news

11/07/11 - Back in the day (mid-90's if you must know) I wrote and recorded an album's worth of songs with Katie Marne. The intention at the time was that they were for Katie's debut album. For one reason or another this didn't happen, and whilst a number of them have been covered since, Katie's versions have never really been heard. Katie has since has a very successful career writing and singing on 100's of club anthems for the likes of Judge Jules, Lange, Paul Van Dyke and Robbie Rivera. We got together again recently and played a few songs, and thought it was about time the definitive versions were out there, somewhere. Well that somewhere is; http://corporaterecords.co.uk/artists/Katie+Marne/  As with the Katmandu re-issue, you can preview all the tracks, and hear a few all the way through before parting with your hard-earned. Which might be just as well if you're expecting the likes of Judge Jules, Lange, Paul Van Dyke and Robbie Rivera etc. - lots of major 7th chords, guitars and heartbreak, mellotrons and melancholy.

15/06/11 - I've just signed up to musicxray - and I am now a "music industry professional" on the site. It sounds terribly grown-up and musicbiz - but it makes more sense to me as a way of dealing with demos I'm sent. I don't get thousands, but I do get enough that it takes a fair bit of my time to listen to them and respond, as good manners compels me to do,  and I'm probably not as organised about doing this as I should be. So, if you want to send me a demo, then from now on that's the way to do it. It'll cost you 5-10$ to send a song (depending on how detailed you want the feedback to be). This is about the price of an old-school "CD, jiffy bag and a stamp" demo, and if this is enough to deter some of the more, ahem, less thoughtful submissions then it'll be worth it. I try to be encouraging, but sometimes it's a challenge. The big advantage for anyone sending me something is that the xray men get on my case if I don't respond to it, so barring force majeure you're guaranteed a response.

9/03/11 -  In the mid-90's I recorded a solo album under the moniker KATMANDU . The original release on the now defunct Vinyl Japan label is very hard to come by, though copies do turn up on Ebay now and again. I regularly get asked if it's still available and get fed up with saying "no", so I have arranged a download only release on Corporate Records. If there is sufficient demand I may produce some CD's with the original artwork. In the meantime you can hear it here. A few tracks are free, the rest are a paltry 80p each, or £7.00 for the album. There are also TBS and Etienne mixes of "Welcome To California" in the archives somewhere. When I find them I'll put those up too.

04/03/11 - I've just re-cut the Trembling Blue Stars' EP "Correspondence" as it will now be released on 10" vinyl.  http://www.elefant.com/bands/trembling-blue-stars

06/01/11 - I've just finished a new song called "Round And Round" with Riveraire, a team of songwriters from London who also release their own material (featuring the fabulous vocals of Caroline Loftus) on Aardvaark Records. http://www.aardvarkrecords.co.uk/riveraire.htm They're always a pleasure to work with, and their songs are consistenly good, but this one feels a bit special. Radio2 has been mentioned - fingers crossed chaps ...

It's 03/11/10 - Saint Etienne will be in the studio most of this month, working on a new album for Christmas, which will be available in a special edition with a personalised bonus track - the ultimate gift for the Etienne fan in your life - even if that's you ;-) http://www.saintetienne.com/news.html

10/10/10 - Maryoku Yummy the children's animation series I scored with Saint Etienne begins it's run on The Hub today. http://www.hubbub.com/maryoku-yummy/shows/maryoku-yummy

30/09/10 - The final Trembling Blue Stars recordings ever are now mixed and awaiting release on Elefant in the new year. The EP is titled "Correspondence", and features six new tracks, including a cover of Wire's "Kidney Bingos", which features guest vocals from Caesar of The Wake. Details at http://www.elefant.com/bands/trembling-blue-stars

08/06/10 - The much delayed new website is finally in the works - expect a much more graphic and colourful experience very soon-ish.

03/06/10 - I've been doing some work with Bob Stanley on songs for a new Saint Etienne album, although I expect things to be a bit quiet on that front now until after the World Cup ....

28/05/10 - I heard today that the children's cartoon series Maryoku Yummy, which I scored with Saint Etienne, has been picked up by The Hub (formerly Discovery Kids channel) in the US, with a potential audience of 60million households. You can see some sample episodes here - ttp://www.agkidzone.com/home/

14/05/10 - Just finished a remix with St.Etienne for Brooklyn indie band The Drums. The track's called "Forever And Ever Amen", and you can hear it here - http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/The_Drums/track/Forever_And_Ever_Amen_Saint_Etienne_Remix_  The band are big fans of the Field Mice, apparently ...

31/03/10 - "Two Worlds Away" by Jeff Touzeau is now complete. It's been a long road for various reasons, but I'm really pleased with it. Jeff has a site all about the record, with sample tracks, here - http://www.jefftouzeau.com

31/03/10 - I've been doing some production and mixes with the melodic, hypnotic, and hip - B-Movie Lightning, aka Michael Smalle of Cane 141. There's a track on my Myspace page, or you can find out more here - http://bmovielightning.com/

27/03/10 - The School’s new album, "Loveless Unbeliever" is out now on Elefant Records. An album of great songs - all hits, no filler. Honest ... Hear for yoursef here - http://www.elefant.com/bands/the-school 

22/03/10 - Another remix - this time for The One AM Radio from California , called "An Old Photo Of Your New Lover".

31/01/10 - The new Trembling Blue Stars album, "Fast Trains And Telegraph Wires" is now mixed, and will be out on Elefant in the autumn. You can hear the first track "My Face For The World To See" on their Myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/tremblingbluestars

31/07/09 - Saint Etienne and I have just done a remix of "Higher Than The Stars" by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.  http://www.thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com/