September 2006

CAPTAIN ...

EMI Records are proud to present the debut album from epic pop pioneers CAPTAIN, due for release on August 14th. Produced by Trevor Horn, ‘This is Hazelville’ is an album populated by strange characters, intriguing stories and huge tunes born from the band’s varying, eclectic and consistently passionate love of music with influences ranging from Burt Bacharach to Smashing Pumpkins. But instead of producing a sound-a-like album, Captain have taken all the best bits from the music they love and produced an album that sounds like no-one else; one that doesn’t aspire to fit in with scenes or keep up with the sound du jour.

The band were signed to EMI Records at the tail end of last year and soon caught the eye of Steve Lamacq and Zane Lowe who started playing their debut, low key release ‘Frontline’ on their BBC radio shows. Tips for the top followed in the press and by the time Captain’s first single proper ‘Broke’ charted in the UK at number 34 in May, the band had been busy dividing their time between touring (supporting the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, The Magic Numbers, The Delays as well as headline tours and playing SXSW) and recording this outstanding debut long player.

‘This is Hazelville’ is a great big canvas heavily daubed in sonic drama, some heavenly harmonies, and a gleeful refusal to follow your usual verse/chorus/verse/chorus song structure. Sandwiched between slow-burning ‘Hazelville’, which opens the album in full epic and gloriously cinematic style, and album closer ‘Accidie’ – Captain’s dramatic and cacophonous live favourite – are songs so immediate and accessible you’ll struggle to get them out of your head.

‘Frontline’ is a beautifully constructed romantic pop anthem, ‘This Heart Keeps Beating for Me’ is equal parts euphoric and deeply sinister, while ‘East West North South’ details relationship indiscretion with both pinpoint accuracy and a Wurlitzer-like melody. And of course, forthcoming single ‘Glorious’ is an unashamedly uplifting and summery pop anthem with an unfeasibly big sing-a-long chorus, that will no doubt be resonating around this summer’s festival audiences.







CAPTAIN`s "This Is Hazelville" will finally be released in Holland in October through EMI Records.


‘This Is Hazelville’ was released by EMI in the UK on 14th August 2006.

Track Listing:
1. Hazelville
2. Glorious
3. Broke
4. East West North South
5. Frontline
6. Build a Life
7. Wax
8. This Heart Keeps Beating for Me
9. Western High
10. Summer Rain
11. Accidie





CAPTAIN are:
Rik Flynn (Vocals, Guitar)
Clare Szembek (Vocals, Keys)
Mario Athanasiou (Guitar)
Reuben Humphries (Drums)
Alex Yeoman (Bass)



September 2006








All the latest news on CAPTAIN can be found by going to their MySpace section at: http://www.myspace.com/captaintheband




PRESS (2006):

“A modern Prefab Sprout who emerge with perfect ‘80s pop production [and] light-headed boy-girl harmonies” - Uncut Magazine

“Savvy, snappy art-pop… ‘This Is Hazelville’ is an absolute honey of a debut.”- Sunday Times

“Like the Cocteau Twins doing Coldplay. The sound of the summer 2006” - What`s On

“Swirling and soaring guitars from a band destined for great things” - The Sun

“’This Is Hazelville’ is a divine, sublime soak in warm, swirling waters… the best record we’ve danced to in ages” - The Fly

“Lovely, soulful indie pop” - Time Out




The AAPA Album Review:


CAPTAIN - This Is Hazelville (EMI)
Released 14th August 2006

We picked up on this new band back in April (see our NEW BANDS section) while subsequent singles "Broke" and the fantastic "Glorious" really did set them apart from the rest of all the new guitar bands which have been making their debuts this year. CAPTAIN describe their music as "hopeful, emotional and euphoric" while some sections of the press have gone for the lazy option by throwing up comparisons to Prefab Sprout and Deacon Blue but in that case then The Beautiful South should also be mentioned. The simple truth here is that in the current music scene CAPTAIN are a breathe of fresh air. Their music is both intense and poetic, at times even sinister or dramatic, while they cleverly use space to create dynamics along with some fantastic male/female harmonies. Opening number 'Hazelville' boasts a hauntingly beautiful intro, before the song and then the entire album kicks into life. CAPTAIN have just completed a very successful UK tour that finished with a sell out gig at the Edinburgh Festival (see also the GIG REVIEWS section - > HERE and our special "Edinburgh Festival" feature) - I expect that by this time next year they will be appearing at all the major music festivals. An excellent debut album which was produced by Trevor Horn (ABC, Grace Jones, FGTH) from a band who in the years to come should become huge. Highly recommended. - 8/10 - TerryA – 24th August 2006