Always challenging and experimental, the idea to release the new project in a multi-media format is something that has been marinating with bandleader David Gedge for some time. As he points out, work began soon after the unveiling of The Wedding Present’s 2012 critically acclaimed album “Valentina”. “I’d already decided by then that I didn’t want to make the next release just ‘another album’ and so I came up with the idea of twenty ‘interconnected’ pieces of music. Then, in the summer of 2014 I travelled across the USA with photographer Jessica McMillan and we made some atmospheric short films to accompany the tracks. Since then it’s been a case of progressing through the music, trying all sorts of ideas, seeing how they work set against the visuals”.
Uncharacteristically, the album opens with four hauntingly beautiful instrumental songs, including the cinematic “Sprague” and the absolutely captivating “Marblehead”. “Going, Going…” then takes a headlong dash through tracks such as “Two Bridges”, “Birdsnest”, “Kill Devil Hills” and “Broken Bow”... all perfectly executed in classic Wedding Present fashion; a jangle of clanging guitars, a squeal of feedback and a rush of adrenaline.
Few come as close to articulating the trials and pitfalls of a relationship in ways so instantly recognisable to the listener as David Gedge; his lyrics' naturalism and truthfulness accentuated by his earthy accent. With “Little Silver”, “Bear”, “Lead” and “Rachel” he proves yet again that he is a virtuoso when it comes to the bittersweet love song; his knack for a simple turn of phrase perfectly articulating the banalities and ecstasies of a relationship.
Whilst they are the undoubted masters of frenetic indie-pop, The Wedding Present re-route momentarily on “Emporia” and “Wales” before ultimately immersing us in an epic album finale with “Santa Monica”. Throughout this enchanting album ambient soundscapes and orchestral pop arrangements jostle for position with layers of feedback drenched guitars, pummelling drums and a truly massive bass sound as we hear some of the heaviest material that the band have ever recorded.
The films that accompany each track are a mesmerising collection of moving photographs. The rippling water in “Marblehead” delicately draws us into the melody while “Two Bridges” takes us onto a Manhattan street corner and exudes New York City in the summertime. The feeling of a road trip is present throughout as we see the rivers and lakes of the Mid-West and the deserts of the South-West before the album ends in a beautifully fitting way with the sun setting over the Santa Monica mountains.
The Wedding Present’s impact on independent music is infinitely present. Their uncomplicated approach to the disillusionment of love is salient in the sound of many of the subsequent bands of their ilk since the band’s inception and an influence on everyone from British Sea Power to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart among countless others.
Tracklist:
1. Kittery
2. Greenland
3. Marblehead
4. Sprague
5. Two Bridges
6. Little Silver
7. Bear
8. Secretary
9. Birdsnest
10. Kill Devil Hills
11. Bells
12. Fifty-Six
13. Fordland
14. Emporia
15. Broken Bow
16. Lead
17. Ten Sleep
18. Wales
19. Rachel
20. Santa Monica
Pre-order “Going, Going…” here.
Tour Dates 2016:
07/09 : Cardiff - TramShed
09/09 : Gateshead - Sage
10/09 : Glasgow - School Of Art
11/09 : Salford - Lowry
12/09 : Stowmarket - John Peel Centre
UK Tour Dates 2016:
20/11 : Colchester, UK - Arts Centre
21/11 : Chatham, UK - Britannia Theatre
22/11 : Portsmouth, UK - Wedgwood Rooms
23/11 : Exeter, UK - Cavern Club
24/11 : Bristol, UK - Fleece
26/11 : Belfast, UK - Limelight
30/11 : Aberdeen, UK - Tunnels
01/12 : Edinburgh, UK - La Belle Angele
02/12 : Sunderland, UK - The Point
03/12 : Kendal, UK - Brewery Arts Centre
04/12 : Holmfirth, UK - Picturedrome
06/12 : Liverpool, UK - Arts Club
07/12 : Derby, UK - The Venue
08/12 : Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
09/12 : Lowestoft, UK - Aquarium
10/12 : London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/TheWeddingPresentOfficial/
www.scopitones.co.uk
Uncharacteristically, the album opens with four hauntingly beautiful instrumental songs, including the cinematic “Sprague” and the absolutely captivating “Marblehead”. “Going, Going…” then takes a headlong dash through tracks such as “Two Bridges”, “Birdsnest”, “Kill Devil Hills” and “Broken Bow”... all perfectly executed in classic Wedding Present fashion; a jangle of clanging guitars, a squeal of feedback and a rush of adrenaline.
Few come as close to articulating the trials and pitfalls of a relationship in ways so instantly recognisable to the listener as David Gedge; his lyrics' naturalism and truthfulness accentuated by his earthy accent. With “Little Silver”, “Bear”, “Lead” and “Rachel” he proves yet again that he is a virtuoso when it comes to the bittersweet love song; his knack for a simple turn of phrase perfectly articulating the banalities and ecstasies of a relationship.
Whilst they are the undoubted masters of frenetic indie-pop, The Wedding Present re-route momentarily on “Emporia” and “Wales” before ultimately immersing us in an epic album finale with “Santa Monica”. Throughout this enchanting album ambient soundscapes and orchestral pop arrangements jostle for position with layers of feedback drenched guitars, pummelling drums and a truly massive bass sound as we hear some of the heaviest material that the band have ever recorded.
The films that accompany each track are a mesmerising collection of moving photographs. The rippling water in “Marblehead” delicately draws us into the melody while “Two Bridges” takes us onto a Manhattan street corner and exudes New York City in the summertime. The feeling of a road trip is present throughout as we see the rivers and lakes of the Mid-West and the deserts of the South-West before the album ends in a beautifully fitting way with the sun setting over the Santa Monica mountains.
The Wedding Present’s impact on independent music is infinitely present. Their uncomplicated approach to the disillusionment of love is salient in the sound of many of the subsequent bands of their ilk since the band’s inception and an influence on everyone from British Sea Power to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart among countless others.
Tracklist:
1. Kittery
2. Greenland
3. Marblehead
4. Sprague
5. Two Bridges
6. Little Silver
7. Bear
8. Secretary
9. Birdsnest
10. Kill Devil Hills
11. Bells
12. Fifty-Six
13. Fordland
14. Emporia
15. Broken Bow
16. Lead
17. Ten Sleep
18. Wales
19. Rachel
20. Santa Monica
Pre-order “Going, Going…” here.
Tour Dates 2016:
07/09 : Cardiff - TramShed
09/09 : Gateshead - Sage
10/09 : Glasgow - School Of Art
11/09 : Salford - Lowry
12/09 : Stowmarket - John Peel Centre
UK Tour Dates 2016:
20/11 : Colchester, UK - Arts Centre
21/11 : Chatham, UK - Britannia Theatre
22/11 : Portsmouth, UK - Wedgwood Rooms
23/11 : Exeter, UK - Cavern Club
24/11 : Bristol, UK - Fleece
26/11 : Belfast, UK - Limelight
30/11 : Aberdeen, UK - Tunnels
01/12 : Edinburgh, UK - La Belle Angele
02/12 : Sunderland, UK - The Point
03/12 : Kendal, UK - Brewery Arts Centre
04/12 : Holmfirth, UK - Picturedrome
06/12 : Liverpool, UK - Arts Club
07/12 : Derby, UK - The Venue
08/12 : Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
09/12 : Lowestoft, UK - Aquarium
10/12 : London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/TheWeddingPresentOfficial/
www.scopitones.co.uk