Astrid - Play Dead
by Olga Sladeckova
published: 17 / 12 / 2001
Label:
Fantastic Plastic Records
Format: CD
intro
Astrid are an indie guitar pop band from the Isle of Lewis in the North West of Scotland. Featuring islanders vocalist Charlie Clark, guitarist Willie Campbell,and bassist Gareth Russell and orig
Astrid are an indie guitar pop band from the Isle of Lewis in the North West of Scotland. Featuring islanders vocalist Charlie Clark, guitarist Willie Campbell,and bassist Gareth Russell and original Glaswegian drummer Gary Thom, all who shared the same interest in sixties music, the group moved to Glasgow in 1998 where they attracted the attention of musicians such as Belle and Sebastian, Edwyn Collins and Tony Doogan from the Delgados and earned support from Radio 1. In 2000, as well as releasing their first album 'Strange Weather Lately', they won The Best New Discovery award in US and with Thom leaving the band, found a new drummer in Neil Payne, who used to play with the Smiles. Their second album 'Play Dead' is a wonderful fourteen track experience of the soul. You are invited on an adventurous journey up the mountain of happiness, down the valley of despair and over the ocean of loneliness. Only the final stop is unknown, but it is unlikely you will want to ever get there. Your soul is taken over right from the very beginning. Each of the instruments adds its own specific flavour and all together it tastes delicious. Clark's protective voice is the principal instrument and guides you safely through the wild jungles of the music. 'Just One Name', the stand-out track, is vigorous, its music gathering its energy and blending with yours. Fast beats of the drums shiver your heart while spirited guitar leads you somewhere between heaven and hell. This is one friendship you can't afford to lose and that explains when it is finished you press play and listen to 'Play Dead' again.
Track Listing:-
1 It Never Happened2 Tick Tock
3 Wrong For You
4 Crying Boy
5 Alas
6 Play Dead
7 Fat Girl
8 Just One Name
9 Hard To Be A Person
10 Paper
11 Modes Of Transport
12 What You're Thinking
13 Taken For Granted
14 Horror Movies
Label Links:-
http://www.fpmusic.org/
features |
The Shetland Isles' Premier Rock Star (2002) |
Astrid's new album 'Boy for You', her debut as a solo artist, was released in September. It is a haunting, sometimes harrowing record, but one of ultimately uplifting appeal that encompasses a wide ra |
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