Protomartyr – Wheel of Fortune (feat. Kelley Deal)

Protomartyr have announced a new EP titled Consolation E.P., which they recorded in part with friend Kelley Deal and will be released June 15 via Domino. Two of the four songs feature Deal on vocals alongside singer Joe Casey, including Wheel of Fortune, which receives a video this week directed by Yoonha Park (who directed the band’s video for Don’t Go To Anacita). The EP was recorded by Deal’s R.Ring bandmate Mike Montgomery.

Joe Casey and Kelley Deal had this to say of the collaboration and EP:

“Early 2017 proved to be a productive time for the band. We were writing songs right up to recording Relatives In Descent and wanted to keep that momentum going right after. Making 2015’s split single “A Half Of Seven” with R. Ring was one of our favorite recording experiences, so the decision to head down to Dayton, Kentucky and spend a weekend in May recording the four songs that became the Consolation E.P. was an easy one.” Joe Casey

“For Mike and I, working on this EP with Protomartyr was a re-kindling of the tender spark that was struck upon our first encounter with them years ago in Texas. They were graciously tolerant and receptive to my production ideas on the songs and the project quickly grew beyond our private orb. We have cello from Lori Goldston, viola from Jocelyn Hach and even bass clarinet from Evan Ziporyn, and I do some singing with Joe. There’s a lot of trust involved when an artist places their songs in your hands, and we were very mindful of that while intentionally trying to take the songs in new directions. Candyland in Dayton, KY is home-base for R.Ring recording, and it’s close enough that the Proto-men could make it down to lay the tracks down. This is the second project like this we’ve done with them, so we’re ready to flip the tables and have them produce and record some of our songs!” Kelley Deal

Leon Vynehall – Movements (Chapter III)

Leon Vynehall recently announced his debut album Nothing Is Still, a record that sees him digging deeper into the family history that has always inspired his most iconic tracks, whilst returning to his own musical roots. Along with the announcement he shared Envelopes (Chapter VI).

Today he has followed up with the sumptuous Movements (Chapter III) – a track that reflects the warmth and electricity of 60s New York’s nightlife, a city always awake and on the move.

As well as sharing the track, Vynehall has announced his debut live shows, seeing him move into the live realm in full force with three nights at London’s Hackney Showroom (July 3/4/5) and one off dates in Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam (June 20/21/22). Presented as a series of immersive shows, Vynehall will perform Nothing Is Still with a full live band.

Nothing Is Still is, at its core, an album dedicated to Vynehall’s grandparents. Emigrating from a leafy south east U.K. to New York City in the 1960s, their seven-day journey via boat from Southampton to Brooklyn, and the stories that followed, have only truly come to light upon the passing of his grandfather four years ago.

What followed was a series of in depth conversations with his Nan to find out as much as he could about this part of his family history that was – in a way that easily resonates with us all – seemingly hidden in plain sight and a resulting album of immense scale, physicality and wonder as well as two accompanying elements – a novella and short films which expand the scope and context of the narrative.

Written and predominantly performed by Vynehall with additional musicians including a ten-piece string section arranged by Amy Langley, Finn Peters (saxophone and flute), and Sam Beste (piano) whom completed the final recording sessions that took place at Konk Studio’s – Nothing Is Still was mixed by Blue May in London before making its own transatlantic flight to New York, where it was mastered at Sterling Sound by Greg Calbi.

Leon Vynehall releases his debut album Nothing Is Still on June 15 via Ninja Tune.