Caulbearers are a Manchester-based collective of musicians, but with contributors also hailing from around the UK and Europe. Based on the songs of producer and vocalist Damien Mahoney, their sound has been described as “archaic Funk fables and Soul migrations… bittersweet songs of the self, soul and society” and “roots music from the rainy city… Psychedelic Soul with poetic, social observation.”
The 8-piece ensemble weave together elements of Hip-Hop, Funk, Dub, Soul and Jazz, with plenty of grit and discord in the mix. Caulbearers’ rhythms, arrangements and soundscapes are hugely inspired by many forms of electronic music, but are solely channelled through the use of live instruments.
The lyrics and sound invite the listener to explore the frailties and contradictions of our minds, the difficulties of the societies we create and inherit, yet also the celebration of this existence, of each other and what it can mean and feel like to be human.This music reflects Manchester’s melting pot of culture and unashamedly draws from that rich heritage, but it’s influences and inspirations extend out globally.
With previous releases via Jack To Phono Records and Single Cell Recordings, brand new material is due out in 2020 with a full album to follow in 2021. Incredible singer Ruth Blake joins Damien on vocals throughout the album, which also features appearances from members of Cinematic Orchestra, The Breath, GoGo Penguin, Homelife, The Earlies, Cherry Ghost & Beats & Pieces Big Band, amongst others.
Over Comes A Cloud
The blistering new single from Caulbearers veers from discordant, dystopian breaks & piercing guitars to soulful yet gritty Funk. The song builds to a crescendo as the battle between ‘the order and chaos’ of the lyrics plays out through the strings, horns, distorted textures and layered voices of Damien Mahoney & Ruth Blake.
The words are a call to lift the veil of nobility, pride and entitlement that empires throughout time have often hidden their violent & oppressive actions behind. The song asks if we can be conscious enough to see these shadowy impulses and desires in ourselves and not only look to blame others for their actions.
Production:
The initial recordings were recorded at Toast in Salford, with live performances recorded onto analogue tape.
All subsequent production and editing, including the recording of overdubs and additional instruments has been done at vocalist Damien Mahoney’s attic studio in Old Trafford, Padded Cell.
The track has been mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Doves, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, Thea Gilmore, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) https://www.seadna.org/
Mastering has been done at Optimum Mastering in Bristol (Beak, Portishead, J Dilla, Roy Ayers).
The track features Grenville Harrop on drums (formerly of Cherry Ghost), Will Lenton on Saxophones (Mr Wilson’s 2nd Liners), Anton Hunter on guitar (Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), Ruth Blake on backing vocals with Damien Mahoney on lead vocals. Cellos by Stefan Skrimshire, percussion by Gavin Mullan. The bass guitar was played by Dan Mitchell, who also wrote the signature, brooding harmonic bassline that inspired the song. The original guitar part was written by former Caulbearers guitarist Matt Gannicliffe.
Caulbearers weblinks:
News post on website about artist collaboration for Over Comes A Cloud single:
https://caulbearers.com/
https://caulbearers.bandcamp.
(Single pre-order): https://caulbearers.bandcamp.
(Single artwork prints): https://caulbearers.bandcamp.
https://musicasmedicine.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
(Over Comes A Cloud Teaser 1)
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