Archive for July, 2008
Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Hello Andrew here, long time no blog etc. Much has changed.
Truth is at the end of the last album I was burnt out and insecure and blogging seemed insignificant (which of of course it isn’t), like i should have been doing something more productive rather than sitting at the computer talking about the album and waiting for it to come out and really it was all hands to the pump getting the damn thing manufactured.
Anyway, this time two years ago was frantic, trying to get everything ready to go into big studio to record ‘The Great Unwanted’.
This time a year ago, the album was out with relief all its amazing reviews and was about the time we supported Bryan Ferry and were frantically getting ready for our first proper tour culminating with a sell out queue down the street at The 100 Club (dream ticked off the list for me). after that it was off round Europe and to Japan and by Christmas we had left our Greenwich Hitsville SE10 home (now demolished see above) and moved to Soulsville SE5 (Camberwell see below).
So you join us nearly two years on from the first blog and we’re frantically writing and demoing getting the difficult second album together. This week we started demoing a song called “Could Be I Don’t Belong Anywhere” which starts in a jaunty Stax way and then goes very BIG and grand somewhere between Bacharach/Scott Walker and Love. I particularly like it’s fairground swing bits. As with pretty much everything we’ve demoed so far it’s frighteningly good and sounds unlike anything else out there the moment but very Lucky Soul.
Nice to be back, expect the blogging to be much more frequent and probably increasingly nonsensical.
Lots of love Andrew
Monday, July 21st, 2008
Hello Dears!
I just thought I’d write to let y’all know how we’re getting on with the new album. It’s been a while since we were last in the (big) studio and while touring is flippin’ great, quite frankly you get a little bit bored of playing the same songs over and over again. So… we’ve got seven or eight spangly new tracks already demoed and sounding rather good, and another seven or eight written and ready to commit to hard-disk at our ‘lil studio in Camberwell. Andrew’s gone into studio hibernation and hasn’t seen the daylight for a good few weeks. If you asked him what day it was he wouldn’t have a clue and I’ve noticed the enormo-jars of Nescafe going down alarmingly quick! Meanwhile, in true diva style I managed to get some of my vocals done at home in my PJ’s surrounded by feathers and down in my makeshift vocal booth. It’s really refreshing to get stuck in and work on new stuff.. and of course this is the first time we’ll be recording with our all-new super tight rhythm section, Rusty and Mr Atkins. Yay!
Here are some titles of our new songs, you know, just to whet your appetite…
Into The Night
Our Heart
Love, Love, Love
Upon Hilly Fields
Southern Melancholy
Why Can’t Everyone Be Nice For A Change?
Up In Flames
Crying In the Morning
That’s When Trouble Begins
‘Why Can’t Everyone’ is a beaut – all gospel harmonies and slow, soulful melody with a very hummable chorus, ‘Love Love Love’ is all dolly-esque and country, ‘Southern Melancholy’ has gone all Scott Walker and is so, so lush, and another of the new ones sounds like James Bond and looks set to be another LS epic. Current favourite is ‘Upon Hilly Fields’ which sounds like somewhere between Dirty Old Town and Witchita Lineman (we managed to steer it away from Crocodile Shoes thank goodness, but you get the drift!) We’ve already decided to borrow my step-sister’s blue-eyed horse, Kel for the video, and I’ll be dressed as Doris Day in Calamity Jane. Yee ha!
That’s your lot for now. Don’t forget to join in the fun at the forum www.luckysoul.co.uk/forum and we might even let you into a few more second album secrets if you ask nicely.
Lots of Love,
Ali (the little tease) x x x
Monday, July 14th, 2008
The IT department have been hard at work, building a new LS forum so you can all witter on about whatever takes your fancy. Unlike the old forum, it should be free from dodgy pictures and people trying to sell you viagra.
Here it is:
http://www.luckysoul.co.uk/forum
Saturday, July 12th, 2008
Thanks to everyone who came to the gig at the Luminaire on Wednesday. Hope you enjoyed the new songs, and that you didn’t get too wet on the way home.
Thanks to The Understudies and Pop Martyr for providing able support, and to Andy from Pop Martyr for the biscuits.
Thanks also to Monster Bobby for coming down and spinning some discs, after his gig in Shoreditch was flooded out.
We’re looking forward to getting out and doing some more gigs once we’ve finished demoing the new songs.
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
So Zoo8 was a bit rubbish. Sorry if you tried to come and see us and arrived at the wrong time. We were on at 2.30, contrary to what the programme said. At least the sun was shining when we were there…
http://www.nme.com/news/festival/37895
http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2008/z008-declared-worst-festival-ever
http://www.channelu.tv/default.asp?sec=3&articleidx=2090
http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/3603599
http://www.gigwise.com/news/44411/fans-demand-refunds-as-zoo8-is-called-worst-festival-ever
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7493040.stm
Our experience wasn’t so bad, although it was a struggle to get any money out of the promoters. We heard all kinds of rumours, such as Mark Ronson being paid in pound coins.
Friday, July 4th, 2008
Just a quick one to let y´all know some more information about our two imminent gigs…
This Saturday we´ll be playing at Zoo Thousand on the Suburban Kings Stage at 2:30pm. The programme has us incorrectly listed as playing at 5.40pm. We won´t be there then, so please come see and us at 2:30pm and say hello.
We´ve confirmed the supports for our London show at The Luminaire this coming Wednesday 9th July. There´s still a few tickets available which snap up here. Doors are at 7:30pm and you should get there on time to catch these two great bands:
First up there’s Pop Martyr, a cacophony of musical delights − riotous, chaotic, kinky and slinky, with influences including The Velvet Underground, Otis Redding and Jon Spencer, expect some horns and strings and some right raucous shenanigans. We found their drummer, Andy down the corridor at our new studio in Camberwell, the brother of Chris ´Beans´ Geddes from Belle & Sebastian, Andy is pure indie-pop pedigree, but more importantly he makes fantastic biscuits and we´re hoping he might bring some for the merch stand! Check out Andy and Co here:
http://www.myspace.com/popmartyr
And we´re very excited to have our dear old friends The Understudies join us as well. For those of you who remember Gifthorse, (they supported us at the ´Lips Are Unhappy´ single launch), The Understudies are the new and improved band, and an indie-pop gem they are too! Fronted by the Mozza-esque Brian and the beautiful girl-with-the-glock, Bree, their influences include Arab Strap, Anthony and the Johnsons, Siouxsie Sioux and of course the afore mentioned Morrissey by the bucket load. Have a look at their MySpace here:
http://www.myspace.com/wearetheunderstudies
So if you haven´t already, head over to http://www.wegottickets.com/event/32339 or www.luminaire.com and book yer tickets quick!
See you in Kilburn or at the Zoo.
