"Kimono My House" A Tribute 50 years on.

Peter Anderson • Apr 28, 2024

THE BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM BY THE ULTIMATE CULT BAND IS TURNING 50!


Pale Wizard Records release 50 year anniversary tribute to Sparks with  ‘Kimono My House - 50 Years Later’ Featuring Phoxjaw, Krooked Tongue, Tony Reed, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Besvärjelsen and many more. Sparks first became a household name in the UK in 1974 when their iconic song ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us’ hit number two in the singles chart. Their Top of the Pops BBC TV performance of the song is remembered vividly by everyone who saw it, bringing brothers Ron and Russell Mael into the front rooms of millions across the country that evening.


After two attempts of making it big in the early 70s with Bearsville Records albums ‘Sparks’ and ‘A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing’, Ron and Russell Mael ditched the rest of the first Sparks line-up and moved to London. It was there that they signed to Island Records and recruited a new line-up that struck gold at the first time of asking with ‘Kimono My House’.


Now, on the 1st of May 2024 Kimono My House turns 50 and Pale Wizard Records pays tribute to this most special of albums the best way they know how. Presenting ‘Sparks - Kimono My House - 50 Years Later’. The whole album re-imagined by a roster of great rock bands from around the world, including tracks from Phoxjaw, Krooked Tongue, Sergeant Thunderhoof and more.


Kimono My House’, is rightly heralded as a legendary ‘glam’ rock album. Chock full of witty but complex lyrics, sparkling guitars from Adrian Fisher and complimented perfectly by the rhythm section of Dinky Diamond and Martin Gordon.  However, it’s the sheer quality of the song writing, largely from Ron Mael and the soaring vocal performance of Russell Mael that surely ensures Kimono My House is heralded not only as a fan favourite Sparks album but also as one of the very best albums of the entire decade.


Pale Wizard Records intend for the '50 Years Later' series to continue paying tribute to amazing albums that deserve attention, and 'Kimono My House' now joins an impressive list. In 2021 they released their first '50 Years Later' LP which was a tribute to the classic Alice Cooper album 'Killer'. This was followed up in 2022 with David Bowie’s incredibly ‘Ziggy Stardust’ and most recently with Budgie’s ‘Never Turn Your Back on a Friend’ in 2023.


Pale Wizard Records is a labour of love for its co-founders Tim Hilleard and Dan Flitcroft, who release music that they love, and that they find interesting. They enlist a fantastic roster of hard-working bands from the rock scene, some of which they've shared the stage with themselves, and others of which they’ve previously admired from afar. They aim to release at-least one ‘50 Years Later’ LP per year, charting classic albums right through the 1970’s and beyond.


Sparks - Kimono My House: 50 Years Later is released May 1st 2024

and will be available on CD, limited edition vinyl and all major platforms.

Peterborough Presents - Celebrating 10 years of creativity

By Peter Anderson • 16 May, 2024
In 2024 Peterborough Presents is celebrating 10 years of working with communities across the city to create great ‘art’. Mention the arts and people naturally think of galleries and theatres. For the last 10 years, arts organisation Peterborough Presents has been working with people from across the city to show that it is this and so much more. It can mean circuses, folk tales, street murals, poetry on the walls at the Lido, Zombie Walks at Diwali, being serenaded by violins whilst in a hot tub at Thorpe Meadows, going on magical history tours and creating lantern parades. It can mean carnivals at Millfield Festival, weekly craft groups or even doing up your local street with colourful planters. For their birthday, the Peterborough Presents team want to celebrate all the ways in which you can be creative and encourage you to get creative too. Their 10th birthday is as ambitious as ever! It kicks-off at Peterborough Celebrates Festival on 18th & 19th May at Ferry Meadows. Peterborough Presents will be taking over the ‘creative dome’. In there you can watch amazing carnival performances by Mandinga Arts or get involved in drawing and making sessions. Of course, there will be some party games too! Artist Rose Croft is currently working with groups from across the city to create colourful garlands and artworks from recycled materials that will decorate the Creative Dome. With funding from Arts Council England, Peterborough Presents has been working with people of all ages and backgrounds. Programme Director Sarah Haythornthwaite says “ There’s a lot of creativity in Peterborough and also energy to try something different. 10 years is a proper milestone too. Over those years we have had the pleasure, and honour, of working with specific neighbourhoods in the city to create projects alongside local residents. We don’t tell people what ‘arts’ they need." "We start by getting to know people, find out what inspires them, what's missing and then we create something together. It makes every project and every neighbourhood unique. We have seen people make new friends, learn new skills, even seen communities come together for the first time. They have looked at their neighbourhood in a different way and found creative ways to shout about something important to them. We’ve worked with some amazing established artists but have also helped to support some fabulous new ones too. Above all, we’ve had fun!” The birthday celebrations will continue throughout the year with community-led creative programmes in Millfield, Westwood, Eye, and beyond. Highlights include the Millfield Makers event in August, Eye Lantern Parade in November and film projects with young people in Westwood. You can expect some short films, podcasts and digital artwork released online too. Sarah continues “ The Peterborough Presents programme has provided thousands of people the opportunity to be part of creative activities over the last 10 years. We enjoy working closely with communities to co-produce our programme so that residents can experience art on their doorstep – projects that are relevant and fun!! A party isn’t a party unless others join us on the dance floor. So, we’re inviting you all to come and join us at Peterborough Celebrates and have a go at being a bit creative. ” Peterborough Presents is hosted by Nene Park Trust and supported by Metal, Peterborough City Council, Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services, Eastern Angles and Creative Lives. The programme is funded by Arts Council England.You can find out more about by visiting www.peterboroughpresents.org . To find out more about Peterborough Celebrates visit www.peterboroughcelebratesfestival.co.uk

Fältsånger perform at The Pyramid

By Peter Anderson • 16 May, 2024
Placing as much importance on the visual aspect as the music, Fältsånger strives to make each concert an experience, with unique opening films that draw the audience into their world before emerging from the shadows to blend into the psychedelic projections that flood the stage as the music blossoms. Fältsånger are perhaps best described as psychedelic electronica. Or maybe ambient space rock. Or even experimental muzak. Whatever the label, their music is uniquely their own. Coming from Warrington, the band appeared in 2023 with a few releases across streaming platforms and a small number of highly visual concerts at select venues. Believing in a "live is best" approach, the band rarely writes traditional songs, usually relying on fate to deliver songs through extended jams. Often these jams require an element of editing to bring them down to digestible lengths, although sometimes, as was the case with The Moon Shimmers With Secrets, a full album can appear entirely through live, and unedited, improvisation. Described recently as "the most innovative band around", their fans find them reminiscent of Tangerine Dream, The Orb, Herbie Hancock, Gong, Spaceheads, Ryksöpp, and even Manuel Göttsching, the band cites few of these as influences. No doubt if you are fans of these groups, Fältsånger could be well worth considering as an addition to your Spotify playlists. Alternatively, you could join the audience at Warrington's Pyramid Arts Centre, this Saturday. Sit back close your eyes and be whisked from the angst of the modern world. Fältsånger are looking to start making appearances further afield, but for now, to experience them you will have to travel to Warrington. Here is your link for tickets and further info' https://linktr.ee/faltsanger
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