Oh! I like the instrumentation, the vocals and more I like that you submitted the lyrics in addition. Thank you.

A taster of upcoming Arts Council-funded debut EP 'Fly' out later this year and currently being recorded at Airtight Studios, Manchester, this song was written for and about my Dad. The vocals and guitar were recorded one night while travelling for work, far away from home while thinking about family, the past, and how for some people just getting up in the morning is an act of daily heroism. While a new version is being developed for the EP, this one features the original vocal and guitar from the day the song was written, and represents the first tentative steps of an anxious singer towards letting a vocal stand alone without hiding behind too much production and harmony. The track is available on Soundcloud and at https://testcardgirl.bandcamp.com/ or a little lo-fi version live from Britain's most depressing work hotel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0HsrW5n950

This track will be released on all platforms on 25th June 2021

Voices from the past beat down the waving blades of grass and end our summer time,
Smashing plates and glass and questions trapped inside unasked invade your other time.

A loss of home and warmth, loss of centre and form turn over tables
So every step you took was ever harder than it looked but still you're able
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the win die down in your sails
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

Words said by those who didn't think have sometimes bought you to the brink and swirled around just out of sight
Left alone and lost in thought a ghost hung up upon the door waits in your childhood night
A loss of home and warmth, loss of centre and form turn over tables
So every step you took was ever harder than it looked but still you're able
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the win die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

Out across the dark blue sea, a beam of light revolves
It always comes back round again, watch for it and resolve
Out across the dark blue sea, a beam of light revolves
It always comes back round again, watch for it and resolve

To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

We'll Always Be There (Acoustic)

Vocals: Blánid - https://blanid.co.uk/
Vocal, Guitar, Synthesizer, Drums: Liam
Organ: Christian Madden - https://christianmadden.co.uk/
Bass guitar: Sam Morris
Strings: John Purton - https://www.upnorthsessionorch.com/
Mixing: Nicky Madden


Seven figures deep, Stromboli-eyed.
A trinket on a chain.
To have, to hold, to hell and handcart.
Rusted ramparts ran to seed.

It's just a muscle twitch, a feint.
Sweet slingshots graze the palisade.
Gentle devotion and a hunter's pride.
Belie a heart like a landslide.

An unmade bed, that labyrinth of loose threads,
The house, ablaze.
Hangs from your name.

Is there another word for this?
A stitch in time? A momentary slip? 
The gentle devotion in your lover's eyes
Belies a heart like a landslide.  

Sleepwalking, eyes wide.
Sleepwalk into a landslide.

Heart Like A Landslide

The inspiration came from ideas about returning back to the comfort of your home, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a place, but rather the people who have made a large impact on your life. The song comes from the feelings of happiness you feel when thinking about the memories you’ve made with people you enjoy spending time with. It’s supposed to reflect how you are always connected to those you love, no matter how much time has passed.

Home

Aidan Burgess' first release since 2021 comes in the form of his newest single 'blame you'.

blame you

Last Train Home

ARGH KiD performs his crowd favourite Paula with Jack White (Radio X) as part of Manc Made Podcast.

PAULA - THE VIRGIN THIEF

HAVE YOU EVER known the real fear of losing someone you love?  this is what this song is about.   we must nurture and protect those close to us.

"Ambulance" is the first of 13 or so songs from my debut solo album, Year Zero.

this song is available to BUY on bandcamp https://miaowmcdonald.bandcamp.com/track/ambulance

"Ambulance" is also available on all other digital platforms to download and/or stream... iTunes, Spotify, Napster, Deezer, GooglePlay, AppleMusic, TikTok, YouTube  etc etc etc...

(c)(p) written & performed by Miaow McDonald

engineered/co-produced by Robert Davidson, the Aged Choir Boy, who also plays drums on this track.

Miaow McDonald only plays Fender Guitars.

LYRICS:

how did we get here?
t-t tell me 'cos i don't know
what went wrong.
your door is open
another closes in my face.
i'm gonna kick kick kick it down.

pills and letters
your mind is scattered on the floor.
i'm shocked to the core.

blue light flashing
my heart's racing
your getaway car's too slow
i can't let you go

(no, no no no no)

it's taking too long
it's taking too long

22 minutes
is a fu-fu very long time,
when you're losing your mind.

blue light flashing
my heart's racing
your getaway car's too slow
i can't let you go
i won't let you go
i can't let you go

Ambulance

Thursday is a song about personal growth and defining ourselves in defiance of our obstacles. It was written about Brian’s feelings during quarantine toward the beginning of May, but in light of recent tragedies, and in the process of editing its video, the song has taken on new meaning to all of us. 

Made up of clips submitted by our friends in the Cold Weather Collective, the video (which you can find here: https://smarturl.it/CWCThursdayVideo)is a celebration of community—a call for togetherness and unity in the face of any threat, whether viral or virulent. We hope this both the video and song find you safe, with a spirit of hope for a fairer future for all. --CWC

Our thanks to:

Pat Noon (Mixing - West West Side Music - https://westwestsidemusic.com/)
Alan Douches (Mastering - West West Side Music - https://westwestsidemusic.com/)
Our friends within The Cold Weather Collective
The Cold Weather Collective Global Videography Division:

Alexandra Furtney, Bernardo Andrade, Cassidy Sullivan, Chris Shimchick, Dan Omrani & Tyler Terribile, Darcey Graham, Elysio Van Steenvelt, Gabriella Padilla, George Ravenhall, WhatWatt, Kate Saylor & Alyssah Locklear, Natalie Losada, Nate Moncrief, Neelam Khot, Taneesha Warwick-Oliver, Salma Sorour, Savannah Blitch, and Victoria Dorleac

Lyrics:
Living on my own now 
In the house that I grew up in 
Behind my expectations 
Navigating great anticipation 

I’m in touch with myself now 
Can’t escape from myself—am I wasting life? 
I’m still answering questions 
I’m still searching for something to leave behind 

I’d like to hibernate a while 
Every day is Thursday 
Cover my face and dream for now 
Every day is Thursday 

Waiting for a moment, 
Learning for a better time, 
Another day in slumber 
Waiting for a moment, 
Building what I’ve had in mind 
Another day in wonder 

I’m still looking for signs, though
I’m still grasping at goals, never lost in the vines
I’m still looking inside, though
I used to pick apart, I’d over criticize

I’d like to hibernate a while 
Every day is Thursday 
Cover my face and dream for now 
Every day is Thursday 

Waiting for a moment, 
Learning for a better time, 
Another day in slumber 
Waiting for a moment, 
Building what I’ve had in mind, 
Another day in wonder 

Time, Flowing, Minds Can Grow Alone 
Every day is Thursday

Thursday

Written for the #positivesongsproject August 2020
https://www.positivesongsproject.org/weekly-submissions/

Illustration 133934195 © Nadiaforkosh | Dreamstime.com

Just Like Falling In Love (DEMO - 2020)

The track originated from a brief in phase 2 of the positive Songs Project (positivesongsproject.org), called 'automatic for the people' - meaning, to quote - 'complete one page of free writing for 3 days, and use that material for your song.' That sounded like a tough brief to me but I persevered. Given my preferred method of songwriting is to make the music come before the lyrics, this was always going to be a challenge. However, when I wrote the line 'A constellation of surprises', it sparked an interest in the astral theme, and stars and black holes sprang to my mind and inevitably, Stephen Hawking.


Mr Hawking (lyrics)

The hand of fate struck the cruelest blow
And suddenly faced with an unknown foe
A new existence befell your future
But you survived and you grew in stature

Circumstances never pulled you under 
You gazed at stars with a childish wonder
In the face of adversity, a voracious curiosity

Leading by example, in your own quiet way
You were an inspiration, to so many every single day
Mr Hawking x4

You lived your life, you made your mark
And found a way through from the dark
What happens in life’s ebb and flow
Determines all the things we know

A constellation of surprises, some big, some small, all shapes and sizes 
We marveled at your ability, to make us embrace infinity

Leading by example, in your own quiet way
You were an inspiration, to so many every single day
Mr Hawking x4

Solving scientific mystery, presenting time as a brief history
We marveled at your lofty goals
When we saw stars, you saw black holes

Gravitation and quantum theory, were explored by a mind never weary
You changed the view on gravity, in a word: Singularity

Leading by example, in your own quiet way
You were an inspiration, to so many every single day
Mr Hawking x4

Mr Hawking

Softly Spoken Woman (released 22 Jan) is the third & final single from Hands of the Heron's new album 13 Moons. The album is available to pre-order via https://cuculirecords.bandcamp.com/album/13-moons and will be released on 5 Feb 2021.

Amidst light ripples of electric guitar, the driving rhythm of acoustic guitar lays a pathway for a new story to unfold. Strings and clarinet swell and entangle beneath four woven female voices, earthed by the heartbeat of a steady drum. In a shimmering dream-like realm, we begin to realize our place in the way of things. Written by Bec Garthwaite & brought to fullness by the rest of the band, Softly Spoken Woman speaks with self-assured clarity through the eyes of the eternal self to trust in the power of our own voice.

For more information visit https://cuculirecords.com/artist/hands-of-the-heron

13 Moons

Softly Spoken Woman

Hands of the Heron - Softly Spoken Woman

Life-affirming Mancunian electro-pop"
-  Tom Robinson BBC 6Music
​
"That has Manchester's musical heritage running right through it like the writing in rock"
-  Guy Garvey (Elbow)  BBC 6Music

"Lush"
-  John Kennedy  Radio X

Test Card Girl is a solo project by new Manchester indie singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis. Having grown increasingly frustrated with an admin-based existence, and wishing to conquer a life-long fear of singing in public, Catherine embarked on a country-wide tour as a musical comedian in 2018 complete with novelty miniature keyboard. Winning awards (North West Comedian of the Year, Frog and Bucket 2018, Funny Women Semi-Finalist 2019, Beat the Gong Winner, The Arc, Stockton 2019) and growing in confidence as a singer, she performed her first (and last) gig as solo synth-folk artist Test Card Girl in February 2020, with all subsequent gigs immediately being cancelled due to the dawning of a global pandemic.
 
With live performance not possible, Catherine turned her attention to recording and released her first single 'Holds Me Down' in 2020. The single was picked up by BBC 6Music, Radio X, Absolute Radio and XS Manchester and she was named Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music 'One to Watch' in January 2021. Catherine was awarded an Arts Council grant to make a further 3 singles in 2021 and is currently working on her debut EP 'Fly' with producer Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios, Manchester.  The EP is due for release in Spring 2022 and will feature guest performances from drummer Andy Hargreaves (I Am Kloot) and bass player Nathan Sudders (Miles Kane, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah). Test Card Girl's music ranges from lo-fi bedroom pop to simple indiefolk songs, influenced in equal parts by the standard-issue musical taste of a 90's Manchester teenager; an obsession with the MIDI sounds of childhood keyboards past and finger-picking folk songs of old. In January 2022 Catherine was announced as one of 10 Manchester International Festival MIF Sounds artists​ and will be performing live throughout 2022 (dates TBC).

We'll Always Be There (Acoustic)

Test Card Girl

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