Artists
Half Moon Run
Montreal’s Half Moon Run , fuse together restless elements of indie, pop and folk with beautiful rhythmic harmonies, delicate guitar lines and a hint of warm electronica. Communion discovered the band last summer and think their incredible album “Dark Eyes” is one of the best we’ve ever heard.
The album will be released on Communion / Island on July 1st and you can see them this summer at festivals across the globe including Glastonbury, Latitude, Lollapalooza, Haldern Pop and Reading & Leeds Festivals.
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Catfish and the Bottlemen are a rock n’ roll band. There are 4 of them and they are from Llandudno.
That’s all you need to know – the rest you can find out by coming and seeing them play. As an unsigned band they played over 100 shows in 2012, which explains the otherwordly tightness and controlled chaos of CATB live – frontman Van McCann climbing the walls and playing as though his life depends on it, whilst Billy Bibby (lead guitar), Benji Blakeway (bass) and Bob Hall (drums) keep it locked down around him.
Their debut single Homesick (championed early by Zane Lowe) is out on June 17th on Communion Records – you can get it here
www.catfishandthebottlemen.com
Story Books
Kent based Story Books are part of a long lineage of moody, dark English guitar bands. Self produced at Squarehead Studio in Sittingbourne and mixed by Tony Doogan, the four track ‘Too Much A Hunter’ EP f(out in April 2013 on Communion Records) follows the success of a limited vinyl release last year. An early demo ‘Peregrine’ caught the attention of XFM’s John Kennedy and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and ended up on Radio 1’s Introducing playlist, the track was duly released as a limited 7” single and was followed by sold-out performances at London’s Hoxton Hall and The Lexington. The band also supported Story Books admirers Bloc Party at their Koko show last year.
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den are London trio Andrew Davie, Joey Haynes, and Kevin Jones. The boys go way back with Communion, you might remember them from our showcases at The Great Escape and South by Southwest festivals, as well as the now legendary Austin to Boston Tour. We’re thrilled to be releasing their new “Agape” EP, and we can’t wait to see where they go from here.
Deap Vally
“We are valley girls. We sing the blues. We play rock’n'roll. We sweat. We move. We groove. We are Deap Vally. xx”
So say Deap Vally, and frankly we are too scared to argue with them. Deap Vally break rock n’ roll down to its simplest form – beat, melody and a sack-load of attitude. Oh, and they met at a knitting class. Which is cool.
Live video of Baby I Call Hell: http://vimeo.com/groups/livemusic/videos/41951994
Joe Banfi
We first encountered Joe when he sent in a demo and we liked it so much we went on to include his track “Olive Green” on our New Faces compilation album in 2012. That track inspired such affection – in us, and in the wider world – that last year he recorded his Iron EP with our own Ian Grimble in our studio in North London. Now he’s back with his sophomore release Nomads EP, and you can hear just how far he’s come.
You can listen to Guts and Bones from the Iron EP here
You can order the Iron EP on CD here
You can buy from iTunes here
www.facebook.com/joebanfimusic
Pale Seas
Southampton’s Pale Seas worked with Paul Butler of The Bees, who also produced Michael Kiwanuka, in his Isle of Wight vintage studio haven to make the brilliant double A-Side single Bodies/My Own Mind. These two tracks show off the band at their melodic, dreamy best and we really are super proud to be sending them into the world.
You can listen to Bodies / My Own Mind here
You can order the double A side vinyl here
You can buy from iTunes here
Foy Vance
Communion is very proud to be releasing Foy Vance’s gorgeous Melrose EP. This EP is a simply beautiful collaboration between Foy and David Holmes and provided the soundtrack to the 2012 Academy Award winning short film “The Shore” directed by Terry George.
You can listen to “Be the Song” from the Melrose EP here
You can order the limited edition 10″ vinyl here
You can buy from iTunes here (UK) and here (US)
Boy & Bear
Deservedly hugely popular in their native Australia, Boy and Bear’s folk tinged Indie is powerful on record and even more so live. They sometimes do more melodically with one song than a lot of bands manage on half an album, and there is a oak-aged timelessness to their CSNY-esque harmonies that belies their (relatively) tender years. Check out their excellent LP ‘Moonfire’ for indisputable evidence of all the above and more.
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Gabriel and the Hounds
When Brooklyn artist and general man about town Gabriel Levine wanted to record the songs that made up ‘Kiss Full Of Teeth’ (his first album under the moniker, Gabriel and the Hounds) he knew who to call – a variety of performers working directly in or with the likes of The National, Beirut, St Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, tUnE-yArDs, Bjork, and Jonsi all feature throughout the record.
Gabe’s day job is in Takka Takka, but you can tell how much he enjoyed spreading his wings here. We fell in love with the album’s sheer breadth and imagination. It doesn’t sit still for a second, and – for all its very careful, considered crafting – it has a huge sense of playfulness and enjoyably unpolished edges. And the buoyant, brash, punky ‘The World Unfolds’ might just be our favourite song of 2012.
‘Kiss Full of Teeth’ 12” vinyl available in our store
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Gotye
Now of course inseparable from the quite extraordinary, almost perfect pop song ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ (325 million Youtube views and counting), Gotye’s 3rd album ‘Making Mirrors’ has provided rich and varied rewards for those who decided to dig a little deeper. It’s incredibly detailed and precise in its design and execution, but also thrillingly un-inhibited by genre or traditional ideas of song structure. Like the its most famous track, ‘Making Mirrors’ leaps around a musical palette that includes electronica, soul, folk and even world music – and offers a glimpse of the eccentric brilliance of his live shows.
Limited edition 7” vinyl of ‘Easy Way Out’ available in our store
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Daughter
We met Elena Tonra when she was still just Elena Tonra, and were totally captivated by the same things that are now rapidly propelling Daughter towards bigger stages and brighter lights – an extraordinary voice, and an ability to use it to communicate devastatingly personal sentiments in a way that is frail and vulnerable, but pin-point accurate. The textured wall of sound her band-mates create has added muscle and texture to Elena’s voice and songs.
‘The Wild Youth’ EP – recorded with Communion’s Ian Grimble in London – will always stand as a beautiful glimpse of what was to come next. You can get it on CD from our store.
Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter
Michael Kiwanuka
Michael is a longtime veteran of Communion’s live shows, and we’ve always known he was something special. His soulful, yearning tone and immaculate songwriting make him an artist that’s impossible to forget, and has earned him The BBC’s Sound of 2013 award and a Brit Award Critics Choice nomination.
To Kill A King
To Kill a King are a five piece from Leeds determined to make music that matters. Focusing on frontman Ralph Pelleymounter’s unique lyrical narrative, we’d say they’ve certainly done a good job. We released the band’s debut single “Fictional State” back in 2011.
Nathaniel Rateliff
We think Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff is one of the great songwriters and storytellers of his generation. His devastating debut album ‘In Memory of Loss’ is a masterpiece of sound and silence – with the loaded space around his voice as powerful and telling as that voice itself. We had the privilege – along with our friends at Daytrotter – to record two extraordinary live performances by Nate in London and Illinois, and released those recordings on 10″ vinyl (available in our store).
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Treetop Flyers
If you were lucky enough to go to Glastonbury 2011, you might remember the Treetop Flyers as the band that opened the festival on the enormous Other Stage after winning the Emerging Talent Competition. Blending Country, Soul and Rock into a unique and timeless sound, the band has been a regular fixture at Communion Club nights, and featured on our Flowerpot Sessions album.
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Ben Howard
Conjuring deep emotion and empathy through graceful lyrics and stellar musicianship, Ben Howard has established himself as a powerful songwriter. An early staple at our monthly club nights, we are pleased to offer Ben’s Old Pine EP through Communion Records, and continue to promote shows with Ben in London and beyond.</>
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter
Three Blind Wolves
A band of four Glaswegians who draw on influences from Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival and even Led Zeppelin bring you their very own brand of razor sharp country rock. Their critically-acclaimed album Sound of The Storm is available through Communion, and we’re happy to have them!
Monument Valley
London-born songwriter Ned Younger first assembled some of the first Monument Valley songs whilst living abroad in Spain. Having spent his whole life writing songs, Ned returned to his hometown with a determination to work his endless pages of lyrics detailing everything from found market photographs to the weeks he spent in a Madrid hospital recovering from a collapsed lung (“No Air”) into a fully fledged musical project, titled Monument Valley.
Matt Corby
Matt Corby has certainly carved a unique path for someone that started his career aged 16 on a reality TV talent show in 2007. In 2009, he independently released his debut EP ‘Song For…’ before relocating to London and signing with renowned UK indie label Communion after capturing the attention of the label’s owner; Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons fame.
Still only in his early 20s, Matt Corby’s songs and vocals elicit a sensation that is nothing short of captivating. Having previously been compared to legendary artists such as Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, Matt’s songs continue to deliver a uniqueness and maturity well beyond his years while his live performances have become renowned for bringing large audiences to a complete stand still.
After recording with Ian Grimble (The Libertines, Seasick Steve) and releasing his hauntingly beautiful EP, Transition To Colour in late 2010, Matt has been busy engaging audiences with his live shows. Matt spent the earlier part of 2011playing sold out shows in London and showcasing at SXSW in Austin, Texas inFebruary before coming back to Australia to play a string of intimate “Secret Garden” shows in fans’ backyards throughout NSW and Victoria. He soon after joined UK band Elbow as the main support on their national tour of sold outSplendour sideshows in July.
After spending the last few months writing, Matt spent most of September 2011 recording his soon to be released EP, Into The Flame, with producer Tim Carr (Ernest Ellis, Jonathan Boulet).
Into The Flame, showcases a fresh injection of soulful growling vocals and bluesy melodies bound together with his already unique style of melodic folk. Lyrically raw and endearingly honest, his songs take the listener through an introspective and heartfelt journey. The EP also features a duet with Matt’s dear friend and keyboardist Bree Tranter, previously of Australian band, The Middle East.
Lead track ‘Brother’ is now at radio with EP ‘Into The Flame’ slated for release on November 11 2011.
Matt will be supporting the release of his EP and single with an extensive national Secret Garden Tour throughout October and November followed by EP launch shows at The Oxford Arts Factory in Sydney on November 24th and at The Toff In Town in Melbourne on November 30th.
Marcus Foster
Sounding like a wisened beatnik from an era long since lost, young London born artist Marcus Foster is cut from a very different cloth to the multitude of singer-songwriters, who profess to sing directly from the heart. Musically adventurous, and metaphorically dropped from a rambling Kerouac chapter, Marcus Foster was born dancing to Louis Armstrong, and introduces his music by tipping a respectful hat, to the romanticism of Waits and Van Morrison.
Matthew and The Atlas
Matthew Hegarty (AKA Matthew and the Atlas) was Communion Record’s first ever signing, and is woven into our history.
His two EPs – ‘To The North’ and ‘Kingdom of Your Own’ – take a dreamy, textured take on Americana and filter it through Matt’s extraordinarily bruised and affecting voice. He is a revered – almost cult – figure among his fellow artists and his genuinely global fanbase, while continuing to fly beneath the mainstream radar. The hugely anticipated debut Matthew and the Atlas album – 30 years in the making! – is expected in 2013.
You can buy his 2 Communion EPs in our store
Philadelphia Grand Jury
Forget Haircuts, forget NME, forget your ex-girlfriend – this is Philadelphia Grand Jury
All grit and all heart, MC Bad Genius and Berkfinger’s brand of Independent Punk Soul is painfully honest and heavily based in melody. Joined by an array of completey mental drummers over the years, the one thing that will never change is that if you go to see the Philadelphia Grand Jury show, you will definitely come back for another.
In an age where everything is plastic and you have to pay to take the piss, these guys are real and no bullsh*t, and they aren’t leaving until you pay attention.
Pete Roe
Pete Roe learnt his trade amongst the cobbled paths of Bristol and old jazz musicians. He soon found himself playing piano for Laura Marling after taking off to London in 2008. Having recently toured with Laura Marling as both part of her band and support act, Pete is now stepping into the limelight himself with ‘The Merry-Go-Round’ released by Communion Records.
‘The Merry-Go-Round’ – recorded completely live and solo – showcases Pete’s tender vocals and storytelling which have seen him compared to Bert Jansch and John Martyn.
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