UK indie-rock outfit Beat Hotel presents their new single ‘Bury It Deep’, the second rewarding taste of their forthcoming eponymous EP, set for release on January 31 via Britain’s Occulation Recordings in the new year. This comes on the trail of their extremely well-received first single ‘Feel It’. Their first compositions in a long time, both tracks are upbeat and notably positive songs. These, as well as the new 6-track offering, will be available digitally. The mini-album is also being pressed on 12” vinyl.
Here we are just kicking off 2020 and, while Beat Hotel may be from Southern England, the music they produce rejoices with reverberating consensus that mid- to late 80s Northern English is alive and well in the minds of these merry music-makers…. timely and welcome, their music is greeted by the collecive consciousness of millions. Bring it on!
The new mini-album features current and former members of The June Brides, The Loft, The Weather Prophets, Distractions, Mudlow, Mojo Fins and Lolita Storm.
Based between Brighton and Plymouth, Beat Hotel is the occasional manifestation of an idea for a band, that Arash Torabi (The June Brides, The Distractions, The Granite Shore) and Paul Pascoe formed after meeting at a 1988 gig by The Jasmine Minks‘ (first band signed to Creation Records). Many years later, their first released Beat Hotel single also featured The Jasmines’ frontman Jim Shepherd.
With a strong live presence on the local scene, they recorded plenty of demos, but did not release any recordings until 2013. That recording, ‘Best of Our Years / The Fire’, was a double A-side 7”. At that time, Dave Morgan, drummer from The Loft and The Weather Prophets (two other Creation Records’ artists) became a permanent member of Beat Hotel. He also played with The Rockingbirds and recorded with The Jazz Butcher, Primal Scream, Vic Goddard, Subway Sect, ATV).
They were later joined by guitarist Stephen Brett after recording at the legendary Rockfield Studios and playing Glastonbury with his former band Mojo Fins. Stephen also performs solo as SJ Brett. Also guesting here is Frank Sweeney of The June Brides and now Magic City Trio, with a recordings to his name for Primal Scream, Felt, and Slaughter Joe.
This long-awaited release presents a melodic, psychedelic wall of sound, a touch of garage rock & roll and balanced with more laidback, strings-laden atmospheric vibes. Of these tracks, five are originals written by Paul Pascoe, plus there’s a cover version of ‘Beat Girl’, originally recorded by ex-Loft member Bill Prince’s band The Wishing Stones in 1986. Frank Sweeney from The June Brides (Arash has also been a member since their reunion in 2011) also added some stunning strings and piano parts on this track.
“Every now and again, we produce something that’s very special to us. These forays into the physical world are usually inspired by a collaboration. This time it was driven by an unexpected creative surge due to the sudden and shocking end of a relationship. I felt like I had to relearn everything about how to be in the world and look seriously at who I actually am. I found comfort in the music that had given me a sense of belonging the first time around. The Jesus & Mary Chain, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Weather Prophets…these songs and songwriters, so familiar to my psyche, were there again to drag me to safety,” says Paul Pascoe. “This collection of songs is about love and near-death and confronting the very worst aspects of ourselves, facing down those inner demons, the fears that haunt us and our deepest, darkest secrets. And… with one of the tracks beginning it’s recording journey in 1997 and getting its final guitar overdub and mix in 2019 (in all it’s 3 minutes 14 seconds of rock’n’roll glory), this record is also a tribute to the awesome power of getting shit done.”
Recorded at Church Road Studios in Hove, this record was produced, mixed and mastered by Paul Pascoe, the band’s lead singer, guitarist and songwriter. Also a member of Brighton bands Mudlow, Palm Springs and Perfect English Weather, previous studio work includes the last 2 albums by Barry Adamson of Magazine / Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds‘
fame.Occultation Recordings is home to The Wild Swans, Factory Star (The Fall/Blue Orchids founder/guitarist Martin Bramah), Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, and The Distractions.
‘Feel It’ and ‘Bury It Deep’ are being released across online stores, including Bandcamp., where the ‘Beat Hotel’ EP can also be pre-ordered. Releasing on 12″ vinyl on January 31, any physical orders also come with MP3 download.
On January 29, Beat Hotel will also be playing the Hope and Ruin in Brighton to celebrate their album launch.
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