THE SPEED OF SOUND – “MUSEUM OF TOMORROW”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE
It is certainly the year for bands with a 20- or 30-year legacy behind them coming out of the woodwork once again. Perhaps it is due to a year of sitting around due to Covid lockdown policy or perhaps these reunions were long in the works. Whatever is causing this to happen and we are on this bandwagon full spree. So much music has been produced by artists who have not released anything in a while, as well as those who are just so prolific (but with that legacy) that yet another release from them can only be seen as a gift to this strange world.
Manchester-based eclectic power pop/indie rock music veterans The Speed Of Sound number among artists with deep roots and Friday brings the release of their fifth studio albumΒ Museum of Tomorrow. 32 years to the day the band issued their debut EP back in 1989, the will release this album onΒ CD and Deluxe LP via California’sΒ Big Stir Records β a label certainly known as a champion of indie/ college rock and power pop artists left and right.
If the past few decades have shown anything, itβs that The Speed of Sound is both resilient and continually inspired. One other key takedown lesson from this album in particular is that their creative explosion is definitely worth it. Loaded with songs and with style beamingly reminiscent of such artists as Pylon, The B-52s and Television rolled in one, there is enough Bangles and Lene Lovich here as well to prove that The Speed of Sound are experts in balancing a raw and edgy sound with a guiding and invigorating sense of melody.
Ahead of this, the band reveal the lead track “Tomorrow’s World”Β as a sweet taster of what’s in store for listeners, along with an animated video. The entire 21st century seems to have been mis-sold. This song is a cry of anguish and a re-statement of what should have been. Twelve multilayered synthesizer tracks recreate a flying saucer landing at the end and the ultra-depth in the sound is from bowed bass on the verse-ends and pre-chorus.
From the opening lineΒ βWe were offered Star Trek, but they fed us Soylent GreenβΒ – which is etched into the vinyl – science fiction abounds within the music, positioning The Now simultaneously in the Future and in the Past. We all exist on the edge of forever.
Conceived as two seamless sides, the vinyl edition of this record was mastered as two complete extended pieces: Gallery One and Gallery Two. Korg synthesiser lines, reminiscent of classic Science Fiction incidental music and sound-collages, link the gapless songs.
To date, The Speed of Sound has released eight singles via Big Stir, but “Museum of Tomorrow” is an all-new experience. While each of these 13 new songs could have been a single, they are gathered in an organically homogeneous collection, showcased within the ‘Museum Of Tomorrow’. This is an album made manifest by and for people who like albums.
This is future retro modern music, rooted in a definite 60βs influence but with an 80βs twist. Influenced by The Byrds, Small Faces, The Chords, Siouxsie & The Banshees and XTC, with female and male vocals, The Speed Of Sound merges the power of punk with the floating harmonies of The Byrds. Their sound and alphabetical order places them between Sonic Youth and Dusty Springfield.
The Speed Of Sound formed in Manchester in 1989 with a pre-history dating directly back to the day Andy Warhol died in 1987. Dwelling deep below the βmusic industry radarβ has allowed for the evolution of their own distinct sound, their live act often described totally differently with comparisons from The Stranglers and Television to Jefferson Airplane and The Who.
The Speed Of Sound has continuously produced music that is optimistic and with lyrical bite, a punk-inspired DIY ethos and lust for experimentation rooted in psychedelia. While players have come and gone, the current lineup has largely been the same for four years, including father and sonΒ John ArmstrongΒ (guitars and vocals) andΒ Henry ArmstrongΒ (keyboards),Β Ann-Marie CrowleyΒ (vocals and guitar),Β Kevin RoacheΒ (bass guitar) andΒ John BroadhurstΒ (drums).
On September 17, the Museum of TomorrowΒ LP will be released digitally, on CD and limited-edition 170g heavy weight vinyl with a choice between black and glorious colour. Vinyl orders include a 16-page full-colour A5 printed Exhibition Guide containing lyrics, full-colour inner sleeve, a separate picture insert, a sticker, a pair of badges/buttons and a bookmark. The album can already be pre-ordered in all formats from the Big Stir website at https://bigstirrecords.com/album/1910197/museum-of-tomorrow
Credits
Written by John Armstrong
John Armstrong – guitars and vocals
Ann-Marie Crowley – vocals and guitars
Kevin Roache – bass guitar
John Broadhurst – drums
Henry Armstrong – keyboards
Recorded at Vibratone Sound Studio, Manchester
Engineered by Adam Crossley and Chris Guest
Mixed By Adam Crossley, Chris Guest and The Speed Of Sound
Mastered by Adam Crossley and Chris Guest at Vibratone Sound Studio
Sleeve front / Artwork by Local Hotel Parking
Also check out the fun futuristic video for the albumβs lead track “Tomorrowβs World”:
The Speed Of Sound
Museum Of Tomorrow
(Big Stir Records)
Release Date: September 17, 2021
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: FACT PATTERN – THE SAME OUTCOME
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: MADAME PSYCHOSIS – MP3
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: PYPY – SACRED TIMES
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: JOE GENI – CITIES BUILT UPON CITIES
