Fifth Anniversary Edition of Skinny Lister's 'Down on Deptford Broadway' out 23 October 2020 // Previous unheard tracks and new artwork

Longstanding folk/punk favourites SKINNY LISTER will be celebrating five years of their breakthrough album ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ with an anniversary edition released on 23 October 2020. Preorder on yellow vinyl here.

The London sextet will release a re-issue of their barnstorming and beatific opus on yellow vinyl through Xtra Mile Recordings, complete with previously unheard material and revitalised artwork PLUS the entire album in demo form as bonus digital download.

In lead-up to the release, Skinny Lister will be inviting fans to raise a glass with them and reminisce about the record at a series of online events. On 8 October, a Facebook Live Q&A will give fans an opportunity to direct their burning, unanswered questions about the record directly to all of the band members and producer Ted Hutt. Then, on the day of the album’s release (23 October), the band will be hosting a live Twitter listening party, where fans can join them in unison to play the record through start-to-finish and share their own memories of the good times it has soundtracked.

Initially recorded in 2013 before an official release two years later, ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ is Skinny Lister’s second album and was the first to be released by Xtra Mile. Produced by Grammy Award winner Ted Hutt at the famous Rockfield Studios, it contains some of the band’s best-loved songs including ‘Trouble On Oxford Street’, ‘Cathy’ and ‘Six Whiskies’.

When released in April 2015, ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ was widely acclaimed by the music press earning these scores: 4/5 - Q Magazine; 4/5 - Evening Standard; 5/5 - Guardian; 8/10 - NME, the latter praising: "These (are) boozing songs of love, conflict and elopement brewed from intoxicating hooks” and encouraged readers to “embrace your inner Pogue". Totemic single ‘Trouble…’ could be heard to be raising the roof regularly on 6Music and Radio X too.

A firm fan favourite and a record that placed Skinny Lister on the global musical radar, to date the album has received just shy of 3 million streams on Spotify and the official promo videos for the singles have received almost 900,000 views on YouTube.

Reflecting on ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ and its legacy, Lorna and Dan of Skinny Lister said: “In its five years, ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’ has proved to be an important album for Skinny Lister. The sessions saw us bring a tougher edge to the Skinny sound, helped by Ted Hutt’s live-approach production and the addition of drums for the first time. The album has a special place in our hearts, and is certainly one that feels loved by our fans. It’s testament to ‘Down on Deptford Broadway’ that our live set often comprises of a whole bunch of tracks from it – many of our sing-along favourites. It’s a joy to see it get a five-year anniversary special edition repress and to celebrate the album and all the great times and adventures associated with those 12 tracks.”

LP TRACKLIST (Digital download also comes with demo versions of each track)

1.Raise a Wreck
2.Trouble on Oxford Street
3.George's Glass
4.What Can I Say?
5.Cathy
6.Six Whiskies
7.This is War
8.Ten Thousand Voices
9.Bonny Away
10.Bold as Brass
11.This City
12.The Dreich

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Johnny Lloyd announces second album 'Cheap Medication' // Listen to new track 'Real Thing'

Johnny Lloyd will release his second studio album in as many years, ‘Cheap Medication’, out 30 October 2020 via Xtra Mile Recordings. Preorder now on white LP, CD and download. The follow-up to 2019 solo debut ‘Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds’ and is the next instalment of what Johnny hopes will become an annual series of releases.

The new album continues a prolific spell of activity for the songwriter that has also seen him release two compilations of outtakes and rarities (Low Fidelity Vol. 1 & 2); work in collaboration with his partner Billie Piper and playwright Lucy Prebble (Succession) to score the critically-acclaimed Sky Atlantic series ‘I Hate Suzie’; and rekindle friendships with his original band of brothers to reform Tribes. Released today and premiered by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6Music on 15 September, ‘Real Thing’ is the album’s lead single. Watch the lyric video below.

Dreamy of delivery, it’s a straight-up love song to rival the best. Johnny says of the single: “It’s about finding your purpose to be with the person you’re meant to be with. I wanted to write a rock’n’roll love song, instead of a cliched one. It’s rough around the edges, but it’s definitely a love song.”

Penning the songs for ‘Cheap Medication’ in 2019, the record was crafted in the rare instances of downtime he could find in a hectic schedule dominated by touring commitments, a surge in demand for his soundtrack work, and keeping-up with a young family. Reconnecting with producer Nathan Coen, early sessions took place between his base in London and Johnny’s home in Dorset, before the pair set-up shop in the legendary Abbey Road Studios to mould a new record into shape. Having worked with Coen on his debut, their productive working partnership saw them hurtling towards a record that looked to be done-and-dusted by the beginning of 2020.

And yet, hampered (as so many plans were) by the UK lockdown, Johnny used his time in isolation to complete its remaining songs solo at home. Finding the restrictions easing in early summer and a new record tantalisingly close to completion, Johnny reached-out for a little help from some friends to add those finishing touches. Kapil Trivedi of Mystery Jets, Pete Denton of The Kooks and Tom Odell’s backing band can all be heard to be pitching-in their musical talents to the proceedings, whereas a stunning vocal accompaniment from rising San Diego star Shelbi Bennet sees the singer lift the album’s title track into the stratosphere.

The songs of ‘Cheap Medication’ reflect a very different Johnny Lloyd; a maturing artist broadening his horizons with a range of new experiences, perspectives and influences. Recently inspired by the works of Harry Nilsson, the Mamas & The Papas and The War on Drugs, traces of each and more can be detected throughout ‘Cheap Medication’. From the off-kilter, far-out songwriting of ‘In This World’ or the title track, the laid-back soulful folkiness of ‘Suze’ and ‘Haze’, to the expansive dreaminess of ‘Heavens Below’ and ‘Heaven Up Here’, it’s a record that palpably feels like Lloyd challenging himself to take his music to plateaus new and hitting his creative stride.

A record representative of Johnny’s own current relationship with music, the album’s title couldn’t be more apt. As Johnny says: “That’s exactly what music is for me. Well ‘free medication’, I suppose it should have been called. It’s a cheap, medicinal thing I use to get me through whatever passage of the day that I need it to.” Euphoric and universal, uplifting and even at times spiritual, ‘Cheap Medication’ is a record that finds an artist comfortable in his own skin and daring to take chances; the therapy of a life in songwriting yielding its most confident results yet. “I don’t think I’ve been happier with a collection of songs for a long time. I feel really good about this and think there really is something on there for everyone.”

Xtra Mile Recordings announce signing with The Orchard for global distribution deal

London-based independent label Xtra Mile Recordings announces an exciting new partnership with leading music distributor The Orchard for a worldwide distribution and label services deal covering both physical and digital releases. Tapping into The Orchard’s far reaching expertise across all territories, Xtra Mile will be further continuing to grow their artists globally. 

From small part-time beginnings, releasing the debut albums from Reuben and Million Dead, Xtra Mile has grown considerably to become one of the most respected independent labels in its field. It is home to an array of new, emerging artists such as Brand New Friend, Guise, Deux Furieuses, and Seán McGowan as well as more established acts Frank Turner, Skinny Lister, Johnny Lloyd, Against Me!, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and Mull Historical Society. Specialising in the cross-section of alternative rock, punk, folk, indie and hardcore from the UK and USA and with solid fanbases on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as across Europe, Xtra Mile is very much a global outfit, with its records (yes, it still makes records) available in most countries with record stores. And in 2019, Xtra Mile celebrated its 16th anniversary of operations with a year of events, special releases and festival takeovers including a gig at Omeara as part of War Child’s BRITS Week events, and stage takeovers at 2000trees Festival and Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings Festival in Boston.

While live plans have been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, in the background plots are afoot for the next chapter in Xtra Mile’s story. Signing with The Orchard not only means working with a new global team but also reuniting with some old friends of the label. With more key releases forthcoming later this year from Frank Turner (a rarities compilation), Guise, Skinny Lister, Brand New Friend and Johnny Lloyd, Xtra Mile couldn’t be happier in its new home. 

Xtra Mile Recordings owner Charlie Caplowe says: “It’s a challenge to do any kind of deal in these unprecedented times but it’s testament to the UK team and the global HQ in NYC that we got it done. We are massively excited about the new global set up and can’t wait to get cracking with our upcoming releases later this year and into 2021.”

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Non Canon new single 'Self Untitled' from Non Canon II (out 15 May 2020)// Listen now

The latest offering from his long-awaited sequel album ‘Non Canon II’, out on Xtra Mile Recordings on 15 May 2020 (preorder here on vinyl, CD and download), finds the alias of Oxygen Thief’s Barry Dolan both ruminating on lost themes, while writing an epilogue to the track ‘Eponymous’; one of the many highlights of his 2016 debut. Listen to it below or on a streaming service of your choice here.

"’Self Untitled’ is a song about various ways of feeling lost; be it physically, emotionally, politically, or professionally, and looking for ways to try and find a path that will lead you back to (relative) safety,” says Barry of the track. “Sometimes these things interact and confuse each other, so moving in a good direction for one aspect of your life might have a negative effect on another. I find that situation pretty hard to put a definitive label on, hence ‘Self Untitled’, which, as I became mildly obsessed with sequels working on this album, is also a nod towards ‘Eponymous’ from my first Non Canon record.”

Marrying impassioned acoustic strum with rich, layered chamber-pop orchestrations, ‘Self Untitled’ sees Dolan’s alt-folk alter-ego coming into its own. Reminiscent of Radiohead’s ‘High and Dry’-era pensive post-rock or the reflective and restrained compositions of US masters like Black Francis or Elliot Smith, the single is one of many melancholy marvels to be admired on his upcoming second LP.

On a track that reflects deeply on the notion of finding your way out of the wilderness, it is apposite that Barry surrounded himself with a host of friends to create this piece. Following on directly from spartan previous single ‘Dark Force Rising’, ‘Self Untitled’ finds Non Canon drawing back the curtain on the numerous collaborators who have lent their talents to ‘Non Canon II’. Here, Dolan’s Oxygen Thief bandmates can be heard to be laying down bass, trombone and trumpet: the woozy saxophones come courtesy of Pete Fraser (touring member of Field Music / vocalist in Down I Go), violin and violas come by the hand of The Leylines’ Hannah Johns, cello by Jonathan Clayton (Hurtling, Chris T-T And The Hoodrats); with drums by Gareth Amwel Jones (My First Tooth / Lucky Shivers).

Speaking about the collaborating on ‘Self Untitled’, Dolan says: “It’s been a real collective effort from long time friends, regular collaborators, and internet pals to turn the sounds I had in my head into a fully-formed piece of music."

Four years after his debut release for the label, Non Canon will release his second studio release: ‘Non Canon II’. The record was self produced by Barry Dolan, and recorded in studios in Bristol (Bink Bonk), London (OneCat), and Portsmouth (Old Blacksmiths Studios), along with home studios in Bristol and Stockholm. The album was expertly stitched together and mixed by Neil Elliott at Old Blacksmiths Studios, before mastering by Dan Coutant at New York’s Sun Room Audio.

Non Canon is the solo project of Barry Dolan. Hailing from Bristol, Dolan has been a prominent figure on the UK scene since emerging with his Oxygen Thief project in 2006. Over the years Dolan has supported the likes of Frank Turner, Mongol Horde, InMe, Johnny Foreigner, Chris T-T, and has established a devoted fan base of his own. A talented songwriter and performer, Dolan has been championed by BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music (Tom Robinson). Signing with the Xtra Mile Recordings label in 2013 for Oxygen Thief’s ‘Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused’ album, Dolan has since released a string of EPs and albums on the label, including the first Non Canon LP, which marked a more traditional and acoustic-based outlet for the singer. Its follow-up, ‘Non Canon II’ will be released in 2020, with live dates to be announced in due course…

Johnny Lloyd releases 'Low Fidelity Volume 2' on 6 March 2020 // Preorder now // Listen to 'Running Wild (Alternative Version)'

Xtra Mile Recordings will release Johnny Lloyd’s Low Fidleity Vol. 2 on 6 March 2020 via digital download.
Preorder and pre-save the album here.

The second volume of material will pick-up exactly where its counterpart left off and will shine a light on further unknown treasures from Johnny’s songwriting vaults. The lead single and entry-point for this collection is a new version of the euphoric ‘Running Wild’, a firm fan favourite that was originally released on Johnny’s Eden EP back in 2017. This previously unheard demo is bolstered with a crashing syncopated drum beat and a rawness of vocal that capture the track’s impassioned manifestation, whilst hinting at the dawning realisation of a turning point in Johnny’s career.  Listen to ‘Running Wild (Alternative Version)’ below.

“‘Running Wild’ was written one night after my friend and artist Angry Dan sent me a drum loop,” says Johnny. “I had been working on the chorus but the beat just brought it together. It felt new and uplifting and is still my favourite song of mine.”

With material dating back from 2014 to 2019, Low Fidelity Vol.2 includes 20 further previously unheard and unreleased demos, rarities and alternative versions of Johnny’s work. While Johnny’s official studio output during this time may have been notably reserved, the vast catalogue of material to pore over here casts a new light on what was actually a highly creative and prolific writing period for the artist. The tracks were all recorded off-the-cuff and in one take to a BOSS 8-track recorder, which Johnny has owned since his teens. As such, the results here capture the very moment of some Johnny’s creative brainwaves and preserve those bright initial sparks for listeners to tune into.

As Johnny reflects: “All these songs came as fast as I could record them. It wasn’t about finding the perfect take, just getting the idea down and moving on. I’ve always found that’s where the best stuff happens, when it’s immediate.” Avid followers of Johnny’s may recognise a number of the titles in the mix here already. Rarities such as ‘Could You Love Another’ and ‘Beautiful People’ have been cropping-up in Johnny’s live sets since 2014, whereas attendees of the 2019 UK acoustic tour will recognise the haunting ‘Crash Site’ which debuted at those shows. Alongside the aforementioned ‘Running Wild’, the collection also brings forth an alternative version of the Pilgrims EP classic ‘Nowhere to Go’ (re-titled here as ‘We Got All the Time in the World (Demo)’).

But there’s also a wealth of unheard material for fans to explore too. From the frenetic punk outburst of ‘Playing the Clown’ to the East Village folk of ‘Picture of a Century’ and the spacious Lennon-esque piano balladry of ‘Down in an Aeroplane’, it’s expansive listening throughout; low in fidelity, high in reward. 

Tracklisting

01 Running Wild (Demo)
02 Playing the Clown (Demo)
03 Could You Love Another (Demo)
04 Picture of a Century (Demo)
05 Crash Site (Demo)
06 Circus Master / Time Traveller (Demo)
07 Beautiful People (Demo)
08 Day Glow (Demo)
09 Come Awake (Demo)
10 Down in an Aeroplane (Demo)
11 Hang the Hangman (Demo)
12 How Much Is Too Much (Demo)
13 Living a Lie (Demo)
14 The Drum (Demo)
15 Traveller (Demo)
16 Living in the City (Demo)
17 People Got To Know (Demo)
18 Perfect World (Demo)
19 Through the Eyes of a Child (Demo)
20 We Got All the Time in the World (Demo)

Low Fidelity: Volume 2 continues a year of fervent activity for Johnny Lloyd, which began with the announcement of his debut solo album Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds at the beginning of 2019. Releasing the album that same year, Johnny has taken the album to the fields of established UK festivals such as Glastonbury and 2000 Trees and even as far as We Are Todos Festival in Mexico City.

Xtra Mile Recordings signs GUISE // Preorder 'The Fun Part' EP out 6 March 2020 // Watch the video for 'The Fun Part' // UK tour with Frank Turner

Xtra Mile Recordings has signed four-piece GUISE and will release their new EP ‘The Fun Part’ on 6 March 2020. Preorder the EP here.

The announcement arrives with the unwrapping of the record’s title track which you can watch the official video for below.

Recording and performing as a folk-pop quartet, GUISE is also very much the voice and heart of: Jessica Guise. Writing and playing songs live since her teens, Jessica has honed her craft as an artist who sings with delicacy, whilst imparting vicious asides when you least suspect.

Vocal flutters conceal stinging ripostes, with hers a style that is by turns sweet and haunting. And there is no better example than the bittersweet brilliance of her latest single, ‘The Fun Part’. GUISE’s first official outing under the moniker since 2015’s self-released ‘The Boy and the Thief’ EP, Jess returns with a song that will surely strike a chord with anyone feeling blue in the lead-up to another Valentine’s Day.

“They call this the fun part, but it’s the absolute worst. My phone’s deadly silent, this is why I should never, must never ever call first,” she sings, all sweetness in voice, acerbic in her assessment of dating. Possessing a remarkable folk lilt that nods to her influences including Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and Dar Williams, ‘The Fun Part’ finds Jessica casting off the demons of the dating-game with sardonic quip and empowering self-deprecation. The track is one of four to feature on her upcoming EP of the same title. “The songs on this EP span about ten years of my life between them,” says Jessica. “Most of them are about erstwhile heartbreaks.

‘The Fun Part’ is a song about how quite often there wasn’t a fun part of dating.” Recorded between sessions at Reservoir Studios North London in November 2018 and finished during gaps in the band’s various schedules throughout 2019, ‘The Fun Part’ EP was produced by Jessica’s husband, Frank Turner.

The EP finds the singer joining the dots on a decade of life-changing events, from songs reflecting on loved-ones lost and the importance of family, to more earnest expressions on romantic entanglements gone awry, showcasing confessional folk-pop songs laden with Jessica’s tongue-in-cheek humour, wry intelligence and shot through with the honest confidence of life lessons learned the hard way.

Jessica is accompanied on the EP by her talented and faithful band, bassist Titas Halder, co-vocalist Laura Hanna, and drummer Keith Barry.

With the EP release just a few weeks away, Jessica will be airing tracks from it and more as she supports Frank Turner at a series of UK shows scheduled throughout March. Full dates and details below.

UK TOUR SUPPORTING FRANK TURNER

MARCH 2020

03 Folkstone @ Lea Cliffs Hall
04 Brighton @ Dome
06 Croydon @ The Recreational, Fairfield Hall SOLD OUT
07 Boston @ Gliderdrome
08 York @ The Barbican
10 Middlesbrough @ The Empire
11 Glasgow @ Barrowlands
13 Bath @ The Forum SOLD OUT
14 Aylesbury @ Waterside Theatre
15 Southend @ Cliffs Pavilion
16 Norwich @ Waterfront SOLD OUT
18 Winchester @ Guildhall SOLD OUT
19 Exeter @ Lemongrove SOLD OUT
20 Liverpool @ Olympia SOLD OUT
21 Nottingham @ Rock City SOLD OUT

GUISE on: Spotify / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram