Liverpool’s The Room in the Wood announce ‘Time Machine’ single off ‘Mars’ EP
Liverpool-based The Room in the Wood have announced ‘Time Machine’ as the latest single off their sci-fi inspired ‘Mars EP’, released at the tail-end of 2018 digitally and now available on limited-edition CD via A Turntable Friend Records.
The Room in the Wood is Paul Cavanagh and Dave Jackson, who are once again working together after a huge gap since their post-punk band The Room split back in 1985. This past year has been highly prolific for them, writing 30+ new songs, putting out three releases, issuing four videos, and performing live.
“Time Machine’ is another vaguely sci-fi rumination, wistfully reflecting on the passage of time filtered through the vision of HG Wells. We thought that ‘Mars’ and ‘Time Machine’ gave the EP a science fiction edge and Mark Jordan’s video reflects that,” says Paul Cavanaugh.
The accompanying video was shot, edited and ‘artified’ in Liverpool and vicinity by Marco Cesare, who has a rich videographic history, including the creation of videos for luminaries such as Shack, Holly Johnson and the Blow Monkeys.
Featuring contributions by drummer Colin George Lamont (Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan), the ‘Mars’ EP was recorded by Steve Powell (Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band) at his Liverpool-based Ark Studio and mastered by Pete Maher (Barry Adamson, The Alarm).
Released this EP follows their debut album ‘The Room in the Wood’ and the ‘Magical Thinking’ EP prior to that, both of which were released earlier in 2018.
Lead track ‘Mars (Won’t Save Us)’ is a riff-based psyche rocker focused on the foolishness of Elon Musk’s ideas about colonising the Red Planet. We are reminded “Mars won’t save us. Mars has no air.” It is accompanied by a psychedelic video composition by ex-Send No Flowers and Moongoose collaborator Mark Jordan.
“We went in the studio to record some tracks and came up with ‘Mars (Won’t Save Us)’, which was a riffy departure from most of our debut album. Lyrically it’s a flat statement that Mars is not a viable option for emigration,” says Dave Jackson.
“‘Every Lie’ is a bluesy, countrified stomper bemoaning the rise of the populist right, and inspired by the late great Johnny Cash – this is a response to Trump and Brexit. ‘Get Clear’ a Spanish guitar-tinged ballad extolling the virtues of escaping cult thinking. It follow ups our song ‘Magical Thinking’, but is sung to a friend escaping some dogmatic cult,” says Dave Jackson.
Dave Jackson has been writing and recording since his teens – with The Room, 051, Benny Profane, Dust, Dead Cowboys, as Dave Jackson & The Cathedral Mountaineers, and also with former Shack guitarist John Head. He has recorded and released 10 albums with these various incarnations, notched up 7 John Peel sessions with The Room and Benny Profane, and has also appeared on the Whistle Test, Janice Long and Saturday Live.
Jackson has also toured the UK, Europe and the USA extensively with The Fall, The Violent Femmes, Aztec Camera, The Lemonheads and The Wedding Present. He currently teaches creative writing at Liverpool John Moores University and has developed his novel ‘Violet City’ as a low-budget fantasy feature film.
Paul Cavanagh has performed as a solo instrumentalist as Cabin in the Woods and as one of Mike Badger’s Shady Trio. He worked with The Room drummer Alan Wills at Deltasonic Records with The Coral and The Zutons. Paul has also recorded 4 John Peel sessions and released albums with Top, It’s Immaterial, Moongoose, as well as critically acclaimed singles with Gloss. He also played guitar for Chinese Religion, The Balcony and Ludus.
A Turntable Friend Records is an independent record label. currently in its second life. Based in Germany with distribution through SRD (Southern Record Distributors) and Rough Trade, their mission is to keep vinyl alive while casting light on sonic gems of yesteryear and today. 1990s peers of Sarah Records and Slumberland Records, this label’s roster includes Secret Shine, The Wolfhounds, Boyracer (with Even As We Speak), The Claim, The Ropers, the Hellfire Sermons, Lorelei, Bradford, Easy and Dose.
The ‘Mars’ EP is now available across music stores and streaming platforms such as Spotify. It can also be ordered digitally or limited edition CD via Bandcamp.
TRACK LIST
1. Mars (Won’t Save Us)
2. Time Machine
3. Every Lie
4. Get Clear
CREDITS
Written and performed by Dave Jackson and Paul Cavanagh
Recorded at Ark Studio Liverpool
Steve Powell – recording, mixing and engineering
Pete Maher – mastering
Dave Jackson – lyrics and vocals
Paul Cavanagh – guitar and bass
Colin George Lamont – drums
Mark Jordan video and cover images, using band footage by Yvonne Marsden
Catalogue number: TURN60D
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