Palm Springs (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Palm Springs


Img_capt = Palm Springs during their concert in the Berlin club Lido (May 31st, 2008)
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Origin = flagicon|England Brighton, England
Genre = Acoustic
Electronica
Independent
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Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Random Acts of Vinyl
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URL = [http://www.randomactsofvinyl.com/ www.randomactsofvinyl.com]
Current_members = DC Cane
Jon Russo
Grant Allardyce
Neil Cantwell
Mark Jesson
Kah
Paul Pascoe
Past_members = Alice MacGill
Notable_instruments = melodica, glockenspiel, VL Tone, stylophone

Palm Springs is a Brighton-based independent British rock band. Established in 2004 with "a firm DIY ethic - put off today what you can do tomorrow and persevere without instructions or guidance," [http://randomactsofvinyl.co.uk/ Random Acts Of Vinyl] website - "About Us" section] the band writes, records and releases records through their own label Random Acts Of Vinyl.

Members

The group comprises songwriting duo
*DC Cane (lead vocals, guitar)
*Jon Russo (electric guitar, programming, backing vocals),and instrumentalists
*Grant Allardyce (drums, percussion)
*Neil Cantwell (piano/keyboards)
*Mark Jesson (cello)
*Kah (backing vocals)
*Paul Pascoe (bass guitar, backing vocals)

Style

Palm Springs describe their music as "acoustic, melancholic and slightly car boot electronic" although reviewers have used adjectives ranging from "lush," "orchestral" and "majestic" to "folksy," "gentle" and "understated." The addition of non-standard instruments such as melodica, glockenspiel, Casio VL-1, Stylophone and strings to the traditional indie pop setting allows for a broader range of styles, suggesting their music belongs in the arena of chamber pop.

Cane and Russo site a number of influences such as Lee Hazlewood and Scott Walker, but also Massive Attack, Johnny Cash, Serge Gainsbourg, The Beach Boys and Brigitte Bardot. [ [http://www.myspace.com/songspalmsprings Official Myspace site] ] Critics have suggested other touchstones such as early Jesus & Mary Chain, Belle & Sebastian, Cranebuilders, Tindersticks, The Field Mice, [ [http://www.normanrecords.com/records/86255 "Norman Records" review of "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart"] ] The Dream Academy, [ [http://www.losingtoday.com/tales.php?id=169 "Losing Today" review of "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart"] ] early High Llamas, The Pernice Brothers, late Elliott Smith and Rufus Wainwright. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kpfrxzy5ldje "Allmusic" review of "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart"] ]

History

The band released their first 7" single "Tender Remains" in August 2004, followed by "Echo Of Me" in September 2005 and "Softly To Fallen" in June 2006. The three singles culminated in a full-length LP "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart" late in 2006, which went on to receive a full UK and Europe release in March 2007, distributed by Cargo Records.

A 4th single entitled "I Start Fires", described as "the most ambitious and self-confident release to date" [ [http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=291021 Rough Trade's summary for "I Start Fires"] ] followed in October 2007. Alongside this, an ultra-limited pressing of a 7" single entitled "Blood And Water" was released to commemorate the 1000th edition of Wolfgang Doebeling (Editor of German Rolling Stone)'s Roots radio show in Berlin. "Blood And Water" is scheduled for a wider, yet still limited, 7" release through Berlin label Rank Records in 2008, though the band have confirmed that this single is not due to appear on the forthcoming follow-up to "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart", which is due for release in the autumn of 2008. [ [http://www.randomactsofvinyl.co.uk/ Random Acts Of Vinyl] website - "News" section]

Palm Springs' music has featured in German Rolling Stone's playlists, but perhaps most notably the 7" "Softly To Fallen" was #2 in Wolfgang Doebeling's "Best 45s 2006" list and "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart" was #2 in his list "Best Albums Of 2006." [ [http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/rs02.htm#2006k Rolling Stone critics' best of lists 2006] , issued January 2007]

Discography

7" Singles

* Tender Remains / Fall Morning (2004)
* Echo Of Me / After Honey (2005)
* Softly To Fallen / Sense Of Wonder (2006)
* I Start Fires / Twilight Of A Star (2007)

Studio albums

*"No Hurt Like A Broken Heart" (2007)

References

* [http://www.randomactsofvinyl.co.uk Official Site]

External links

* [http://www.randomactsofvinyl.co.uk Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/songspalmsprings Official MySpace page]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kpfrxzy5ldje "No Hurt Like A Broken Heart" at allmusic.com]
* [http://rankrecordsberlin.wordpress.com/ Rank Records Berlin]
* [http://www.cargorecords.co.uk/ Cargo Records]