NEWS
Distribution in Sweden
Posted: 19/11/2007
The latest Backwater releases are now available from Record Heaven in Sweden.
Link below
see also Distributor section for other outlets
https://www.recordheaven.net/butik/
Uncle Black "Connections Video"
Posted: 21/09/2007
Kate Bannatyne Blue Light Video
Posted: 27/08/2007
Belinda Gillett Video
Posted: 27/08/2007
Videos now on Last FM of Backwater Artists
Posted: 24/08/2007
We are Slowly adding more songs and Videos to Last Fm.There is link below to Kate Bannatynes Video
plus on the backwater Page there is a Belinda Gillett video as well.
Next up will be the latest Uncle Black Video,
http://www.last.fm/music/Kate+Bannatyne/+videos/Blue+Light
Kate Bannatyne Gigs
Posted: 22/08/2007
Kate will playing live at some showcase gigs in September.more details to follow.
The Future Kings of England Gigs
Posted: 11/05/2007
3 Jul 2008 20:00
The New Railway Ipswich, East
Misc Reviews Belinda Gillett
Posted: 23/02/2007
Belinda Gillett –
“Haunting, raw and strangely beautiful” Losing Today
“A pleasing bitterness in her gentle traditional folk”- Teletext
“Beautiful Vocals”-IP1
“Honest and Personal,without falling into vulgar copy”-B-Side Rock
“A Singer songwriter to be reckoned with”-Grapevine
“Truly inspired and pleasant-a beautiful voice”-Rockline-it
“Could be in for a big seller”-Ticket
“Charming-can be regarded as timeless”-Eclipsed
“The album is well arranged,i liked it” Psychevanhetfolk
Misc Reviews Kate Bannatyne
Posted: 23/02/2007
Kate Bannatyne
“Goes without saying – recommended”-Losing today
“Promising and highly enjoyable”- Psychevanhetfolk
“The voice fits perfectly with the classic melodies”-Rockline.it
Belinda Gillett Gigs
Posted: 08/09/2006
25 May 2008 3:00
Soapbox@ The Queen Charlotte Norwich
4 Jun 2008 20:00
The Box tree Cambridge
11 Jun 2008 20:00
Grapevine@ Bedford bar and resturant Norwich
28 Jun 2008 20:00
The Boathouse Cambridge
14 Jul 2008 20:00
Feed the monkey @ Jrink Soho, London
16 Aug 2008 20:00
Green man fayre Suffolk
Pancakes Gigs
Posted: 28/06/2006
Sat 8th December 07
Knodishall fair
Suffolk
Misc Reviews Chris Lockington
Posted: 20/05/2006
“Solid and strong,Very nice!” Psychevanhetfolk
“A very high standard, this will sound great on the radio” Evening Star
"Very Pleasant,look forward to the album".Feedback magazine.
“Great and talented new young singer-songwriter” Singersong-Homestead.com
Backwater design team
Posted: 28/02/2006
Most of the backwater releases over quite a few years now ,have been designed by Pete Bolton.
The photography up until quite recently was done by Derek Mitchell.
We now have a new photographer called Martina Vermorel ,who has taken recent shots of ,among others,Uncle Black and Chris Lockinton,these will appear soon on the bw site and on the forthcoming bw releases.
Martina has also planned a video shoot for Uncle Blacks new single "Smile",with hopefuly other videos to follow ,
a big thanks from from steve at backwater to all of them for doing a great job
ps
another big thanks as well to garfy at semi echo for his great audio mastering .
Downloads
Posted: 05/08/2005
All backwater releases to date are available as downloads on the emusic website.
(emusic are launching in the UK and Europe September 2006)
Excerpts from all backwater releases are available
from the emusic site as well.
The lead tracks on new Backwater releases are available, for a short period ,as free downloads via emusic link below.
http://www.emusic.com/browse/l/b/-dbm/a/0/1400109627/0.html
Losing Today review Jamie Clements EP
Posted: 27/07/2005
Jamie Clements ‘Sleep Creases’ (Backwater). Damn those dudes at Backwater HQ they’ve only gone and done it again, not content with scaring us witless with their last release, the colossal soundscapes of the mighty Future Kings of England they about turn from the epic to the frail for this the debut release by Jamie Clements, and a corker it is to. Now if I tell you that the similarities to a certain Daniel Johnston are not only limited to the sound but also to the art work that adorns this release then you’ll know exactly from what direction this nimble four tracker comes and at this juncture can I be allowed to say that it’s a thing to warm the cockles of the heart to know that out there somewhere amid the go-getting rat race culture that there are still kindred souls idly lazing in an idyllic picturesque spot wide open to natures blossoming elements writing and composing odes for their own amusement secretly hoping that others will be entranced by their simplistic beauty. On the surface Clements work displays all the childlike characteristics of a less wayward Mr Johnston but scratch softly and the very essence of Drake (especially on the arresting Gaelic folk of ‘A small black sock’), Loudon Wainwright III (‘A silver wrapper’) and Denver come to pass, unfussy, uncomplicated and tantalisingly tranquil the tumbling chords gently wax and wane as Clements take you by the hand along the village green foot paths of his minds eye. www.backwaterrecords.com
Misc Reviews - Holly Johnston
Posted: 27/07/2005
Holly Johnston - Young female vocalist who released her debut pop/folk CD in 2001; comments from the press as follows:
"A beautiful pure voice which she uses to great effect” East Anglian Daily Times
"Straight forward musical quality - echoed by the voices in Ms Johnstons head" Cross Rhythms
“A fragile chanteuse like a ghostly Ricky Lee Jones" Teletext
“Her ability to pen accessible songs, coupled with the stunning purity of her voice, is a winning combination”. EADT
Misc Reviews - Uncle Black
Posted: 27/07/2005
Uncle Black - The latest Backwater signing who released their debut 7" single earlier this year and have a CD album planned for 2003. The band describe themselves as 21st Century folk.
"The kind of song you'd like to hear on a Summers day" East Anglian Daily Times
"Gentle Country pop - well worth a listen" Grape-vine
Listening to Uncle Black is like embracing an old friend. It
feels like something you've been missing and waiting for much too long." Kontrast radio ,Berlin
“it’s a warm and rewarding listen” East life magazine
“Loved the album. Every success to you, you deserve it”. Alex Lester (Radio 2)
“Like any record that does not always go for the easy option, it takes a little time to get under your skin but repeated listening is worth the investment”. EADT
“the memory of this EP will resonate long after its finished having neatly set up residence in your psyche. . Crucial stuff” Losing today
“Gentle acousic with strong melodies,this is damn fine” Feedback magazine
Misc Reviews - The Carpet Ride
Posted: 27/07/2005
Carpet Ride - 4-piece psychedelic pop-rock band fronted by female singer (likened to Marianne Faithful by one reviewer) who released a CD album in 2000.
"Nothing short of a masterpiece" Record Collector
"Heartfelt acoustic sonnets" Evening Star
"Spectral indie in the style of Madder Rose" Teletext
Misc Reviews - The Blind Poets
Posted: 27/07/2005
The Blind Poets - Dylan-esque alternative folk group 4-piece band who released their debut album in 2001 and who have recently released their second CD ‘Blood from a Stone’.
"A real feel for the unplugged groove" Folk Roots
"Delicate selection of songs that sound better and better with repeated listening" East Anglian Daily Times
“A passionate attention to song craftsmanship.” Losing Today
“Superb close vocal harmonies” East Anglian Magazine
“The Blind Poets are much like a graceful swan gliding across a pond, surrounded by ugly ducklings.” Musicworkz
“A series of gentle and charming songs” East Anglian magazine.
“An original group to reckoned with-the finest backwater release so far” Grapevine
Losing Today review Mike Summers' EP
Posted: 27/07/2005
Mike Summers and the Doons ‘King of Tomorrow’ (Backwater). And we really do feel obliged to doff our caps to Ipswich’s Backwater Records with their no genre specific attitude. This little cottage industry has in the last few months unearthed the timid Daniel Johnston like Jamie Clements debut ‘Sleep Creases’ which if you haven’t bought by now then shame on you and may it rain long and hard upon your house. Step a little further back for the awesome debut from the Future Kings of England a magnificent feast of prog / stoner / psychedelic overlaps that frankly blew out off the water the usual names associated and regarded highly in the same sonic work space. Latest addition to the Backwater stable is the Suffolk based musician Mike Summers and his more than able backing crew the Doons. Those expecting more of the above, think again, those darn critters at Backwater have gone and switched the tables again. Mr Summers is a traditionalist, and a traditionalist of some note, this dinky 4 track debut is the kind of release that would easily sneak into the Spit ‘n’ Polish roster without so much as a grumble. Featuring mandolins, ukuleles and accordions, in the space of fourteen minutes duration they take you by the hand to another time of endless summers and forever blue skies, just check out the gorgeous ‘Open Roads’ a mixture of evensong porch like serenity and hood down driving pastoral pop spliced perfectly by the ghostly sound of the accordion breezing in the background. Don’t be fooled into thinking this release is purely out of bounds for a pop market, ‘King of Tomorrow’ with its lolloping trombone and jaunty ukulele is made of the kind of stuff that the Beatles initially cut their teeth to and armed with its valve radios renascence and music hall glitz isn’t a million miles from Space’s ‘Money’ at least in spirit if not in design. ‘Blue Memories’ with its trembling timbre points distinctly to late 50’s soft pop yet belies a resonantly eerie cast that could easily find itself on a David Lynch soundtrack providing a mix of lonesome folk that to these ears summons the heart ache of Roy Orbison and the gentleness of the Everly Brothers and with that remarkably reminiscent of Paul Burch’s ‘Blue Notes’ album. The haunting closing cut ‘Long black train (Going Down)’ takes its subtle cue from ‘Amazing Grace’ with the ghosts of Perkins and Cash sitting in the shadows the only thing lacking is a symphonic crescendo to give it that epic appeal it so eagerly deserves. www.backwaterrecords.com
Misc Reviews - Exit 13
Posted: 27/07/2005
Exit 13 - A Psychedelic pop band with a tinge of country and folk who over the years have released four singles and two albums picking up many reviews and radio plays along the way:
"He is easily Suffolk's answer to Brian Wilson" East Anglian Daily Times
"A hugely enjoyable set of quirky memorable numbers" Grapevine
"The Byrds are an influence and the band pull it off faultlessly" Cross Rhythms
"Very 60s, very 90s.... let's hear it again" Teletext
"Get a load of the Syd Barrett-still-lives ambience of Exit 13's psychedelic offering." NME
“An auteur as happily to draw from electrostomping glam rock and ambient experimentalism as from indie rock. Original talent.” Teletext
“An excellent collection of countrified folk/pop.” Ptolemaic Terrascope
“An analogue reminder that there is some great music around” Feedback magazine
“Another fine release from the psychedelic pop prince” Freak Emporium
Misc Reviews - Buffalo Road
Posted: 27/07/2005
Buffalo Road - This young Country band were the first signing to the label: the band
released two albums and two singles. The band described the music as 'English indie road music" with the band picking up many good reviews along the way:
"Any doubts that East Anglia can't compete with South Georgia are immediately blown away” Country Music International
"Makes the move to semi-legendary status" Q
"Fine approximations of what it must be to suffer Country junkie withdrawal symptoms in Ipswich Tennessee" Vox
"Such is the talent of this band and such is the quality of their songs" The New Country Music Gazette
Losing Today review "This is your day"
Posted: 27/07/2005
Uncle Black ‘This is your day’ (Backwater). If there was a Losing Today award for persistence in the face adversity then Uncle Black’s Les King would have won it hands down for this particular missive, somehow due to one reason or another we’ve managed to ‘avoid’ this release and not, I hasten to add, have any of these happenings had anything to do with us (or Uncle Black we should say). This release comes from the same label that have in recent months brought us some corking outings from Jamie Clements, Mike Summers and the awesome Future Kings of England and keeping with that fine tradition now we have Uncle Black to add to the list. Essentially duo Les King and Michael Aldridge who judging by these four cuts still dream of a time gone past when songs were songs free from need of generic tags, just honest, timeless emotive storytelling none more so is this apparent than on the sapping but gem like ‘Clock Prison’. Almost hymnal in texture and keeping the obvious Cambridge folk pop references aside for one second, fans of the likes of Low, early days Hidden Cameras and Death Cab for Cutie (but most of all a distant cousin of Teardrops ‘Tiny Children’) may well find a welcoming safe haven because within these finely layered grooves the dusted origins of deep as you like fragile as can be solace that’s measured with just the right reverential pace to leave you breathlessly begging for more. Then there’s the slowly unfurling incantation of the numbingly beautiful though delicately eerie ‘Was I a boy?’ as it, as if tempered by an agile slight of hand, hooks you in to be caressed by its almost invisible Gallic aura. ‘This is your day’ perhaps the perkiest track here is cut from the same simplistic up beat catchiness as made Belle and Sebastian’s ‘Tigermilk’ such an unguarded treat while bringing up the rear the arresting ‘All and for one’ will ensure the memory of this EP will resonate long after its finished having neatly set up residence in your psyche. www.backwaterrecords.com
Misc Reviews - Wand
Posted: 27/07/2005
Wand - This young acoustic trio created a psychedelic folk style all of their own on their 7" single. They recorded a few demos (which may in the future see the light of day) then mysteriously disappeared into the night. Recently the singer (Jamie Clements) has reappeared and hopefully will be doing some recording for the label next year.
“A delicate combination of mellotron-like flute arrangements ,tabla and acoustic guitar.”Psychevanfolk”
Misc Reviews - The Tiny Clocks
Posted: 27/07/2005
The Tiny Clocks - Psychedelic surreal pop duo; live set includes narration/vocals, acoustic guitar, cello and percussion. This band have released one 7" single and two CD albums over the years again picking up many reviews and radio plays.
"Too many drugs" (?)
"Steeped in bizarre English whimsy" Sky magazine
"This lot are barking but having said that they are damned addictive" Evening Star Music Review
"Well thought out and well executed" Word of mouth
“Great” Select
Misc Reviews - Violent Playground
Posted: 27/07/2005
Violent Playground - Energetic, young power-pop band fronted by punky female singer who released a 10" EP in 2001.
"5 miniature pop punk classics" Losing Today
"Beautiful female voice" Caustic Truths
"Obnoxious punk" Real Overdose
"Dirty grunge pop" Record Collector
"Manic" Shredding Paper
Fuzzface - Record Collector Review
Posted: 27/07/2005
Fuzzface - A four piece band who play Hammond-driven heavy soul music.
"Marvellous, quite frankly" Record Collector
Misc Reviews - The Future Kings Of England
Posted: 27/07/2005
The Future Kings Of England
"one of the very best bands in the land" Organart
“It is the sweet analogue dew that beads along the delicate
edges of the downy silvery sinew in meadow's sweet,
surpassing the brambles and hawthorns of Indie music.” KRFC Radio .USA
"words like epic and masterpiece don’t at all appear appropriate when trying to sum up the three instrumental tracks lurking with intent on this, without doubt, crucial CD" Losing Today
"a dazzling musical trip" Aural Innovations
“The eponymous debut is a frighteningly assured CDEP.” Ptolemaic Terrascope
“Highly recommended. A must-have for psych-lovers, and a future musical king of England” Pschevanhetfolk
“The Future Kings Of England have earned their right to the throne. Long live the Kings.” Hairless heart herald
“It’s a bloody masterpiece. Never was a band more appropriately named.” Organ magazine
“Like punk never happened” Teletext
“This is a remarkable debut,a good album” Prog-Nose
“Good and extremely solid” Feedback magazine
“This album will be recognised as a psychedelic classic” Terrascope online
Misc Reviews - Jamie Clements
Posted: 27/07/2005
Jamie Clements
“unfussy, uncomplicated and tantalisingly tranquil the tumbling chords gently wax and wane as Clements take you by the hand along the village green foot paths of his minds eye” Losing Today
“An Extremely good CD” Evening Star
“I can imagine his folky style gaining lots of admirers” Outline
“For me its just brilliant as it is, recommended” Psychevanhetfolk
Latest releases are Uncle Black second album and The Future Kings of England Second Album
Posted: 30/07/2004
Releases planned for 2008
Uncle Black Third CD Album (release date 4/6/07)
Exit 13 4th CD Album
Jamie Clements Album
The Future Kings of England Third Album.
Mike Summers and the Doons Album
Belinda Gillett Second Album (on 3 EPS)
getting in touch with us
Posted: 05/08/2003
Here is the best way to contact us:
Phone: 01473 719158
E-mail: backwater@freeuk.com
Address-
P.O. Box 51 Ipswich Suffolk UK IP4 4AN
Fax 44 1474 206502
or go to the contact us section
If you would like to contact a specific band via email just type in the artist/ bandname@backwaterrecords.com
ie. blindpoets@backwaterrecords.com
Buying Backwater Stuff
Posted: 05/08/2003
Methods of payment:
Visit the products page and you can order records/cds there, or send an IMO, or a cheque made payable to "Backwater Records" to PO Box 51, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK IP4 4AN along with your order. If all else fails you can phone 01473-719158 and we can sort something out!
All prices inc. P and P when buying from the Backwater Records Site.
Also various backwater products are available through these sites as well-
All prices inc. P and P
http://www.backwaterrecords.com/
http://www.roughtrade.com/
https://www.freakemporium.com/new3/index.cgi
https://www.recordheaven.net/butik/
http://www.imusicstage.com/
http://www.aural-innovations.com/store/
