GLOBAL PULSE: IRISH ECCENTRICS STILL FRANK AFTER ALL THESE YEARS December 16, 2006
Down Under Siblings Move To London; Capetown Act Aims Beyond South Africa
TOM FERGUSON
Longstanding Irish pop eccentrics the Frank and Walters are back with their first studio album in six years.
The Cork band releases "A Renewed Interest in Happiness" on Irish independent Fifa Records Jan. 27 in the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Germany and Finland. Distribution is through Shellshock in the United Kingdom and local distributors elsewhere. The album appeared in Ireland through distributor RMG on Oct. 27, entering the top 40 of the IRMA chart one week later.
In the early 1990s, the band scored several top 50 singles in the United Kingdom and Ireland, notably 1993's "After All" (Setanta). "There's always a bit of excitement and nostalgia around releases like this," says the band's manager Cillin O'Flynn, who says the album "should re-establish the Frank and Walters as one of Ireland's longest-prevailing and most creative indie-pop merchants."
"Happiness" is the act's fifth album and its first new set since the 2004 departure of lead guitarist Niall Linehan. It was mostly recorded in West Cork. But, seeking a gritty feel, singer/bassist Paul Linehan taped two vocals in a Dublin prison cell, complete with inmates.
The Frank and Walters is currently touring Ireland (booked by Fifa), interrupted by shows in Berlin and London. European dates in early 2007 will include 14 U.K. shows booked through Bob Patterson Agency. The band's publishing is copyright control.
O'Flynn says his "achievable goal is to make the record available in territories where the band have traditionally received support and to tour in those places." —Nick Kelly
STONES ROLL: Audience reaction to late summer and fall European dates convinced folk/pop duo Angus and Julia Stone they have a future in the region. As a result, the Aussie guitar-playing siblings will permanently relocate to London in February with their drummer Mitchell Connelly. They will tour Britain and Europe again that month, the act's London-based manager Cathy Oates says. European bookings are through London-based Gold Artists. Domestic shows are through IMC.
Born into a musical family, the Stones initially embarked on playing solo shows in the Sydney area before joining forces early in 2006. EMI Music Australia signed the duo and released debut EP "Chocolates & Cigarettes" in August. Reviews for the EP, on which the duo swap lead vocals, drew comparisons to Portishead, Damien Rice and Paul Simon and brought national radio airplay on government-owned youth network Triple J.
The six-track EP was released in Europe during September through London-based Independiente. In mid-November, the Stones signed a worldwide deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia. "Sony/ATV [was] unbelievably helpful before we even signed a deal with them," Oates says, "through their advice, worldwide contacts and in particular their introduction to Independiente." She adds that negotiations for a U.S. record deal and booking agent are under way. —Christie Eliezer
CAPE FOUR: Cape Town's claims to be the current creative hothouse of South African music got a boost with the October release of alternative/electronica act Lark's full-length debut, "Razbliuto!" Now the band is looking to spread the word further overseas.
The critically acclaimed album is the group's first release through a licensing deal with Johannesburg-based, Universal Music-distributed independent Just Music. Lark's only previous release was a self-released limited edition six-track EP, "Mouth of Me" (2005).
Previously a trio but now a quartet—thanks to the recent addition of drummer Sean Ou Tim—the band formed in 2003. It built a live following through club gigging in its hometown and Johannesburg plus key festival appearances, with vocalist Inge Beckmann's performances drawing comparisons to Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O.
The act's manager and live booker Dominique Gawlowski is spending much of December in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal for label meetings and to set up shows for 2007. "The band's really individual sound is definitely suited to these markets, and we are aggressively looking for a label deal," Beckmann says.
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