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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| New Band Up North | New Band Up North |
| (10 days later) | |
| This Manchester quartet is creating music that's so mesmerisingly powerful, cinematic and gripping that you feel as though you're a character in a psychological thriller running through the cityscape away from the bad guys. I first stumbled upon one of the band members on Twitter, so decided to check them out. I was shocked. I thought to myself: I wasn't expecting this! This is amazing! I had to gather myself off the floor I was so excited. Then a few weeks later the Guardian's New Band of The Day maestro Paul Lester featured them. So I wanted to give them even more attention as they're making music up North. You'll soon realise they deserve it. | This Manchester quartet is creating music that's so mesmerisingly powerful, cinematic and gripping that you feel as though you're a character in a psychological thriller running through the cityscape away from the bad guys. I first stumbled upon one of the band members on Twitter, so decided to check them out. I was shocked. I thought to myself: I wasn't expecting this! This is amazing! I had to gather myself off the floor I was so excited. Then a few weeks later the Guardian's New Band of The Day maestro Paul Lester featured them. So I wanted to give them even more attention as they're making music up North. You'll soon realise they deserve it. |
| The band I'm talking about if you skim-read the standfirst above is Embers. George Agan, Steven Mclnerney, Nathan Howard and Will Clutton. In September they self-released a 7in single with two songs on it, 'Sins Unknown' and 'Tunnel Vision', which received a lot of attention. Before this they'd only put out demos, but even those were amazing. Steven says: | The band I'm talking about if you skim-read the standfirst above is Embers. George Agan, Steven Mclnerney, Nathan Howard and Will Clutton. In September they self-released a 7in single with two songs on it, 'Sins Unknown' and 'Tunnel Vision', which received a lot of attention. Before this they'd only put out demos, but even those were amazing. Steven says: |
| The resulting barrage of emails and tweets we received was a little overwhelming. It was a wonderful feeling. | The resulting barrage of emails and tweets we received was a little overwhelming. It was a wonderful feeling. |
Embers describe their sound in three words: "Ambitious. Grandiose. Cinematic." And that's no overstatement. I initially become engrossed with their beautiful track 'Hollow Cage'. Then I watched their live recording of it in Gorton Monastery, which captured their sound perfectly, and I become hooked. It begins with beautiful piano chords and stunning vocals. Slowly there's a rumbling of drums and a splash on the cymbals, then the song slowly gets bigger and bigger, becoming a superb spectacle of noise. But as Paul Lester rightly puts it, not just any noise but "accomplished noise". Despite the song being over seven minutes long, the changes in pace and sound keep you immersed. | Embers describe their sound in three words: "Ambitious. Grandiose. Cinematic." And that's no overstatement. I initially become engrossed with their beautiful track 'Hollow Cage'. Then I watched their live recording of it in Gorton Monastery, which captured their sound perfectly, and I become hooked. It begins with beautiful piano chords and stunning vocals. Slowly there's a rumbling of drums and a splash on the cymbals, then the song slowly gets bigger and bigger, becoming a superb spectacle of noise. But as Paul Lester rightly puts it, not just any noise but "accomplished noise". Despite the song being over seven minutes long, the changes in pace and sound keep you immersed. |
| Embers - Hollow Cage from Embers on Vimeo. | Embers - Hollow Cage from Embers on Vimeo. |
| There's a lot about this band that reminds me, and others, of Muse. Their soaring vocals, their ability to compose epic rock soundtracks and their quiet, shy modesty about the whole thing. But interestingly they don't pick the English rock band as a major influence. They appreciate the brilliance of Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros and are | There's a lot about this band that reminds me, and others, of Muse. Their soaring vocals, their ability to compose epic rock soundtracks and their quiet, shy modesty about the whole thing. But interestingly they don't pick the English rock band as a major influence. They appreciate the brilliance of Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros and are |
| all very much in love with the work of people like Brian Eno, and even composers like John Murphy and Hans Zimmer – creators of some of the most incredible pieces of music and soundscapes you're likely to hear. | all very much in love with the work of people like Brian Eno, and even composers like John Murphy and Hans Zimmer – creators of some of the most incredible pieces of music and soundscapes you're likely to hear. |
| They all love anything that "simply forces you to listen through its sheer ambition and persistence." This exactly what happens when you start listening to Embers. | They all love anything that "simply forces you to listen through its sheer ambition and persistence." This exactly what happens when you start listening to Embers. |
| It was quite a shock when Steven told me: | It was quite a shock when Steven told me: |
| 2012 was our first full year together...it was very much a case of writing songs and keeping our heads down until we were ready, laying low and spending lots of time developing ideas. | 2012 was our first full year together...it was very much a case of writing songs and keeping our heads down until we were ready, laying low and spending lots of time developing ideas. |
The band is meticulous and only wants to put the best content out there. They're strongly against musicians | The band is meticulous and only wants to put the best content out there. They're strongly against musicians |
| that are happy to settle for mediocrity... it just doesn't make sense to us. We just don't understand why anyone would not want to make their music as challenging or as interesting as they can. | that are happy to settle for mediocrity... it just doesn't make sense to us. We just don't understand why anyone would not want to make their music as challenging or as interesting as they can. |
Settling for second best is something this band will hopefully never do. Luckily for us they've decided to get their heads down again and get working on new material ahead of another single release in early 2013. I can sense it being exceptional. | Settling for second best is something this band will hopefully never do. Luckily for us they've decided to get their heads down again and get working on new material ahead of another single release in early 2013. I can sense it being exceptional. |
| Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can listen to her show Mixtape every Tuesday evening at 6pm on Sheffield Live! 93.2fm or online at www.sheffieldlive.org. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand | Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can listen to her show Mixtape every Tuesday evening at 6pm on Sheffield Live! 93.2fm or online at www.sheffieldlive.org. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand |
| If you're in a northern band Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music. | If you're in a northern band Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music. |
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