Correction Time Again

For the record Hefner split up 2 years ago so my last entry somewhat misguided, Darrens new band are the french and that's who I'll be supporting if and when so apologies for the confusion. Meanwhile I seem to be spending more and more time press releasing and promo mungering than playing or writing or recording. Such is the nature of release deadlines and trying to push as many folk as possible in this direction. Sometimes it can feel like progress but often the circles appear endless, or maybe I'm just having one of those self concious sentimental sad and silly moments that are all too true to be good. Fridays launch gig with Malcolm Middleton is very nearly upon us [12th Dec]. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and anyone, expect a few surprises on the guest front do. Heres the Shadrack & Duxbury Press Release for Growing up with VP, [pre release copies of which are now available]. The first release from Manchester’s new Shadrack & Duxbury label comes from the delicate, evergreen intelligence of Vinny Peculiar whose 2002 release Ironing the Soul [HUG CD006] attracted a number of extremely favourable reviews. ‘If Tony Hancock had made pop records they would probably have sounded like this’ UNCUT Magazine **** ‘Like Vic Chesnutt tooled up for an armed robbery’ IRISH TIMES **** ‘Insightful elegantly wasted confessional pop from the Mancs Nick Cave’ NME The past year has seen Vinny Peculiar building on a formidable live reputation in both the performance poetry and singer songwriter arenas touring with the likes of Edwin Collins, Arab Strap’s Malcolm Middleton and most recently British Sea Power. ‘Growing up with Vinny Peculiar’ encompasses polarised themes of unity & division, the friction between old and new values, the loss of God and the re-discovery of self – all set to a backdrop of recorders, flutes, spluttering Farfisas, elevating slide guitars, samplers, drum machines and even automated call-centre messages. Bored with the monotony of the metaphysical world and craving a corporeal existence, the angel Vinny Peculiar descends from his heavenly call-centre to become a human and begin a journey of spiritual re-awakening on Earth. Our anti-hero soon discovers that life is a rough old ride - but - it’s the hard times that make the experience worthwhile. We chart Vinny’s birth; the death of his innocence. We discover the adventure of youth, the small victories; the price of a life; an adult’s responsibility; a daughter; a drowning; an incident; the art of looking for a mouse . . . and finding a man. With the Roxy Music art-school attack of Punk Rock Dreaming; the haunting, ethereal odes to identity and teenage expression on Root Mull and Music Teacher; to the Badalamenti drenched coda of Egg Incident, this album is a photo album of musical memories and experiences – each one a nod to a certain era, time or interlude in the life of Vinny Peculiar. ‘Growing up with Vinny Peculiar’ is an intimate musical portrait of warped and wonderful truths from one of Britain’s most imaginative singer-songwriters. When God gives you lemons, make lemonade… ‘Growing up with Vinny Peculiar’ (Track Listing) Girl in the Call Centre - I work for God - Confessions of a Sperm Donor Everlasting Teenage Bedroom - Music Teacher - Root Mull We didn’t paint our nails when we fought the Germans - Replica Shirt I’m too sad to tell you - 24 - Punk Rock Dreaming - Egg Incident www.vinnypeculiar.com Release date 16th February 2004 Distribution by NOVA via Pinnacle Cat no. SADCD001