Glass & Keys, by Grande Valise

Glass & Keys

by Grande Valise

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Comes in a matte gatefold card case with artwork by Andy

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	1.	My Midland Heart 03:54
	2.	Simon Says 03:45
	3.	Sunbeam 05:12
	4.	Charles & Jeremiah 04:05
	5.	New Invention 03:37
	6.	Foster, Rastrick & Co. 03:44
	7.	Around This Town 03:19
	8.	March of the Union 03:58
	9.	John Elliot Stands 05:16
	10.	People Not Places 03:56
	11.	Glass & Keys 06:31

about

Glass & Keys is the second album from Grande Valise, formerly the duo of Andy Miles and Becky Pickin and now a full-blown band of ‘synthpop pioneers’ (as described by Ian Passey!). Conceived as a personal history of the Black Country, Glass & Keys is named after the industries linked to towns where Andy and Becky grew up at either end of the region.

Taking inspiration from places, industries, feats of engineering and local pioneers, the band wanted Glass & Keys to be more nuanced than either a simple rose-tinted view of the Black Country or a misty-eyed lament about post-industrial wastelands. Influenced by the sounds of OMD, The Flaming Lips, of Montreal, Kraftwerk and Destroyer, the songs are about identity, relationships, ‘progress’, memory, loss and hope. Perhaps they’re what you’d expect from a librarian and an ex-historian!

This album has been years in the making. Since coming up with the concept, a series of fortunate and less fortunate events brought Andy and Becky together with some wonderful people who’ve given encouragement, inspiration and sparkle to the album, and the Grande Valise line up has expanded. The band includes John Napier (Combined Authority, Real Velour, The Snowflakes, Waler) and Carl Bayliss (Amoeba Teen, Flying Ant Day, The Humdrum Express, Sleuth). The album features other players including Dan Hartland and Ted Cartwright (Raphaella Kornarskis, Smokin’ Pilchards) as well as local actors, and it’s been produced, mixed and mastered by Sean Lloyd at Claptrap the Studio.

Track 7 narration contains modified quotations from en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Country

credits

released April 12, 2019

Andy Miles: Vocals, Guitars, Synth, Sequencing, Drums
Becky Pickin: Vocals, Synth, Bass, Melodica, Piano
John Napier: Vocals, Bass
Carl Bayliss: Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Sean Lloyd: Sequencing & Additional Instrumentation
Ted Cartwright: Saxophone
Dan Hartland: Trumpet
Frank Martino: Voice on Sunbeam
Tony Stamp: Voice on Around This Town

Tracks 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10 written by Andy Miles Tracks 2, 6, 7 & 11 written by Andy Miles & Becky Pickin Track 1 written by Andy Miles, Becky Pickin & John Napier
Recorded by Andy Miles (at home) & Sean Lloyd (at Claptrap the Studio)
Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Sean Lloyd at Claptrap the Studio

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about

Grande Valise England, UK

Synthpop songs from the heart of the Black Country. Grande Valise are a sometimes duo, sometimes four piece electronic indie pop band who have several love songs about trains. After releasing our home brewed, wonky guitar pop debut record, ‘Minnewater’ in 2013, we gave in to our inner disco ball and danced off into the world of synths. ... more

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