Friday, 13 August 2010

The Xcerts - Release new single 'Young (Belane)' on 27th September and second album 'Scatterbrain' on 4th October through Xtra Mile Recordings

The Xcerts - Scatterbrain

THE XCERTS return with their second album and follow up to 2009's 'In The Cold Wind We Smile'; 'Scatterbrain' will be release on the 4th October through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Reuben, Far, Straight Lines...) preceeded by new single 'Young (Belane)' a week earlier.

'Scatterbrain' is the first album by a UK act to be overseen by US producer Mike Sapone (Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Crime in Stereo...) who began work on the record with the band at his home studio in Bethpage, New York earlier this year. Mastered by Emily Lazar (Anti-Flag, Vampire Weekend, David Bowie...), the album shows an angrier side to the band's music which harks back to the early days of 90's Grunge. It has a brilliantly sinister, dirty and earthy quality without turning its back on the pop-sensibilities and catchy melodies that the band captured so well with their debut.

Speaking of the record frontman Murray Macleod says "If we didn't sound different, I'd be worried". The first album was - as for most new bands - something of a 'greatest hits' from the band's early years, when they were still finding their feet. This time, the album was almost entirely written in a six-week break between tours and as a result paints a much more vibrant picture; a single body of work that makes sense; a proper album that it would seem blasphemous to shuffle.

The influences have changed too. "There are certain records that we're all really into that have a similar sound - a balance of raw emotion and good production. 'In Utero' by Nirvana, 'Pinkerton' by Weezer, 'Either/Or' by Elliot Smith, 'The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me' by Brand New, 'Nebraska' by Bruce Springsteen and 'For Emma Forever Ago' by Bon Iver. That's pretty much exactly how we wanted this record to sound."

"There's a lot of experimentation on this album," says Macleod, who credits Sapone for encouraging and cultivating the creative process. "He came up with crazy ideas, and watching him come out with them, I didn't feel worried about throwing an idea into the hat. It was almost like Mike was the fourth member of the band - there's parts that would never happened, had we not worked with Mike."

"This is an album lover's album for the fans of the band. It's not about a particular track or single and should be listened too as an entire body of work with an open mind. We hope everyone falls in love with it like we have."

'Scatterbrain' track listing:

1. Tar
2. Scatterbrain
3. Distant Memory
4. Gum
5. Slackerpop
6. I Scare Easy
7. Young (Belane)
8. He Sinks. He Sleeps
9. Carnival Time
10. Hurt With Me
11. Lament

In support of the release of 'Scatterbrain' The Xcerts will be hitting the road in support of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. and Futures before headlining their own national tour. Dates below:

AUGUST
12th Rock City Basement, Nottingham w/Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly
13th Electric Circus, Edinburgh w/Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly
SEPTEMBER
18th Southsea festival, Portsmouth
21st Joiners, Southampton w/Futures
22nd Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff w/Futures
23nd Borderline, London w/Futures
25th Roadhouse, Manchester w/Futures
26th Underground Festival, Gloucester w/Futures
27th King Tuts, Glasgow w/Futures
28th Cockpit, Leeds w/Futures
29th Academy 2, Newcastle w/Futures


The Xcerts debut album 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here's what the press had to say:
"Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
"...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further." - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com - 020 7792 9400

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, 26 April 2010

The Xcerts - Release new single ‘Slackerpop’ from their forthcoming Mike Sapone produced album and headline the Xtra Mile Recordings tour!

THE XCERTS have just returned from the US where they have been recording the follow-up to 2009’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. The band’s new album was produced by Mike Sapone (Brand New, Public Enemy, Crime in Stereo…) at his home studio in Long Island and mastered by Emily Lazar (whose recent credits include this year’s UK and US chart topping album ‘Contra’ by Vampire Weekend). The first fruits of their labour, single ‘Slackerpop’ will be released on 7th June through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Reuben, Far…) with the album following later in the year.


l_484b414fc8e74fa1993c125272e741dd

The Xcerts second record shows an angrier side to the band’s music which harks back to the early days of 90’s Grunge. It has a brilliantly sinister, dirty and earthy quality without turning its back on the pop-sensibilities and catchy melodies that the band captured so well with their debut. ‘Slackerpop’ and its video which depicts the band dismembering mannequin torsos is a perfect, if not slightly twisted, example of this.


allNEWcrop cmyk

In support of the single release The Xcerts will be headlining the Xtra Mile High Club Tour and a special Xtra Mile Night at the Great Escape on 13th May at Fortune of War, Brighton. Catch them at the following venues alongside label mates Crazy Arm, Straight Lines and Fighting Fiction:

MAY
13th – Great Escape, Fortune of War, Brighton – Xtra Mile Night
14th – Great Escape, Pav Tav. Murray solo show
15th – Great Escape, Pav Tav.
19th - Tolbooth Striling
20th - UWS Festival, Paisley
21st - Club NME, Trent Uni Pulse Bar, Nottingham

Xtra Mile High Club Tour
22nd - The Cavern Exeter
24th - Cellars Portsmouth (support CA + SL)
25th - Borderline London (support CA + SL)
26th - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells (support CA + SL)
27th - New Slang, Hippodrome, Kingston (support CA )
28th - Roadmenders Northampton (support FF)
29th - West End Centre Aldershot
30th - Joiners Southampton

JUNE
4th - Inn on The Square, Barnstable supporting King Blues

JULY
16th - 2000trees Festival, Cheltenham
24th - Rhythms of the World Festival, Hitchin

Support: CA = Crazy Arm / SL = Straight Lines / FF = Fighting Fiction



The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:

“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com / 0207 792 9400

Labels: , , , , ,

Thursday, 25 February 2010

The Xcerts - To be the first UK band to be produced by Mike Sapone (Crime in Stereo, Brand New, Public Enemy…)

“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
'...classic piece of air-punching melancholia' - Observer

xcertsedit1

THE XCERTS have already kicked 2010 off in style supporting the incredible Fightstar. Later this week they will be heading off to the U.S. to begin work on the follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. Their as-yet-untitled second record will see Long Island based producer Mike Sapone at the helm. Sapone has an impressive track record and has produced records for the likes of Crime in Stereo, Public Enemy and Brand New.

Initial talks about the possibility of Mike Sapone working with The Xcerts came about due to lead singer/guitarist Murray MacLeod’s love for the bands that Sapone has previously worked with. MacLeod said “Mike has produced some of our favourite records and creates unique sounding albums. We are honoured to be the first UK band that he will have produced. To say we are excited is an understatement... We cannot wait for you to hear this record.”

The Xcerts forthcoming album will be released on Xtra Mile Recordings later this year and you can expect to hear the first fruits of their labour in late spring/early summer.


The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com – 020 7792 9400

Labels: , , , ,