the studio sessions progressed the track seemed to take on its own character. I wanted the music to evolve rather than conform to fashion or any particular style or genre. This is one benefit of making independent music, one can express oneself freely. I wanted a bluesy, rock feel coupled with a smattering of virtuosity which I think we achieved. Being an instrumental track, the lead guitar line has to be as strong as a lead vocal line. The title came from an incident at the studio where myself and the engineer had popped out to go to the shops. As we were crossing the busy main road, a fast Mercedes sped past almost hitting us and it was the result of almost being run over which gave me the idea of swapping round the words around to Overrun!
“This track also has a more poignant story behind it as I was helping to care for my elderly mother whose health was failing and the recording sessions helped with the stresses and strains of being a carer. Unfortunately she passed away and I was unable to continue with the sessions for a while in order to deal with my bereavement. However, after several months, I felt able to finish off the album. I am a great believer that creating music can be a great healer. This track, especially, definitely helped with my recovery.”
The video was filmed at Black Cat studios in Leicestershire owned by James Scott who also mixed the Rock Dawn album.
Talking about the making of the video, Cris adds: “I roped in some colleagues to appear as the ‘backing band’. I wanted the video to have a humorous element so we came up with the story-line of a hipster engineer and his self-obsessed millennial vocalist recording in a studio, and their comical conversion to metal-heads.”
About Cris Martin
Cris Martin started playing the guitar aged 16 and found that he had a talent for playing fast in a similar style to his guitar hero, Gary Moore. After several years playing cheap, hard-to-play guitars, Cris fortuitously won a sum of money and purchased his first Gibson Les Paul guitar and a classic Marshall amp. Aged 21, Cris joined his first pro band Thunderstick and recorded two well-received albums and an EP. After Thunderstick, Cris did session work and then spent several years in various bands recording, writing and gigging. In 1997, disillusioned with the music business, Cris stopped playing and sold all his guitars intending never to play again.
In 2008 after many years of friends telling him he shouldn’t have put aside his guitar talent, Cris purchased a guitar curious to see if he could still “shred”. However, he was in for a nasty surprise as he realised he would have to learn to play all over again in order to regain his once formidable technical mastery. He briefly joined a rock covers band but needed to be able to compose his own material and began working on a solo album. ‘Rock Dawn’ was released in 2016 and featured former Iron Maiden member Blaze Bayley who contributed vocals to three of the tracks.
PRESS RELEASE: Celebrities line up to back new single from south-west band, Littermouth
‘Swindler, Liar, Shagger, Cheat’ single and video takes on the tabloids
Famous names like former Eastenders actor Leslie Grantham, TV presenter Jacqui Hames, TV Gladiator Eunice Huthart and royal butler Paul Burrell, all of whom have been victims of tabloid intrusion over the years, have lined up to back the new single and video from south-west based art rock band, Littermouth.
Lead vocalist, Jon Price: “Swindler, Liar, Shagger, Cheat was written in the aftermath of the Leveson Inquiry and comments on the immoral lengths to which the tabloid press go in order to sell more papers. I wrote the lyrics to Swindler from a fictitious journalist’s view point. They talk about ‘celebrity and sordid detail’, kiss and tell, phone hacking and false front-page headlines- with subsequent apologies hidden in the depths of page 23. However, the main point is that the public wanted and paid for the kind of sensationalist, scandalous journalism that lead to some publications crossing the line of acceptability.”
The new single and video were released on August 17th. The strong political comment sits alongside a catchy melody and driving beat that epitomises the Littermouth groove.
Jon added, “It’s wonderful to know that people are connecting with Littermouth’s music at all levels from Shirley who works in my local shop, to TV celebrities involved in the Leveson Inquiry, to ex cabinet members like Charles Clarke, who emailed us to tell us how much he enjoyed the video.”
The following public figures have all expressed support for the song and video:
Charles Clarke, who was an MP until 2010 and a former Home Secretary, told the band: “Littermouth’s music video is both very enjoyable and politically spot-on. Well worth looking at”
Jane Winter, a core participant at the Leveson Inquiry, commented: “I applaud Littermouth’s timely, witty and relevant video on press freedom and control of the media.”
Leslie Grantham, the actor (most famously ‘Dirty Den’ in Eastenders) who was hacked and hounded by Sunday newspapers, simply liked, shared and commented via twitter: “Brilliant”
Jacqui Hames, TV presenter on the BBC’s Crimewatch and a former Metropolitan Police officer, had her life destroyed by news of the World journalists. She liked and retweeted the song, adding the following comment: “How long before we get #murdochthemusical who would play #murdoch ?”
Eunice Huthart, TV Gladiator ‘Blaze’, martial arts champion and stunt double for Angelia Jolie and Famke Janssen, liked and retweeted the song
Paul Burrell, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, told the band us via email that he liked the video and had been “hacked for 10 years by the News of the World.”
Littermouth are: Jon Price – lead vocal; Julie Meikle – backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards; Andy Lloyd – drums & percussion; Andy Young – bass; and Steve Shelton – guitars, synth guitar, backing vocals. Formed in 2012 Littermouth’s members are based in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, around the towns of Barnstaple, Bude, Newquay and Taunton.
The single and the band’s recent album are available for purchase via the band’s website at littermouth.com
New video and single from south-west England based art rock band Littermouth
Performing and recording original self-penned material, Littermouth deliver a blend of cerebral art rock with added groove. Thought-provoking lyrics are intertwined with off-the-wall lead lines, dirty bass and driving drums. The new single and video from the south west England-based band ‘Swindler, Liar, Shagger, Cheat’ is released on August 17th.
Lead vocalist, Jon Price: “Swindler, Liar. Shagger, Cheat is about the immoral and shocking lengths to which the tabloid press go in order to sell more papers. From The Sun’s ‘1 in 5 Brit Muslims’ sympathy for Jihadis’ front page headline to the hacking of Milly Dowler’s voice mail by The News of the World. But the real message of the song is that it’s us the great British public that buy these papers and buy more of them the more scandalous and sensationalist the headlines are.”
Jon adds: “Elements of fear, anger and injustice weave their way through my lyrics. I don’t really go for writing happy love songs.”
Littermouth are: Jon Price – lead vocal; Julie Meikle – backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards; Andy Lloyd – drums & percussion; Andy Young – bass; and Steve Shelton – guitars, synth guitar, backing vocals.
Formed in 2012 Littermouth have released a number of songs and music videos and already receive regular daily air play on radio stations all over the world. These include BBC introducing, X Radio, 365 Radio Network, Dr John’s Unsigned Rock Surgery and many more.
The single, along with other tracks on the band’s self-titled album, were recorded and produced by the band themselves and mastered by three time Grammy Award nominated Andy Jackson. Andy was head sound engineer for the last two Pink Floyd albums and was responsible for the digital re-mastering of Floyd’s legendary album Dark side of the Moon.
The single and album are available for purchase via the band’s website
