Hyde & Beast - Slow Down

Hyde & Beast release their debut album ‘Slow Down’ through Tail Feather Records. They are two drummers from the North East, Dave Hyde (Hyde) from Futureheads and Neil Bassett (Beast) from Golden Virgins. Together they have made a magnificent record by accident, ‘Slow Down’, with Hyde on vocals and both Hyde & Beast writing, recording, producing and mixing the album themselves, resulting in a very special project born out of a labour of love and a wonderful detour from the pair’s usual musical output.

The two drummers recorded at Beast’s Sunderland studio at the rate of one song a day, with Field Music’s David Brewis and solo artist Lucas Renney also providing some beautiful bass and guitar on two tracks ‘Lord, Send For Me’ and ‘You Will Be Lonely’. A sprawling, gentle psychedelic meander, ‘Slow Down’ harks back to a more experimental approach to songwriting, with some of the songs seemingly writing themselves as they recorded live in the studio. Inspired by the music Hyde & Beast love listening to, ‘Slow Down’ recalls a golden age of mainstream pop meeting the sonic adventurism and kaleidoscopic music from the late 60s and early 70s, with more than a nod to the greats of that era Captain Beefheart, Velvet Underground and T Rex.

The project started off innocently enough, with Hyde turning up to Beast’s studio to play a song he had written. Fortunately, he never left and they began recording for the pure enjoyment of making music they liked to listen to. Never intending for it to be made public, it was their friends who convinced them to release it. So it seemed perfect to self-release this very self-made record on their own label.

Live, Hyde & Beast become a six strong line up with familiar faces from the North East music scene joining them for their excursions. As well as secret shows planned around the area, Hyde & Beast will appear as special guest headliners at the Evolution Emerging Fringe Festival in Newcastle on 27 May. London dates are also planned this summer, more details to follow soon. With only two live shows to their name so far, expect the unexpected as they extend the experimental feel of the album on to the stage.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Never Come Back
2. If You Could Buy Me Anything
3. All Because Of You
4. You Will Be Lonely
5. Trees Are Falling
6. Last Chance For A Slow Dance
7. (And the) Pictures In The Sky
8. Wolfman Blues
9. Lord, Send For Me
10. Go To Sleep
11. Louis’ Lullaby

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