Chris Helme 's Upcoming Gigs
Fri 19 Dec, 14 
Solo Show, St Peters Church, Sudbury, United Kingdom

Powered by GigaTools

Chris Helme, who first rose to prominence as the front man of John Squire’s post-Stone Roses band ‘The Seahorses’ will release his brand new solo album on August 27th. Still rightfully remembered for the anthemic Britpop classics Love Is The Law and Blinded By The Sun - songs that evoked everything the 90’s stood for, the excitement, the culture and the bands that provided a voice in a period of political and social imbalance. Present day societal context may well in fact mirror those times but the man himself, now, appears cut from an entirely different cloth. 

Helme’s is an enviable back catalogue, bolstered further by his acclaimed works with The Yards, but it’s The Rookery’s knack for melody and imaginative, intricate, three-way guitar interplay that brings each track to such lush, blossoming, climaxes. Add to this Helme’s keen ear for arranging and those brooding string passages resonate even more deeply. 

Recorded in just 9 days at The Rookery, a country hideaway nestled in the wilds of the Yorkshire Dales, the album reveals a beguiling vulnerability in both Helme’s voice and lyrics. The wonderfully restrained Darkest Days’ somber refrain, ‘Following you, leads me astray’, rings out with the sentiment of changing direction, putting paid to past misdemeanors, while on the forthcoming single Long Way Round, Helme is found resolute in his plaintive cry, ‘Now you’ve found yourself, you’re on your own’.  An apt lyric indeed as his solo path turns this dramatic corner. 

There is plenty on offer here as Chris and producer Sam Forrest (Nine Black Alps) showcase their depth of sonic understanding as fuzzed out guitars are married with distorted Mellotron, melting strings, whistling feedback and haunting orchestral vocals. Melodies rooted in traditional folk structures are vividly reimagined on an album of startlingly rich variation. Even the Rolling Stones’ stomp of Daddy’s Farm bookended between the blues filth of Pleased and the gorgeously mellow Summer Girl, doesn’t stick out, testament to Helme’s most powerful weapon – his voice. 

This aspect to his music was never in question. From the earliest days of his career, his voice always commanded attention, and The Rookery’s variation is seemingly bound by this one continuous thread. File next to CSN&Y, Led Zeppelin 3, Buckley, The Coral, and enjoy. 

For all press enquiries please contact Jay Taylor at: jay@prescriptionpr.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1223 505328 

For all management enquires please contact Kate Smith at : kate@magnificentartists.com or call
 + 44 (0) 7969 421 943

www.chrishelme.co.uk


Mark Morriss is a famously made his name as vocalist and songwriter with English indie outfit The Bluetones. Mark fronted the four piece over a successful and fruitful 15 year period, scoring 14 top ten singles and 3 top ten albums, whilst touring the UK, Europe and Japan. At the back end of 2011 the decision was made to disband The Bluetones, resulting in a celebratory farewell tour. Hordes of loyal Bluetones fans turned out in their thousands to give the band they called their own, a fond, if slightly sad farewell.

After releasing 'Memory Muscle ' in 2008, it was post Bluetones split that Mark turned his attentions to his second solo offering. Partnering with direct to fan platform PledgeMusic, a campaign was launched in Sept 2012 with the intention of raising funds through fan engagement to record a new studio album. The campaign ended in February 2013 where the final target closed at a staggering 250%.

The result; ‘A Flash of Darkness,’ a new body of work which continues to showcase Mark’s knack to pen the perfect three minute song.  New tracks such as Consuela and Space Cadet have already been tagged as fan favourites. Produced by Gordon Mills (Ed Sheeran/Newton Faulkner) the inclusion of Kavinsky’s ‘Nightcall’, a song from the soundtrack to the 2011 movie 'Drive', and 'Pink Bullets' by The Shins are examples of Mark's ability to interpret the music of other artists, making it his own.

Alongside his solo efforts, Mark has written and performed musical compositions for the talking audiobooks of the hugely successful David Walliams children publications, including Gangster Granny, Billionaire Boy, Mr Stink, Ratburger & The Boy In The Dress. As well as Nadia Shireen's prize-winning 'Hey Presto!'

2013 will see Mark continue to tour extensively throughout the UK, both promoting his own material and also as a member of Matt Berry's backing group 'The Maypoles', whilst presenting radio shows and continuing to compose music for children’s books. In this modern age of the fly-by-night music career, it is refreshing to hear of an artist who after a 15 years, can continue to produce records, his audience continue to champion and support.

MGMT: Neil Kerly // Nephew Entertainment e:neil@nephew-ent.com m:+44 (0)7515 338 074


Finely Curated Electronic Music.
   ****1.2 Million Plays!****
Quality Music Submissions..
Join Us, With Your Next Project & 
#HelpUsReach70kFollowers

p33more is following