Liu Bei, even apart from the name - feels like one of those elusive, hard to define numbers. We know little; they have seemingly just arrived, yet sound do uncompromisingly assured that you have to start thinking if they had a previous incarnation.
The promo tells us that London-based Liu Bei (“Lou Bay”), according to their frontman Richard Walters, was born out of a desire to move away from years of solo acoustic songwriting and embark on something entirely new. In August 2013, on the brink of retiring from live music and concentrating fully on an already successful career writing music for TV shows and ads, Richard embarked on a collaborative project with a few friends which eventually led to the full formation of a band.
And the name? “We heard something on the radio about Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord who was known as an amazing strategist and a really caring, benevolent leader. He was also eight feet tall and had ears so big he could see them. Seemed like something to aspire to.”
After falling in love all over again with the likes of Slowdive, Ride and Mazzy Star, he felt an urge to create something epic and timeless.
Well, he's certainly achieved that all right. The first first song to come was 'Infatuation' – a shimmering, reverb-soaked lament charting “how dedication and unconditional love can so quickly turn into something dark and sharp toothed, an aggressive obsession.” This feels like MONEY, sounds like MONEY, and has the same initial 'wow!' factor on first hearing as MONEY. Gonna be as acclaimed as MONEY? If it gets the right exposure, you bet. This is emotionally heart-wrenching, tear-inducing territory that cuts so deep it leaves an indelible mark.
'Infatuation' was recorded and mixed by James Kenosha (Pulled Apart By Horses, Rhodes, Dancing Years) at The Lodge studio in East Yorkshire during the first days of 2014.
The single B-side, 'Atlas World', reinforces the Walters addictive falsetto vocal, with more of uptempo beat, yet no less forceful in its lyrics.
Richard it seems had already delivered a tasty little EP - 'Two Birds' - under his own name last August, the last of several recorded works going back to 2009, including three full length albums – ‘The Animal’ in 2009, the Bernard Butler produced ‘Pacing’ in 2011, and the gospel-folk ‘Regret Less’ in 2012. His music has also been featured on the soundtracks of TV shows ‘Criminal Minds’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘CSI: Miami’, ‘Private Practice’, ‘Revenge’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance…America’.
'Infatuation' is out on July 7 via ParadYse Records.
Liu Bei play Servant Jazz Quarters in London on July 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment