NOT INTERESTED: We catch up with Button Up bass player and songwriter Garry John Kane ahead of the release of their brand new single "Not Interested"!

 

Button Up are Scotland's premier soul outfit of the moment. With a whole host of albums, EPs and singles behind them already, they are heading into a new exciting chapter; with a new line up and a new album in the pipeline, it's a good time for the band.

 

We catch up with bass player and songwriter Garry John ahead of the release of their new single, "Not Interested". We also have a go at reviewing the track.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

PART 1 - THE INTERVIEW

 

Hi Garry John, how you doing? What have the Button Up band been up to since we last chatted?

 

Garry John: "Been gigging and writing new material. First single 'Not Interested' is out not - plug, plug."

 

Around the time of our last interview and the release of your third album there was a slight change in line up. How and why did this change come about?

 

Garry John: "Our singer and drummer left after 'Beat Street' to do their own music so I quickly got some young blood in and it's exploded ever since. Been such a joy to play with this line up, very exciting."

 

What would you say the new members bring to the band?

 

Garry John: "Great energy and playing. They have added everything from enthusiasm to friendship to performance. The gigs have been great and everyone is enjoying being in the band which helps."

 

You played a charity gig in Coatbridge around Christmas time. How did this go? Was it a success?

 

Garry John: "Yes, the gig was great and sold out so we raised a lot for the local Food Bank charity and Maggie's cancer. Great support from local band Ripley too."

 

You are currently releasing a brand new single entitled "Not Interested". What is the track about and what would you say influenced it?

 

Garry John: "It's about people with delusions of what they are but also it's a pop song so you can make up your own mind when you listen to it."

 

What's up next for Button Up?

 

Garry John: "Video for the single and some gigs in March to promote the new single. Saturday 21st March at Stereo in Glasgow, Sunday 22nd March at Tunnels in Aberdeen and Saturday 28th March at Brown Bull in Lochwinnoch."

 

Last one; who would be in your dream supergroup?

 

Garry John: "Donald Duck Dunne (Booker T) on bass, John Bradbury (The Specials) on drums, Mick Jones (The Clash) on guitar, Ian McLagan (Small Faces/Faces) on keys and Otis Redding on vocals."

 

 

THE QUICKFIRE ROUND

 

Favourite Beatle?

 

Garry John: "George Harrison."

 

Favourite band or singer?

 

Garry John: "James Brown."

 

Favourite new band or singer?

 

Garry John: "King Khan And The Shrines."

 

Favourite song?

 

Garry John: "Green Onions."

 

Favourite album?

Garry John: "Mr Soul - James Brown."

 

Dream collaboration?

Garry John: "Button Up with The Hives."

 

Vinyl, CD or download?

Garry John: "All three but vinyl is special."

 

When you press shuffle on your iPod, what is the first track that comes on?

Garry John: "Usually Button Up!"

 

Style icon?

Garry John: "Mid sixties look."

 

Favourite film?

Garry John: "Young Frankenstein."

 

Favourite TV show?

Garry John: "The Thick Of It."

 

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Garry John: "Tom Sellick."

 

Favourite food?

Garry John: "Thai."

 

Football team?

Garry John: "Celtic and Albion Rovers."



PART 3 - THE REVIEW

The pioneers of modern Scottish hammond sound are back again with another strong single. This time entitled "Not Interested", it is written by bass player and Proclaimers member Garry John Kane. The track is yet more proof of the supreme musicality of this Coatbridge-based band and moves and grooves through two minutes of soul, funk and Hammond a plenty. It provides a fine follow up to their third studio album and will surely be doing the rounds in any music lover's summer playlist.

To conclude, if this track is any indication of what is to come in the next stage of Button Up's career them bring on that fourth album.



Hope you enjoyed this feature on Button Up, be sure to check out our previous feature on The Phantoms!

Check out Button Up here - https://www.facebook.com/buttonupband

Button Up's new single is available digitally at iTunes and Amazon.

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AB RECORDS

SUNSHINE: Our review of Mayfield's "Tempo Of Your Soul"! This album will be the soundtrack of the summer!

 

Below is our review of Mayfield's brilliant album 'Tempo Of Your Soul'.

 

To stay up to date with future interviews and reviews like our facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

PART 1 - THE REVIEW

 

“Tempo of Your Soul is without a doubt one of the finest funk albums of recent times. From start to finish it goes from strength to strength. With brass a plenty, soulful vocals, driving drums and bass, catchy guitars and keyboards; the album is masterful. The eponymous opening track sets this tone for the album and ‘Superwoman’, perhaps not intentionally, shows the band’s unwavering self-belief as the following lyrics are sung: ‘I am invincible, I am incredible’. Mayfield are, as a unit, definitely ‘invincible’ and ‘incredible’. This fact is demonstrated best on tracks such as ‘Like Walked Out’ and the funky ‘Get Up’. Another highlight in the album is ‘Dream Girl’, opening with a catchy bass hook and a rattling hi-hat cymbal. The chorus is astonishingly catchy as well. The album then closes with ‘Sunshine’ which will be finding its way on to multiple playlists this June and July. Overall, a superb album and one you need to get your hands on. This will be the soundtrack of your summer!"

 

 

 

PART 2 - AB'S TOP PICKS

 

1 - "Sunshine"

2 - "Dream Girl"

3 - "Get Up"

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Mayfield! Check out our previous feature on The Spitfires!

Check out Mayfield here - http://www.mayfieldtheband.co.uk/

 

You can also like our facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

AB RECORDS

SONIC CANDY SOUL: Beautiful music for beautiful people from The Electric Stars!

 

AB Says: "The Electric Stars are the latest Manchester band to come to prominence. Their debut album, 'Sonic Candy Soul', was released last year on Detour Records and is a fine showcase of their wide-ranging styles and influences. They deliver a mix of rock 'n' roll, glam, psychedelia and, at points, even gospel. It features the exceptional singles 'Between the Streets and the Stars' and 'I Want You', as well as a fine selection of album tracks. The LP itself starts with lead singer, Jason Edge, preaching the line 'beautiful music for beautiful people' - foreshadowing what ensues in the next fifty minutes. Then, with a kick, the album takes off with '136' which hints at early New York Dolls and lyrical references The Stones and Elvis - obvious influences here as well. This is followed by the aforementioned 'Between the Streets and the Stars', adding more texture and a groovy drum beat, and then the much slower 'Alison Williams', which is where the evident psychedelic influences come in. Meanwhile, 'I Want You' is reminiscent of Iggy and the Stooges and of the early garage bands and 'Blind' is exceptional with 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' gospel choir singing the song out in a grand finale. The album continues to grow with more rock 'n' rollers in the form of 'Who's Gonna Satisfy Me' and 'Not Man Enough' and some slower numbers such as 'Stoned Again', 'Old Fashion Girl' and 'Bedtime Stories'. The album concludes with 'Isolation', which builds and builds with exquisite guitar playing and driving drums until the band finally find themselves where they started - 'beautiful music for beautiful people'. Overall, outstanding stuff, one of the finest debut albums for quite some time!"

 

AB's Top Picks:

'136'

'Between The Streets And The Stars'

'Blind'

'Isolation'

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on The Electric Stars! Check out our previous feature on Likely Lads!

 

Check out The Electric Stars here - http://www.theelectricstars.com/

 

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

AB RECORDS

BEAUTIFUL SOUL: Our interview with dream pop duo Lights That Change!

 

PART 1 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

1 - What was your earliest musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the music industry?

 

Lisa: "I used to dance to glam rock bands in my pants at about two or three - only in my lounge though! But I can't remember ever not wanting to be a singer..."

 

Marc: "The Beatles."

 

2 - Had you been involved in any other band prior to Lights That Change?

 

Lisa: "Lots! Too many to mention! I started very young and played with my punk band The Spindolls in a pub at the age of thirteen! I do lots of solo stuff under my own name too!"

 

Marc: "Many."

 

3 - How did Lights That Change begin?

 

Lisa: "Have worked with Marc in lots of things in the past and then suddenly he shows me the beautiful sounds that were Lights That Change and I started writing lyrics and working out melodies...the rest, as they say, is history!"

 

Marc: "As a solo project but really became LTC when I got Lisa involved."

 

4 - Where did the name Lights That Change come from?

 

Lisa: "Umm, Marc! Err..."

 

Marc: "Top of my head."

 

5 - How would you describe the sound of Lights That Change?

 

Lisa: "Ethereal, prettiful, retro, yet very now!"

 

Marc: "Music from another world, dream pop."

 

6 - You released your self-titled EP earlier this year. What influenced the three songs featured on this?

 

Lisa: "So many things influence my writing. I've lived a very interesting life and never seem to run out of stuff I want to express. I love complex relationships and digging a bit too deep for comfort!"

 

Marc: "My guitar rig, a lot of shoegaze and dream pop bands I have always been into, Boo Radleys, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Andy Summers and Cocteau Twins."

 

7 - You have more recently released a single called ‘Beautiful Soul’. What is this song about?

 

Marc: "Ask Lisa!"

 

Lisa: "'Beautiful Soul' began with me thinking about how amazing my kids are and how wonderful it is to still be so innocent and so untouched by the world out there - unlike me I guess..."

 

8 - Do you have any 'rituals' before you go on stage?

 

Lisa: "I get terribly nervous so I'm an OCD nightmare on gig days. It's best you don't know!"

 

Marc: "Sleep!"

 

9 - Any live dates coming up?

 

Lisa: "Some things in the pipeline but nothing I can confirm today - I'm playing solo in Soho tonight though."

 

Marc: "Some things in the pipeline!"

 

10 - Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

Lisa: "Lots! One I only finished the lyrics for yesterday simply refuses to leave my head!"

 

Marc: "Loads and loads!"

 

11 - When can fans be expecting the next release?

 

Lisa: "Very soon I think...hehe! Am I being a tease?"

 

Marc: "Very soon."

 

12 - Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

Lisa: "Rickie Lee Jones - without a doubt! I love her voice, her words, the fluidity of her melodies...she rocks!"

 

Marc: "I don't like collaborating, it's a word that's been to overused these days in music and is loosing meaning!"

 

13 - Who would be in your dream supergroup?

 

Lisa: "Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, John Lennon, and the entire group of musicians from Rickie Lee Jones' 'Pirates' album!"

 

Marc: "I have never thought about super groups only super choc bars!"

 

PART 2 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

1 - Favourite Beatle?

 

Lisa: "Lennon."

 

Marc: "Lennon."

 

2 - Favourite band?

 

Lisa: "The Beatles. Picking one isn't fair though!"

 

Marc: "David Bowie, but he's not a band I know!"

 

3 - Favourite new band?

 

Lisa: "Kassassin Street."

 

Marc: "Golden Fable or Seazoo. The Joy Formidable, too many to mention."

 

4 - Favourite song?

 

Lisa: "We Belong Together, Rickie Lee Jones."

 

Marc: "Bewlay Brothers, David Bowie."

 

5 - Favourite album?

 

Lisa: "Rickie Lee Jones."

 

Marc: "Hunky Dory."

 

6 - Vinyl, CD or download?

 

Lisa: "I love vinyl, but for practicality CD's - I still like something I can hold in my hand."

 

Marc: "Vinyl all the way."

 

7 - Style icon?

 

Lisa: "Umm, I kind of have my own style - I love classic 'hippy' vibes though - people like Bowie always used to make me stop in tracks visually - I love that."

 

Marc: "None."

 

8 - Favourite clothing brand?

 

Lisa: "Scrapunzel."

 

Marc: "Banana fruit man."

 

9 - Favourite film?

 

Lisa: "Cher."

 

Marc: "Trouble with my big right toe! Not made yet."

 

10 - Favourite TV show?

 

Lisa: "Casualty/Holby."

 

Marc: "Brian May's Dogs! Channel 4, Casualty!

 

11 - Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

Lisa: "Winona Ryder."

 

Marc: "Christopher Walken."

 

12 - Favourite food?

 

Lisa: "A good vegetarian curry - preferably with chick peas and spinach!"

 

Marc: "Fish and chocolate!"

 

13 - Football team?

 

Lisa: "Knaphill Vultures."

 

Marc: "Monty Python 5 a side."

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Lights That Change! Check out our previous feature on Hunt The Rebel!

 

Check out Lights That Change here - https://www.facebook.com/LightsThatChange

  

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

AB RECORDS

 

TEMPO OF YOUR SOUL: We have a chat to Dom Elton, keyboard player in Portsmouth-based soul/funk band Mayfield!

 

PART 1 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

 1 - What was your earliest musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the music industry?

 

"Listening to my dad's copy of 'Revolver' by The Beatles...got me hooked and must have listened to it a thousand times!"

 

2 - Had you been involved in any other band prior to Mayfield?

 

"I've played in several bands since school, including mod, soul and ska bands."

 

3 - How did Mayfield begin?

 

"With a desire to create a vintage soul/funk sound whilst preforming original songs with a big line up."

 

4- Where did the name Mayfield come from? Was it a homage to Curtis Mayfield?

 

"Exactly - Curtis Mayfield is one of my all time heroes."

 

5 - How would you describe the sound of Mayfield?

 

"Eclectic mix of soul, funk, Latin jazz, R&B and rare groove that we like to call 'Mayfield soul'."

 

6 - Your soul/funk sound is quite unique in the musical climate of today. Especially with the domination of 'chart music'. What do you like about this specific genre of music and what drew you to it?

 

"From my first visit to a Northern soul do during the early eighties during the Mod revival...hooked almost immediately. The music is sublime and has proven to be a life long love."

 

7 - You originally started off as a three piece. Can you explain why you have now evolved to eight members and what do you think the extra band members bring to your sound?

 

"To create a full vintage soul sound, we needed a bigger line up including a brass section. Also, Gloria is originally from Chicago (birth place of Soul) and brings authenticity to the overall sound."

 

8 - Your current album is called 'Tempo of Your Soul'. Where did this title come from and why did you choose it?

 

"This comes from one of our songs, track one of the album, and is a homage to soul music ref: 'no urging to be learning'."

 

9 - What influenced the album as a whole?

 

"To create a sound that appeals to both old school soul fans and new school soul fans and crosses over various genres on the soul side."

 

10 - "Get Up" is one of the finest songs on the album. It is a right funky number with a lot of soul. What is this song about and what influenced it?

 

"Essentially to inspire people to 'Get Up' and dance...much about soul is to do with dancing as well as the music itself - think of the dance moves inspired by the Northern Soul scene."

 

11 - Do you have any 'rituals' before you go on stage?

 

"No, just to check my keyboards are working!"

 

12 - Any live dates coming up?

 

"Yes - quite a few...check out our website."

 

13 - Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

"Yes several - these will feature in an album called 'Keep On' (homage to Northern Soul) including 'Breathless', 'Watcha Gonna Do' and 'Work, Love and Family'."

 

14 - When can fans be expecting the next release?

 

"Summer 2014...Keep On!"

 

15 - Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

"Paul Weller, who else!?"

 

16 - Who would be in your dream supergroup?

 

"Way too many to mention..."

 

PART 2 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

1 - Favourite Beatle?

 

"Lennon."

 

2 - Favourite band?

 

"The Style Council."

 

3 - Favourite new band?

 

"Quite like John Newman."

 

4 - Favourite song?

 

"English Rose, The Jam."

 

5 - Favourite album?

 

"What's Going On, Marvin Gaye."

 

6 - Vinyl, CD or download?

 

"All of the above."

 

7 - Style icon?

 

"Weller."

 

8 - Favourite clothing brand?

 

"Fred Perry."

 

9 - Favourite film?

 

"Quadrophenia."

 

10 - Favourite TV show?

 

"Grand Designs."

 

11 - Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

"That's funny...Rowen Atkinson haha."

 

12 - Favourite food?

 

"Italian."

 

13 - Football team?

 

"None...sorry!"

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Mayfield! Check out our previous feature on Liam McClair!

 

Check out Mayfield - http://www.mayfieldtheband.co.uk/

 

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

FIRE IN THE DAM: We have an in-depth chat with Soul & Fire and review their debut EP!

 

PART 1 - "THE REVIEW"

 

So, Soul & Fire, the latest folk/blues/rock band on the scene. What sets them apart though? Well, the answer to this question is there as-of-yet unreleased debut EP, which is due on October 12th. A date for the diaries. The EP shows why the band list Creedence Clearwater Revival as one of their main influences, as they take a more contemporary take on John Fogerty's original rootsy sound and mix it up with some jazzy drums. The first track "Fire in the Dam" makes for a strong opener and sets the tone for the rest of the EP. The band quickly race into a shuffling song called "Freedom" which is more danceable and even more impressive. The band remain on top form through the remaining three tracks - "Toot", "Flower" and "Wishing You Well". In the words of the band themselves, "on every track you can feel both the soul and the fire". A superb effort and from here Soul & Fire can only get bigger and better.

 

PART 2 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

1 - What was your earliest musical memory and what inspired you towards pursuing a career in music?

 

Paolo: "I've always been, since thirteen years old, a fan of classical and jazz music thanks to my grandfather, greatest music listener in my entire family. From Giuseppe Verdi, Pavarotti, Placido and Domingo to the jazz of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman and I fell in love with jazz drums."

 

Dave: "I come from a musical family. My dad is an established musician, and all my brothers play, it's just what we do. I was inspired by my parents music collection, they were always playing vinyl's ranging from Beatles and 70's music to much more. I just remember the whole house filled with music, and music seemed a way of life."

 

2 - Had you been involved with any other bands prior to Soul & Fire?

 

Paolo: "Dozens of bands from fourteen years but only a few concrete ones."

 

Dave: "I've always played with my brothers in pubs as a covers band. 'The Mitchell Brothers'. I've jammed with lots of different people but nothing really took off. I had a brief spell with Suicide Party but have been a solo singer/songwriter for a couple of years."

 

3 - How did Soul & Fire?

 

Dave: "It all began in Sicily where we met. We jammed and bonded over Creedence Clearwater Revival and realised each others passion for music."

 

Paolo: "Yes, it was a nice coincidence of life. Join an Englishman and Sicilian both with great love and passion for music."

 

4 - Where did the name Soul & Fire come from?

 

  Dave: "Soul & Fire was one of my songs from my solo days, but we never got to grips with it as a duo. Then when we came around to renaming the band we racked our brains for weeks. Then Paolo phoned me half drunk and said..."

 

Paolo: "SOUL & FIRE. It also translates really nicely in Italian, 'anima e fuoco'."

 

5 - How would you describe the sound of Soul & Fire?

 

Dave: "We have a very raw sound. Bluesy rock and roll mixed with Sicilian percussion."

 

Paolo: "The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra, in English "Our Thing") ahahahahaha."

 

6 - Your debut EP is due in October. Can you tell us anything about it?

 

Paolo: "Great party."

 

Dave: "Haha, the launch party will be a great night. In regards to the EP itself, we wanted to produce the songs as close as we could to our live sound, so the EP is recorded live and retains our stage energy. It's a good mix of our different styles.

 

7 - Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

Paolo: "If they were all still alive Led Zeppelin...or Queen."

 

Dave: "Many bands spring to mind, but a realistic dream is that it would be cool to get back with my bros one day - with Paolo smashing out a full drum kit."

 

8 - Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

Dave: "We're always working on new material so you can expect new songs to appear in our live shows in the coming months."

 

9 - When can fans be expecting a new single, EP or album?

 

Dave: "Well the EP is released on 12th October. With regards to a single, we have made a video for our song "Wishing You Well" which will grace your screens very soon. We already have hours worth of material so an album is certainty possible...maybe in the new year."

 

10 - Any live dates coming up?

 

Dave: "We are happy to be involved in Music In The City in Southampton on October 5th at Weigh House but our big night will be the 12th."

 

11 - Who would be in your dream supergroup?

 

Paolo: "Freddy Mercury - voice, John Bonham - drums, Jaco Pastorius - bass, Dave Mitchell - guitar and Paolo Precoraro - percussion."

 

Dave: "Haha, that sounds good, maybe you could ass a bit of Morrison doing some crazy poetry interlude."

 

PART 3 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

1 - Favourite Beatle?

 

Paolo: "Ringo Starr."

 

Dave: "John Lennon."

 

2 - Favourite band?

 

Paolo: "So difficult! No favourite at all...I love the music that gives me emotion and makes me feel good."

 

Dave: "It changes all the time but most consistently The Doors and Pink Floyd."

 

3 - Favourite new band?

 

Paolo: "My favourite new bands are The Temperance Movement and Mamas Lips."

 

Dave: "Me too, but also loving Dead Rabbits new album."

 

4 - Favourite song?

 

Paolo: " O Sole Mio (Pavarotti)."

 

Dave: "No favourite song but currently "I Sat By The Ocean", Queens Of The Stone Age."

 

5 - Favourite album?

 

Dave: "L.A. Woman - The Doors."

 

Paolo: "Led Zeppelin II (1969)."

 

6 - Vinyl, CD or download?

 

Paolo: "CD."

 

Dave: "Vinyl."

 

7 - Style icon?

 

Paolo: "Johnny Depp (film) and Jamiroquai (music)."

 

8 - Favourite clothing brand?

 

Paolo: "I don't care, it is important that I am comfortable."

 

Dave: "Nothing really, I have a pair of Next boxers on, does that count?"

 

9 - Favourite film?

 

Paolo: "Maybe...The Goonies."

 

Dave: "Blow - Ted Demme."

 

10 - Favourite TV show?

 

Paolo: "I have not watched TV for more than one year!"

 

Dave: "Throw Away Your Television - Red Hot Chili Peppers."

 

11 - Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

Paolo: "Jim Morrison."

 

Dave: "Johnny Depp, everyone always says we look alike."

 

12 - Favourite food?

 

Paolo: "PASTAAAAA."

 

Dave: "English breakfast."

 

13 - Football team?

 

Paolo: "Palermo!"

 

Dave: "None."

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Soul & Fire! Check out our previous feature on Callahan!

 

Check out Soul & Fire here - https://www.facebook.com/soulandfireuk?directed_target_id=0

 

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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