UK Supergroup Freebass Announce Debut UK Shows & EP
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Written by Nigel Sachdev
UK supergroup Freebass have announced the release of the long awaited, much anticipated and oft rumoured debut Freebass EP "Two Worlds Collide", along with a series of debut UK shows in York, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Carlisle.
The EP brings together a selection of famous guest vocalists including Tim Burgess, Pete Wylie, Howard Marks and band mainstay Peter Hook across the four tracks.
Freebass, originally born out of a conversation between Mancunian bass legends Mani, Hooky and Rourkie some five years ago has been through a long gestation process, with Hooky originally auditioning vocalists like an "indie Simon Cowell." Finding the right lead singer originally proved arduous so Mani suggested that the band approached their famous friends to contribute vocals with Howard, Tim and Pete all responding to the call.
"Two Worlds Collide" is the result of these early Freebass sessions and is to be released as a full four track EP including sound effects and production and also as individual tracks for download.
Opening up the EP is Tim Burgess' contribution, "You Don't Know This About Me", a melodic and dramatically epic tune that seems the most reminiscent of Hooky's previous bands on the EP. An ascendant Stateside feel permeates the track, aptly enough since Tim wrote and recorded the vocal from his home in LA as arch basslines and sumptuous guitars surround Tim's vocal.
The EP takes its first turn into the surreal with second track, "The Milky Way Is Our Playgroud" as Pete Wylie takes on lead duties for a soaring, poetic, euphoric space rock track. Elegant bass lines and a lolloping invitation to groove see Pete reflect on the universe with his star-struck cerebral vocal whose title and record that was first inspired by a Sunday Times article on space travel.
"Mr Nice" next as author, raconteur and beatnik, Howard Marks delivers a sterling vocal on "Dark Starr" as its driving and enveloping bassline spins off into a darkly grungey piece of rock and roll mischief. As Howard raps about Merlin, the light of Lucifer and matters thereof, his vocal was amazingly recorded in one take and adds considerable depth and panache to an already stand out track on the EP.
A change of pace for final track "Live Tomorrow You Go Down" as Hooky growls his way through a dance track whose Blackburn raves bassline, crunching beats, and Giorgio Moroder style electro flourishes bring about a leftfield, punkish techno track that was originally recorded by one of Freebass' early vocal try outs. Mindful of Ian Curtis' maxim that if you start a track, you finish it, Hooky completed the track with Phil Murphy and dedicates it to Rich, the original singer.
So there you have it finally, the debut Freebass EP, you thought you'd never see it, you thought you'd never hear it...
'Two Works Collide' EP Track Listing
1: You Dont Know (This About Me) - Vocals By Tim Burgess
2: The Milky Way Is Our Playground - Vocals By Pete Wylie
3: Dark Starr - Vocals By Howard Marks
4: Live Tomorrow You Go Down - Vocals By Peter Hook
Freebass' debut album "It's A Beautiful Life" is due for release in Summer 2010 which features now resident lead singer Gary Briggs and the band will be playing their first ever gigs at The 100 Club, London on June 1st and The Factory, Manchester on the 2nd June.
Freebass Debut UK Gigs
31st May - Duchess, York
1st June - 100 Club, London
2nd June - The Factory, Manchester
3rd June - King Tuts, Glasgow
4th June - Brickyard, Carlisle
6th June - Live Festival, Middlesborough
Freebass is Peter Hook (Bass), Gary Mounfield (Bass), Andy Rourke (Guitar), Nat Watson (Guitar), Phil Murphy (Keyboards & Programming) and Paul Kehoe (Drums).
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