| Win RDA - Recommended Daily Allowance
Spring 2010 marks the release of the utterly enchanting eponymous debut longplayer by London/Newcastle band on the rise - Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
RDA have already charmed crowds at Bestival, Camp Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Kendal Calling and Lounge on the Farm, and are part of a reciprocal extended family of musicians that crosses over with Friendly Fires, Three Trapped Tigers and Skinny Lister.
The band’s core of Robin Peel (guitar) Dan Gray (bass) and Arthur Lea (keys) are the live and studio foundation upon which a collective of musicians contribute. The album was laid down live in one take by an octet featuring brass and woodwind, and the end result is a heady brew of Pentangle, Jamie Lidell, Steely Dan and Terry Callier flavours.
Such comparisons, plus influences cited including Prefab Sprout, John Coltrane, Supertramp and Miles Davis aren’t the normal yawn-fest of names dropped over the last few years (Gang Of Four, The Fall, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Prince etc). This is one of several facts that sets RDA apart as a very unique proposition. RDA are on one hand handsome, slim young men with an knack for accessible indie pop and on the other, highly accomplished musicians with a love for jazz.
Pianist Arthur Lea studied jazz at the highly prestigious Royal Academy of Music and the album’s sophisticated arrangement, instrumentation and chops adds a dimension nowhere to be seen (or heard) from 99.9% of other new bands. It also adds an exotic and urbane air to proceedings, which at times veers into wigged out jazz funk before things are reined things back in, maintaining non-indulgent song structures.
Dan and Robin met at school in Newcastle. Later Robin moved to London to study and eventually teach Thai (as you do). Track 7 ‘Chang Mai’ is about the place of the same name in Thailand and the album’s final track ‘Kaw Hai Mere Kwaam Suk’ even has its chorus sung in Thai – not something you can say about just any new band! Back in London Robin met Arthur through shared student digs and the trio was completed when Dan moved down from Newcastle to immerse himself in the capital’s music scene.
We've got 5 copies to give away. For a chance of winning please eneter your details below.
Do you like competitions?
Then try these sites - |
|
