Manchester's CAULBEARERS present 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)', an indiepop celebration of simplicity and wonder

"Impressive... stellar, believable and inspiring.... vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Music worthy of top-dog soundtracks.. Caulbearers struts in with a sonic funkadelic swagger and groovy bassline that recalls early works by the likes of RHCP and No Doubt" ~ Spill Magazine

“Funky and original... All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Exploring the spiritual ties that bind us as communities" ~ God is in the TV

'Texturally rich and gorgeously cinematic... It may rest on the creative shoulders of musical giants, but it has its eyes set firmly on the future" ~ The Swindonian

Manchester's Caulbearers presents 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)', a spacious yet vivacious and sanguine offering that is a celebration of the simplicity and wonder of silent meditation practice. The accompanying video was filmed by Ben Taylor with editing, post-production and visual effects by Latent Variables.

The original version, released on the band's 'More Lie Deep' EP, is the B-side of Caulbearers' new funk-rock single 'Twisted Cord', an infectious high-frequency funk-rock offering with Stone Roses-eque bass and bittersweet, multi-layered laments. It's also a vibrant and grounded celebration of this earth and humanity's interconnectedness.

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor), this follows the slower, more spacious and meditative sound of their 2021 single 'Burst Through The Borders'and B-side 'Solid Supposed'.

Fronted by Damien Mahoney, core members included guitarist Anton Hunter(Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire and drummer Phil Bennett. Somerset-based ethereal folk artist Ruth Blake also contributes vocals in her ongoing collaboration with the band.

"This song is about how observing our own natural breath and physical sensations in the body can be so effective to access & transform buried emotions. Often we have learnt to ignore our true feelings from a young age and rely on external coping mechanisms to numb pain or to ‘get out if it’, so we can feel disassociated from our bodies at times of stress and anxiety. As the psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk says, ’The Body Keeps The Score!’” says Damien Mahoney.

"The song asks ‘what’s gonna be your dummy next?’ In my experience, we often subtly try to swap one ‘dummy’ or addiction for another, rather than staying present to really feel what is happening in our bodies. if we can ‘turn the noise down’ enough to listen, they are an incredible source of wisdom for us."

The song 'Twisted Cord' is about how intense events in our lives can act like initiations by shaking up, radically changing and enriching our perspectives and features several acclaimed Manchester musicians, including pianist John Ellis (The Cinematic Orchestra, Stone Roses' John Squire, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tom Jones, Lily Allen) , renowned violinist Olivia Moore (Jason Singh, Stuart McCallum, Suns of Arqa) and bassist Alex Berry (The Earlies, King Creosote, Daniel Johnston, Thea Gilmore, Micah P Hinson).

The single's cover showcases original artwork by Ben Taylor, a painter and sculptor who combines natural materials and up-cycled gems to create incredible, large-scale pieces of work. These reflect Ben’s reverence for nature, plants & magic, depicting some of the profound experiences of ancient spiritual traditions he has been initiated into.

The 'Twisted Cord' single is out now, available across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can also be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, recorded, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney at Padded Cell Studio (except piano & keys recorded by John Ellis at Limefield Studio)
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail at Airtight Studios
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering
Cover artwork by Ben Taylor
Video directed by Ben Taylor, Damien Mahoney & Latent Variables.
Filmed by Ben Taylor.
Video editing, post-production and visual effects by Latent Variables

Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube| Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud| Apple Music | Spotify |

Funk-rock collective CAULBEARERS unveil earthy 'Twisted Cord' single. Their new 2-track single is out now

"Impressive... stellar, believable and inspiring.... vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Music worthy of top-dog soundtracks.. Caulbearers struts in with a sonic funkadelic swagger and groovy bassline that recalls early works by the likes of RHCP and No Doubt" ~ Spill Magazine

“Funky and original... All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Exploring the spiritual ties that bind us as communities" ~ God is in the TV

'Texturally rich and gorgeously cinematic... It may rest on the creative shoulders of musical giants, but it has its eyes set firmly on the future" ~ The Swindonian

Manchester's Caulbearers return with a vibrant and grounded celebration of this earth and humanity's interconnectedness on their new infectious funk-rock single 'Twisted Cord', an infectious soulful rock offering with dark funk grooves and bittersweet, multi-layered laments.

Their stunning earthy new video was filmed by filmed by Ben Taylor and directed by Ben Taylor, Damien Mahoney and Latent Variables with editing, post-production and visual effects by Latent Variables.

The inspiring indiepop B-side 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)' is a spacious yet vivacious and sanguine offering. The original version can be found on the band's 'More Lie Deep' EP (2011).

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor), this follows the slower, more spacious and meditative sound of their 2021 single 'Burst Through The Borders'with B-side 'Solid Supposed'.

With pulsating guitar hooks and distorted drum breaks, the song explores different tonalities usually associated with Flamenco, Arabic music and Indian ragas, enhanced by renowned violinist Olivia Moore (Jason Singh, Stuart McCallum, Suns of Arqa), whose own work fuses jazz with Indian classical music. This track also features such acclaimed Manchester musicians as pianist John Ellis (The Cinematic Orchestra, Stone Roses' John Squire, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tom Jones, Lily Allen) and bassist Alex Berry (The Earlies, King Creosote, Daniel Johnston, Thea Gilmore, Micah P Hinson).

Fronted by Damien Mahoney, core members included guitarist Anton Hunter(Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire and drummer Phil Bennett. Somerset-based ethereal folk artist Ruth Blake also contributes vocals in her ongoing collaboration with the band.

The lyrics for 'Twisted Cord' explore how intense events in our lives can act like initiations by shaking up, radically changing and enriching our perspectives. Sometimes we need to break down or be broken apart, in order to come back together stronger and with greater understanding. The healing of our wounds over time can transform into wisdom, bringing more colour, depth and detail to the tapestry of our lives.

The song also celebrates the concept of Animism - the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence - a foundational thread for the varied belief systems of many indigenous peoples, who deeply understand the importance of ritual, ceremony, initiation and connection to nature that the majority of us in the west have forgotten.

‘The songs are rarely stories specifically, but more like moods, deep emotional states or parallel worlds that we enter into, where scenarios, perspectives and protagonists can shift and morph with a dream-like quality,” says Damien Mahoney.

Working with a different artist for each single, 'Twisted Cord' showcases original artwork by Ben Taylor, a painter and sculptor who often combines natural materials and up-cycled gems to create incredible, large-scale pieces of work. These reflect Ben’s reverence for nature, plants & magic, depicting some of the profound experiences of ancient spiritual traditions he has been initiated into.

As of February 25, 'Twisted Cord' is available across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can also be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, recorded, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney at Padded Cell Studio (except piano & keys recorded by John Ellis at Limefield Studio)
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail at Airtight Studios
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering
Cover artwork by Ben Taylor
Video directed by Ben Taylor, Damien Mahoney & Latent Variables.
Filmed by Ben Taylor.
Video editing, post-production and visual effects by Latent Variables

Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |

CAULBEARERS release funk-rock delight 'Twisted Cord', plus indiepop world-beat B-side 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)'

"Impressive... stellar, believable and inspiring.... vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Music worthy of top-dog soundtracks.. Caulbearers struts in with a sonic funkadelic swagger and groovy bassline that recalls early works by the likes of RHCP and No Doubt" ~ Spill Magazine

“Funky and original... All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Exploring the spiritual ties that bind us as communities" ~ God is in the TV

'Texturally rich and gorgeously cinematic... It may rest on the creative shoulders of musical giants, but it has its eyes set firmly on the future" ~ The Swindonian

Manchester-based Caulbearers present their new upbeat 2-track single, comprised of 'Twisted Cord', an infectious funk-rock offering, and inspiring indiepop B-side 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)'. The first sees Caulbearers back with their signature dark funk grooves and bittersweet, multi-layered laments, while the second is a vivacious and sanguine offering.

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor), this follows the slower, more spacious and meditative sound of their 2021 single 'Burst Through The Borders'with B-side 'Solid Supposed'.

With pulsating guitar hooks and distorted drum breaks, the song explores different tonalities usually associated with Flamenco, Arabic music and Indian ragas, enhanced by renowned violinist Olivia Moore (Jason Singh, Stuart McCallum, Suns of Arqa), whose own work fuses jazz with Indian classical music. This track also features such acclaimed Manchester musicians as pianist John Ellis (The Cinematic Orchestra, Stone Roses' John Squire, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tom Jones, Lily Allen) and bassist Alex Berry (The Earlies, King Creosote, Daniel Johnston, Thea Gilmore, Micah P Hinson).

Fronted by Damien Mahoney, core members included guitarist Anton Hunter(Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire and drummer Phil Bennett. Somerset-based ethereal folk artist Ruth Blake also contributes vocals in her ongoing collaboration with the band.

The lyrics for 'Twisted Cord' explore how intense events in our lives can act like initiations by shaking up, radically changing and enriching our perspectives. Sometimes we need to break down or be broken apart, in order to come back together stronger and with greater understanding. The healing of our wounds over time can transform into wisdom, bringing more colour, depth and detail to the tapestry of our lives.

The song also celebrates the concept of Animism - the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence - a foundational thread for the varied belief systems of many indigenous peoples, who deeply understand the importance of ritual, ceremony, initiation and connection to nature that the majority of us in the west have forgotten.

‘The songs are rarely stories specifically, but more like moods, deep emotional states or parallel worlds that we enter into, where scenarios, perspectives and protagonists can shift and morph with a dream-like quality,” says Damien Mahoney.

Working with a different artist for each single, 'Twisted Cord' showcases original artwork by Ben Taylor, a painter and sculptor who often combines natural materials and up-cycled gems to create incredible, large-scale pieces of work. These reflect Ben’s reverence for nature, plants & magic, depicting some of the profound experiences of ancient spiritual traditions he has been initiated into.

As of February 25, 'Twisted Cord' is available across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can also be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, recorded, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney at Padded Cell Studio (except piano & keys recorded by John Ellis at Limefield Studio)
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail at Airtight Studios
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering
Single cover artwork by Ben Taylor


Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |

Manchester's Caulbearers present earthly funk rock delight on 'Twisted Cord' single

"Impressive... stellar, believable and inspiring.... vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Music worthy of top-dog soundtracks.. Caulbearers struts in with a sonic funkadelic swagger and groovy bassline that recalls early works by the likes of RHCP and No Doubt" ~ Spill Magazine

“Funky and original... All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Exploring the spiritual ties that bind us as communities" ~ God is in the TV

'Texturally rich and gorgeously cinematic... It may rest on the creative shoulders of musical giants, but it has its eyes set firmly on the future" ~ The Swindonian

“Twisted Cord' https://soundcloud.com/caulbearers/twisted-cord/s-D13QgGADdVX

Caulbearers

Twisted Cord

Single Cell Recordings

25 February 2022

View Promo 

Manchester's Caulbearers present earthly funk rock delight on 'Twisted Cord' single

FOR FANS OF: Massive Attack, early Maroon 5, Sufjan Stevens, Moby, Djo, Cinematic Orchestra, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, A Certain Ratio
Photos by Jan School, except collage images by Ben Taylor & Latent Variables
FCC clean


FOR SHARING
'Twisted Cord' https://soundcloud.com/caulbearers/twisted-cord/s-D13QgGADdVX
Bandcamp
 https://caulbearers.bandcamp.com/album/twisted-cord-single
Pre-save the single https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/caulbearers/twisted-cord
'Solid Supposed' feat. Ruth Blake (2021) https://youtu.be/1FPtinaYcGg 
'Burst Through The Borders' (2021) https://youtu.be/e4DgMN6VKsQ
'Over Comes A Cloud' (2020) https://youtu.be/4ckjxV0FDY0

FOR REVIEW & AIRPLAY
Soundcloud preview 
https://soundcloud.com/caulbearers/sets/twisted-cord_release/s-0kXxFSU9cso
Online press kit https://haulix.promo/7nb
Download via Dropbox https://bit.ly/3cBjkAb
         
"Impressive... stellar, believable and inspiring.... vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Music worthy of top-dog soundtracks.. Caulbearers struts in with a sonic funkadelic swagger and groovy bassline that recalls early works by the likes of RHCP and No Doubt" ~ Spill Magazine

“Funky and original... All music should be this progressive” Jammerzine

"Exploring the spiritual ties that bind us as communities" God is in the TV

'Texturally rich and gorgeously cinematic... It may rest on the creative shoulders of musical giants, but it has its eyes set firmly on the future" ~ The Swindonian


Manchester-based Caulbearers have announced their next release - the upbeat funk-rock single 'Twisted Cord', along with B-side 'Synching (Bubbling Spring Remix)'. This offering sees Caulbearers back with their signature dark funk grooves and bittersweet, multi-layered laments.

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor), this follows the slower, more spacious and meditative sound of their 2021 single 'Burst Through The Borders'with B-side 'Solid Supposed'.

With pulsating guitar hooks and distorted drum breaks, the song explores different tonalities usually associated with Flamenco, Arabic music and Indian ragas, enhanced by renowned violinist Olivia Moore (Jason Singh, Stuart McCallum, Suns of Arqa), whose own work fuses jazz with Indian classical music. This track also features such acclaimed Manchester musicians as pianist John Ellis (The Cinematic Orchestra, Stone Roses' John Squire, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tom Jones, Lily Allen) and bassist Alex Berry (The Earlies, King Creosote, Daniel Johnston, Thea Gilmore, Micah P Hinson).

Fronted by Damien Mahoney, core members included guitarist Anton Hunter(Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire and drummer Phil Bennett. Somerset-based ethereal folk artist Ruth Blake also contributes vocals in her ongoing collaboration with the band.

The lyrics for 'Twisted Cord' explore how intense events in our lives can act like initiations by shaking up, radically changing and enriching our perspectives. Sometimes we need to break down or be broken apart, in order to come back together stronger and with greater understanding. The healing of our wounds over time can transform into wisdom, bringing more colour, depth and detail to the tapestry of our lives.

The song also celebrates the concept of Animism  - the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence - a foundational thread for the varied belief systems of many indigenous peoples, who deeply understand the importance of ritual, ceremony, initiation and connection to nature that the majority of us in the west have forgotten.

‘The songs are rarely stories specifically, but more like moods, deep emotional states or parallel worlds that we enter into, where scenarios, perspectives and protagonists can shift and morph with a dream-like quality,” says Damien Mahoney.

Working with a different artist for each single, 'Twisted Cord' showcases original artwork by Ben Taylor, a painter and sculptor who often combines natural materials and up-cycled gems to create incredible, large-scale pieces of work. These reflect Ben’s reverence for nature, plants & magic, depicting some of the profound experiences of ancient spiritual traditions he has been initiated into.

As of February 25, 'Twisted Cord' will be available across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can already be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, recorded, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney at Padded Cell Studio (except piano & keys recorded by John Ellis at Limefield Studio)
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail at Airtight Studios
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering
Single cover artwork by Ben Taylor


Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify | 

Caulbearers present 'Solid Supposed' in support of 'Burst Through The Borders' single

"Impressive... what it might sound like were you to cross Bill Laswell and Massive Attack with Laura Marling and Mojave 3... stellar, believable and inspiring. With a tandem of female and male vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine"~ Big Takeover Magazine

“Funky and original in such a quirky way that the sauvé jazz-infused style and improv mindset create such a tasty track that you find yourself giving multiple listens within the same sitting. All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Caulbearers have been one of the city's forward-thinking musical forces. A unique blend of genres backed up with a commitment to alternative lifestyles which brings real soul to their various endeavors" ~ Danny Moran (Northern Soul)

“With so much new music clamouring for attention now, Caulbearers deserve a place in your heart because they are thinking about the world and offering optimism where others are just ranting“ ~ 160 gig blog

Manchester-based Caulbearers present 'Solid Supposed' featuring Somerset-based vocalist Ruth Blake, with haunting vocals and multi-layered delivery, perfectly resonating with the dream-like, otherworldly theme of the lyrics. The vocals bathed in distortion and delay, accompanied by Caulbearers’ signature horns, strings and live breakbeats.

The stunning B-side to their single 'Burst Through The Borders', a different version of this song was released on the ‘More Lie Deep’ EP (2011), In this rendition, frontman Damien Mahoney's vocals are switched out for Blake's. This is part of an ongoing collaboration between the two artists, Mahoney also having produced her recently-released single 'Brave Ships' single.

Influenced by modern, urban existence and celebrating the sacred in the everyday and the supposedly mundane, the song’s lyrics for 'Burst Through The Borders' were inspired by dreaming of a beautiful revolution occurring in the markets, pubs, boardrooms, hospitals and schools of our towns and cities. The fantastic cover artwork was created by James Roper.

Shot almost entirely on mobile phones during the Covid 19 epidemic and under various states of lockdown restrictions in 2020, the accompanying video depicts eerily empty scenes of Manchester, the Blackburn countryside and the Norfolk coastline. This collaboration between Mahoney and editor / animator James Stirzaker is rooted in a long history of working with the band, including artwork for the ‘Over Comes A Cloud’ single (December 2020). As in the song, the natural world with its mysteries, wisdom and wonder, is the main protagonist.

“I wanted to capture all these locations at such a unique time when everything felt so different, to help tell the story of a song that imagines great transformations of our societies, spaces, cultures and of ourselves," says Damian Mahoney.

“As a species, we have so many difficult challenges to find solutions for, that it can feel overwhelming to know where and how to start. I wanted to write something that had total faith in the possibility of change, in the ability to transcend the complexities of our modern lives with simplicity. The song imagines this energy of love flooding through the world and transforming the institutions and purposes of our societies and our lives. By its nature, it dismantles the barriers that cause hardship for so many and the borders that separate us from each other."

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor) at Eve Mastering in Manchester, this track features numerous renowned musicians - drummer Howard Jacobs (808 State, Beth Gibbons, Homelife, Toolshed), guitarist Anton Hunter (Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire, bassist Nicholas Malin, and acoustic guitar by Andrew Mucha. Acclaimed composer and polyrhythmic pioneer Edward Chilvers also contributes piano.

Caulbearers was formed in 2007 with contributors from around the UK and Europe. A DIY ethic has coursed through the band’s work from releases, design and production to the recording process. This hybrid ensemble blends diverse musical styles, fusing them together live and in the studio, weaving nu jazz and folk with elements of hip-hop, funk, dub, soul and afrobeat.

'Burst Through The Borders' is available across digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney
Rhythm and guitar tracks recorded at Airtight Studios in Manchester
Vocal & instrument recording by Damien Mahoney at his Padded Cell studio
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering in Greater Manchester
Video directed by James Stirzaker & Damien Mahoney
Filmed by Elizabeth Murphy, Damien Mahoney, James Stirzaker, Elia Santini, Richard Smith and Amii Priestley
Video editing & post-production by James Stirzaker
Single cover artwork by James Roper
Photos by Jan Schoof. Collages by James Stirzaker


Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |

Caulbearers explore native Manchester, celebrate humanity on 'Burst Through The Borders'

"Impressive... what it might sound like were you to cross Bill Laswell and Massive Attack with Laura Marling and Mojave 3... stellar, believable and inspiring. With a tandem of female and male vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

“Funky and original in such a quirky way that the sauvé jazz-infused style and improv mindset create such a tasty track that you find yourself giving multiple listens within the same sitting. All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Caulbearers have been one of the city's forward-thinking musical forces. A unique blend of genres backed up with a commitment to alternative lifestyles which brings real soul to their various endeavors" ~ Danny Moran (Northern Soul)

“With so much new music clamouring for attention now, Caulbearers deserve a place in your heart because they are thinking about the world and offering optimism where others are just ranting“ ~ 160 gig blog

Manchester-based Caulbearers present their new single 'Burst Through The Borders', influenced by modern, urban existence and celebrating the sacred in the everyday and the supposedly mundane. The fantastic single cover artwork was created by James Roper. The accompanying video is a collaboration between Mahoney and editor / animator James Stirzaker, who has a long history of working with the band.

Formed in 2007, Caulbearers are a collective led by Damien Mahoney, with contributors hailing from around the UK and Europe. A DIY ethic has coursed through the band’s work, including releases, design, production and much of the recording process. This hybrid ensemble is known for blending diverse musical styles and fusing them together on stage, weaving nu jazz and folk with elements of hip-hop, funk, dub, soul and afrobeat.

The video was shot almost entirely on mobile phones during the Covid 19 epidemic and in various states of lockdown restrictions in 2020. It depicts eerily empty scenes of Manchester, including the heart of the city centre. Other locations include Blackburn countryside and the Norfolk coastline. Singers Ruth Blake and Damien Mahoney are the only humans seen in the video, accompanied by various birds enjoying brief cameos throughout. As in the song, the natural world with its mysteries, wisdom and wonder, is the main protagonist of the video.

“I wanted to capture all these locations at such a unique time when everything felt so different, to help tell the story of a song that imagines great transformations of our societies, spaces, cultures and of ourselves. When everything initially locked down in the UK, we only had access to our phones and each other, so my wife Liz and I took a DIY approach and would go out filming in the early morning. As the year progressed, other friends also filmed sections and when times of less restriction came, we visited more locations but kept the same approach and aesthetic throughout," says Damian Mahoney.

Written in 2017, the song’s lyrics for 'Burst Through The Borders' were inspired by timeless texts by authors such as Idries Shah, Kahlil Gibran and Neil Douglas-Klotz whilst simultaneously dreaming of a beautiful revolution occurring in the markets, pubs, boardrooms, hospitals and schools of our towns and cities.

“As a species, we have so many difficult challenges to find solutions for, that it can feel overwhelming to know where and how to start. I wanted to write something that had total faith in the possibility of change, in the ability to transcend the complexities of our modern lives with simplicity. The song imagines this energy of love flooding through the world and transforming the institutions and purposes of our societies and our lives. By its nature, it dismantles the barriers that cause hardship for so many and the borders that separate us from each other. I wanted to write something that included everyone and everything. I was imagining this powerful force, reaching and filling up all these places and the people in them, leaving no one behind," says Damien Mahoney.

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor) at Eve Mastering in Greater Manchester, this track features numerous renowned musicians. Among them are drummer Howard Jacobs (808 State, Beth Gibbons, Homelife, Toolshed), guitarist Anton Hunter (Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire, bassist Nicholas Malin, and additional acoustic guitar by Andrew Mucha. Ruth Blake joins Damien Mahoney on vocals, while acclaimed composer and polyrhythmic pioneer Edward Chilverscontributes piano.

Along with the A-side, Caulbearers presents a stunning b-side - 'Solid Supposed' featuring Ruth Blake, whose latest single 'Brave Ships' was produced by Damien Mahoney. Not long ago, Caulbearers also released the single 'Over Comes A Cloud', which marked the beginning of a blossoming relation with Blake.

Caulbearers' music and sound is influenced by an eclectic range of artists, including Bill Laswell, Toots & The Maytals, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Curtis Mayfield, Talking Heads, Andy Weatherall, Brian Eno, Lee Scratch Perry and The Specials.

'Burst Through The Borders' will be released on April 29 and will be available across digital platforms, including and Apple Music and Spotify. It can already be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney
Rhythm and guitar tracks recorded at Airtight Studios in Manchester
Vocal & instrument recording by Damien Mahoney at his Padded Cell studio
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering in Greater Manchester
Video directed by James Stirzaker & Damien Mahoney
Filmed by Elizabeth Murphy, Damien Mahoney, James Stirzaker, Elia Santini, Richard Smith and Amii Priestley
Video editing & post-production by James Stirzaker
Single cover artwork by James Roper
Photos by Jan Schoof. Collages by James Stirzaker


Keep up with Caulbearers
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Ruth Blake
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

Manchester's Caulbearers radiate love on 'Burst Through The Borders' single

"Impressive... what it might sound like were you to cross Bill Laswell and Massive Attack with Laura Marling and Mojave 3... stellar, believable and inspiring. With a tandem of female and male vocals and lyrics that are heartfelt, hopeful and genuine" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

“Funky and original in such a quirky way that the sauvé jazz-infused style and improv mindset create such a tasty track that you find yourself giving multiple listens within the same sitting. All music should be this progressive” ~ Jammerzine

"Caulbearers have been one of the city's forward-thinking musical forces. A unique blend of genres backed up with a commitment to alternative lifestyles which brings real soul to their various endeavors" ~ Danny Moran (Northern Soul)

“With so much new music clamouring for attention now, Caulbearers deserve a place in your heart because they are thinking about the world and offering optimism where others are just ranting“ ~ 160 gig blog

Image 4-3-21 at 7.39 AM.JPG

Manchester-based Caulbearers present their new single 'Burst Through The Borders', influenced by modern, urban existence and celebrating the sacred in the everyday and the supposedly mundane. The fantastic single cover artwork was created by James Roper.

Caulbearers are a Manchester-based collective of musicians, formed in 2007 and led by Damien Mahoney, with contributors hailing from around the UK and Europe. A DIY ethic has coursed through the band’s work, including releases, design, production and much of the recording process. This hybrid ensemble is known for blending diverse musical styles and fusing them together on stage, weaving nu jazz and folk with elements of hip-hop, funk, dub, soul and afrobeat.

Written in 2017, the song’s lyrics for 'Burst Through The Borders' were inspired by timeless texts by authors such as Idries Shah, Kahlil Gibran and Neil Douglas-Klotz whilst simultaneously dreaming of a beautiful revolution occurring in the markets, pubs, boardrooms, hospitals and schools of our towns and cities.

“As a species, we have so many difficult challenges to find solutions for, that it can feel overwhelming to know where and how to start. I wanted to write something that had a total faith in the possibility of change, in the ability to transcend the complexities of our modern lives with simplicity. The song imagines this energy of love flooding through the world and transforming the institutions and purposes of our societies and our lives. By its nature, it dismantles the barriers that cause hardship for so many and the borders that separate us from each other. I wanted to write something that included everyone and everything. I was imagining this powerful force, reaching and filling up all these places and the people in them, leaving no one behind," says Damien Mahoney.

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail (Badly Drawn Boy, Jah Wobble, Everything Everything, I Am Kloot, Happy Mondays) and mastered by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr, Charlatans, Factory Floor) at Eve Mastering in Greater Manchester, this track features numerous renowned musicians. Among them are drummer Howard Jacobs (808 State, Beth Gibbons, Homelife, Toolshed), guitarist Anton Hunter (Beats and Pieces Big Band, Article XI), cellist Stefan Skrimshire, bassist Nicholas Malin, and additional acoustic guitar by Andrew Mucha. Ruth Blake joins Damien Mahoney on vocals, while acclaimed composer and polyrhythmic pioneer Edward Chilverscontributes piano.

Along with the A-side, Caulbearers presents a stunning b-side - 'Solid Supposed' featuring Ruth Blake, whose latest single 'Brave Ships' was produced by Damien Mahoney. Not long ago, Caulbearers also released the single 'Over Comes A Cloud', which marked the beginning of a blossoming relation with Blake.

"This song is concerned with the macro and the micro of our experience: The wider, universal picture and the tiniest detail, with a gaze of love and compassion for all and a much needed sense of humour for the cosmic joke that we find ourselves part of. Out of states of difficulty and uncertainty sometimes come the more positive songs! The words can be the healing themselves, a reminder of a way out or through; that all is not lost, that transformation and renewal are possible," says Damien Mahoney.

Caulbearers' music and sound is influenced by an eclectic range of artists, including Bill Laswell, Toots & The Maytals, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Curtis Mayfield, Talking Heads, Andy Weatherall, Brian Eno, Lee Scratch Perry and The Specials.

'Burst Through The Borders' can be pre-ordered from all digital platforms including Bandcamp and Apple Music and will be released on April, 29th 2021.

CREDITS
Written, produced & edited by Damien Mahoney
Rhythm and guitar tracks recorded at Airtight Studios in Manchester
Vocal & instrument recording by Damien Mahoney at his Padded Cell studio
Mixed by Seadna Mcphail
Mastered by Jim Spencer at Eve Mastering in Greater Manchester
Video directed by James Stirzaker & Damien Mahoney
Filmed by Elizabeth Murphy, Damien Mahoney, James Stirzaker, Elia Santini, Richard Smith and Amii Priestley
Video editing & post-production by James Stirzaker
Single cover artwork by James Roper
Photos by Jan Schoof. Collages by James Stirzaker


Keep up with Caulbearers
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Keep up with Ruth Blake
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