Maritime
13 June 05
The new album from Minotaur Shock - called Maritime - is released today.
The album includes the recent single "Vigo Bay" along with 10 other pearls of the imagination.
David Edwards has this to say about the inspiration behind the record :
"I spend a lot of time reading about the sea. Nothing clever, it’s just that I’m a sucker for the romantic notion of the coast - smugglers, mists and pirates and that. You can often find me with a DuMaurier tucked under my arm like some old lady trying to manage her tartan shopping trolley and her decrepid Jack Russell.
Thing is, I also have a fondness for FM rock. I’m no expert, don’t get me wrong, I just love the worlds described in the songs of Steely Dan and the chrome-plated dreams that The Cars and Hall & Oates bring to mind.
These two elements make up both sides of the "Maritime" coin. For some reason, both disparate romantic ideals have been swimming about in me for a while now, and Maritime is the result of their dirty union.
I guess it doesn’t sound much like those bands mentioned, or evoke the sea in a traditional shanty kind of manner. But there is a common theme throughout the album, where I was trying to juxtapose both sides of the coin. Say 18th century pirates washed up on South Beach, Miami in 1982. Or what if there was an old-style mutiny on a shiny ocean liner like the one in that fantastic episode of Columbo.
Problem is, I guess it’s just me that realises that. Ah well, make of it what you will..."
The critics have responded warmly, so far :
"An assortment of evocative instrumental journeys that warm the cockles." (Playlouder)
"A very convincing second album which is set to reaffirm David's place amongst the most talented musicians of his generation." (The Milk Factory)
"As joyously soothing as the tide lapping your toes." (Observer Music Monthly)
"...doesn't quite sound like anything anyone else is doing at the moment...it's nice to hear someone throw new angles on electronic music." (Barcode)
"As good as his latest remix for Bloc Party suggested." (Lodown)
"The musical equivalent of a comedian and a masseuse rolled in to one." (DJ Magazine)
And The Guardian ran a great review on Friday, which you can read here.
The Blue Room on BBC Radio 1 broadcast a Minotaur Shock session at the weekend - if you missed it, it's archived on their website. A session for the John Kennedy show on Xfm is also in the pipeline - it will be broadcast on June 23rd.
Maritime is available on CD and as a digital download which offers the choice of MP3 and AAC files and comes with artwork, too. You can buy the download here.