The Somatics are Richard, Stephanie and Bruce. Together they are a tightly-knit, talented and ambitious Rock’n’Roll three-piece, able to shift their musical soundscapes from pop to prog in one smooth movement.
“Sharp, wonderfully hypnotic and bloody-mindedly intense rock music!”
- Ronan Munro - NME
Based in Leeds after initially meeting on a bus in Clapham back in 1999, they have consistently dazzled audiences with their awesome and ever-evolving live show. Following a single on Shifty Disco and a debut album with Beggars Banquet, The Somatics have more recently featured on the nationally acclaimed Dance to the Radio and Engine Room compilations. Now, the band have just completed their ‘magnus opus’ long-player ‘Dynamo Mercurial’, due for release Summer 2006. ‘Elemental’ is the first single to be taken from the album.
Recorded and produced at their own studio ‘The Attic’ on the outskirts of Leeds by guitarist Richard Green (formerly the main songwriter behind cult-indie heroes Ultrasound, and also responsible for producing Leeds band ¡Forward, Russia!’s debut single ‘Nine’ last year), the band have use vintage equipment in an attempt to rediscover the classic analogue sounds of their heroes such as Pink Floyd, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and King Crimson. On even the first listen, it is clear that their perfectionist attitude in the studio has paid off!
“Whilst their style’s quite obviously different, The Somatics make use of the same mind-blowing technical proficiency one-in-a-million-bands like the Jimi Hendrix Experience possessed. I’m not into idols but Mr Green is a modern-day guitar hero as far as I’m concerned. Enough said.”
- Will Gray, Sandman Magazine
Elemental, with its invigorating guitar-lines, lush harmonies and an epic, cascading chorus, is a piece of psychedelic indie genius, and a further step in the band’s quest to fulfil their namesake ‘Somatic’, meaning “of body, not of mind” – to create and perform music naturally, physically, through their own innate talents and intuition.
“As they get more and more determined to put the highest standards of perception and execution into their sixties-referred sound, they are not far short of something that deserves a stadium for its workplace”
- John Hepworth - www.leedsmusicscene.net
The Somatics new single 'Elemental' available 27th February.http://www.the-somatics.comhttp://
www.myspace.com/thesomatics
Gina Dootson is all about songs. High quality, well crafted, skilfully presented songs. The presentation is understated, simple and, above all, sincere. Occasionally one sees an artist that obviously lives and breathes the songs they present and Gina is one such artist. Hailing from Yorkshire, Gina has spent some time developing a repertoire of material and is now stunning audiences across the country. Whether it is solo (Gina is a highly accomplished guitarist and pianist) or with her full band there is an honesty and refreshing quality to her performance that compels audiences.
Unexploded Shells consists of Tim Corbridge (lead guitar), Jon Archer (drums), Tom Goodhand (vocals, guitar), Mark Sturdy (vocals, guitar) and Steve Walsh (bass). They came together about a year ago in Leeds, having met through the city’s famously incestuous underground network of fanzines, bands and women’s clothing shops.
Together they make a sound via the medium of hitting stuff, strings, electricity, eccentricity and vocal chords. Shared influences are few and far between, but include Vic Godard, Super Furry Animals, White Stripes, Roxy Music and Miles Davis. You wouldn’t know. Or maybe you would.
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Since starting they’ve played quite a lot of gigs and occasionally been spoken about in a favourable manner. Some examples:
"ace... wire meets kinks" - Nick Scott, Rebellious Jukebox
"rhythmic guitars and a cold, dead pan vocal delivery... a breath of fresh air" – Chris Oddy, The Music Guru
"thrillingly acidic, skewered and abrasive... fiercely confident, asymmetrical, pounding backdrop for the observant and nonplussed vocal stylings" – Lauren Strain, Leedsmusicscene.net
"...enjoyable... ambitious... students" - Ryan Butcher, Heathenangel.co.uk
"...swine" - Nigel Blackwell, Half Man Half Biscuit
They’ve recently released their first EP, which was recorded a few months back at Ghosttown Studios in Hyde Park. You can buy it in Leeds from places like Jumbo, Crash and Borders, or listen to the tracks on the band’s website at www.unexplodedshells.info
