News

Stricken City Release Debut Album

• 12th Oct 2009

From the a cappella opening of Gifted – impulsively recorded on a London Bus – to anthemic lead single Five Metres Apart, Stricken City are a celebration of what indie was always meant to mean.

They release their long awaited debut mini-album Songs About People I Know on Puregroove Records on 12th October. The album – variously produced by Jeremy Warmsley (Killing Time / Small Things), Ian Davenport (PS / Five Metres Apart / Pull The House Down), Andy from Tin Can Telephone (Terrible Things), and the band themselves (Gifted / Sometimes I Love You) – encapsulates Stricken City’s early development into fine purveyors of alternative art-pop.

Resplendent in a 6” deluxe gatefold sleeve, the music is accompanied by a self-produced DVD including a live performance sequence Videos About Songs About People I Know captured on atmospheric VHS at London’s House Of Strange studios; a series of tour films Films About Places I Know shot on Super8 over the past twelve months; and the acclaimed promo video from the band’s last single Lost Art, which at once paid homage to Talking Heads and challenged the band to create something unique and enduring on the most limited of budgets.

Defined by their clattering guitars, the scattergun pounding of the drums, basslines bursting with hooks and the strikingly voiced melodies of otherworldly front woman Rebekah Raa; SC produce an indie-pop of hitherto untapped gems drawn from influences Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, Young Marble Giants and The Slits as well as those lost sources of alternative melodica Life Without Buildings, The Sundays and Bow Wow Wow.

Having recently been invited to tour the UK with Maximo Park, Stricken City last year clocked up playlists at XFM and NME Radio – as well as support from Radio 1 and 6Music – with their singles Tak O Tak and Lost Art, released through the influential ACTH and Blue Flowers labels.

When Iain Pettifer (guitars) and Rebekah Raa (vocals/keys) first met in maths class they were wearing exactly the same clothes and quickly coupled over a mutual appreciation of introverted, romantic guitar music; not to mention a palpable sense of detachment from the cool kids. Rebekah spent her entire student loan on a guitar and 8 track recorder while Iain educated her with his extensive music collection including of a full set of Twisted Nerve 7”s and the complete works of Richard Hell. Soon joined by Kit Godfrey (drums) and Mike Hyland (bass), our heroes holed themselves up for hours on end, making and breaking songs about life and loss, love and desperation, hatred and hunger.

Upcoming dates
11th Oct // UK // Nottingham
Freshers Party @ Bodega with Wave Machines and others // Tickets £6

12th Oct // UK // Hull
The Lamp // £4 on the door

13th Oct // UK // Liverpool
Korova // Tickets £5

14th Oct// UK // Glasgow
Captain's Rest // Tickets £5

16th Oct // Uk // Edinburgh
Sneaky Pete's // Tickets

17th Oct // UK // Manchester
Ruby Lounge // Tickets £5