The impressive debut single from new English band Seabirds is out today! Entitled ‘Real Tears’ (matinée 090), the two–track 7″ is available on transparent sea blue vinyl and digital formats and is the current top seller in the Matinée shop. Fresh off an appearance at this summer’s Indietracks Festival, the Nottingham five piece have delivered the perfect debut featuring superb melodies, multiple guitars, soaring male vocals, and great female harmonies.

Lead track ‘Real Tears’ is a catchy and absolutely irresistible song set in the North West of England. A story about the first time you see somebody cry, the song starts with a carefully strummed guitar and male vocals but layers in rhythm guitars, female backing vocals, and dynamic percussion before reaching its dramatic conclusion. Flipside ‘Oh Buoy!’ turns up the guitars for a song about the excitement of a new relationship, and showcases some ace 60s jangle, more female harmonies, and a pretty excellent guitar solo.

The single recalls contemporary Scottish legends Belle and Sebastian if they grew up in a tougher part of town or the American band Voxtrot sifted through an English pop filter. It’s a very promising start for a young band and an excellent addition to the Matinée discography!

The 7” is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies on colored vinyl and comes with a free download code. If you purchase a copy from the Matinée shop you’ll get a free immediate download of the songs as well. You can preview both tracks on our Soundcloud player below. Enjoy!

Swedish pop sensations Azure Blue return to the new release shelves October 8th with a brilliant new album ‘Beyond The Dreams There’s Infinite Doubt’ (matcd063) in deluxe matte finish eco-wallet CD and digital formats.

The album features the first new Azure Blue recordings since the warmly received debut album ‘Rule of Thirds’ (matcd059). The debut received astounding critical praise, winning a Swedish independent grammy—the Manifest award—for best pop album in 2012 and enjoying exposure on both Swedish national TV and Spanish national radio.

Among the outstanding reviews for the album, The Line Of Best Fit (UK) called it “nostalgia fuelled pop harking back to the heyday of Factory Records,” while Blurt Magazine (USA) named it “the best electro-pop record in recent memory.” Azure Blue toured extensively on the back of the success of the debut, across Europe in 2012 and taking in a live North American debut at the New York City Popfest in June of this year.

The new album builds on the tremendous success of the debut with highly personal and deeply romantic songwriting bathed in especially polished production. Lead single ‘The Road I Know’ has been described as “a cacophony of vintage synthesizers battling for attention over a bed of whiplash electronic drums, all toned down by Tobias Isaksson’s romantic, softly delivered vocals.” The song is incredibly melodic and majestic all at once and recalls the magnificence of the Pet Shop Boys or New Order at their very best.

Among many album highlights, opening track ‘Time Is On Our Side’ showcases Tobias’ elegant, warm vocals set to ambitiously sweeping instrumentation, while ‘Willows and Pines’ displays a downbeat splendor of captivating electronica and ‘Sunset’ is a hypnotic and especially ebullient masterpiece that sparkles in all the right places.

Preorders begin soon in the Matinée shop. In the meantime, have a listen to album highlights ‘The Road I Know’ and ‘Willows and Pines’ on the player below. A third track ‘Sunset’ will premiere here on Friday so check back then for another taste of this great album!

The debut single ‘Real Tears’ (matinée 090) from new English band Seabirds is just back from the pressing plant so you lucky ducks can order your very own copy now from the Matinée shop! Fresh off an appearance at this summer’s Indietracks Festival, the Nottingham five-piece has delivered the perfect debut featuring superb melodies, multiple guitars, soaring male vocals, and great female harmonies.

The title track is a catchy and absolutely irresistible song set in the North West of England. A story about the first time you see somebody cry, the song starts with a carefully strummed guitar and male vocals but layers in rhythm guitars, female backing vocals, and dynamic percussion before reaching its dramatic conclusion. The song is now featured on our Soundcloud and the player below if you’d like a preview. Flipside ‘Oh Buoy!’ turns up the guitars for a song about the excitement of a new relationship, and showcases some ace 60s jangle, more female harmonies, and a pretty excellent guitar solo. Top quality stuff.

The single recalls contemporary Scottish legends Belle and Sebastian if they grew up in a tougher part of town or the American band Voxtrot sifted through an English pop filter. It’s a very promising start for a young band and an excellent addition to the Matinée discography.

The 7″ is pressed on transparent sea blue vinyl in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies. The official release date is September 24 but you can get a copy RIGHT NOW exclusively from the Matinée shop where you’ll also find smashing new 7″ singles from Math and Physics Club, The Steinbecks, and Bubblegum Lemonade plus a host of other great releases.