Brighton-based shoegazers Air Formation are set to release their self-titled sixth studio album this spring via Club AC30. Inspired by bands such as Flying Saucer Attack, Spiritual- ized, Explosions In The Sky and The Jesus and Mary Chain, Air Formation's music incorp- orates heavily delayed guitar and feedback, with droning keyboards, and ethereal vocals. Forming in 2000, long before spiritual forbearers Slowdive, Ride and Loop were consid- ered acceptable influences, the five-piece have been a mainstay of the modern shoegaze scene and have gained a devoted following, receiving critical acclaim from tastemakers including Consequence of Sound, Clash, and Louder Than War.

Briefly splitting in April 2011 after the release of their fourth studio album 'Nothing to Wish For (Nothing to Lose)', they reformed in 2014 for a special one-off show to celebrate 10 years of Club AC30. In 2018, the band released the critically acclaimed album 'Near Miss'. "Time goes fast," says guitarist and vocalist Matt Bartram. "We're still figuring it all out. But most importantly, I think Air Formation still feels totally relevant. All the time we enjoy doing it we will keep at it," he adds.

When it came to the writing and recording of the album, the band went back to listening to their favourite artists for influence including Bardo Pond and Mogwai to name a few, but ultimately, the album is influenced by all the Air Formation music that had come before. "How can we do something a bit different, but it still be Air Formation," says Bartram.

From the blissed-out vibes of album opener 'Pressure Drop' to the anthemic guitar crescendos of 'Only So Much Light', Air Formation are masters of noise and effects, constantly exploring the outer limits of guitar texture and volume. On 'Finding Gravity', fuzzed-out guitars explode into beatific distortion, while 'I Don't Want To Talk' and 'Crashing Out' shimmer and swirl. Elsewhere, the deafening waves of noise of 'The Day After Day' and dreamy 'Sparks Dies' reveal a band who find the heart in fuzz, while album closer 'The Final Wave' is a gorgeous, heavily textured expanse.

Air Formation is Matt Bartram (Guitars & Vocals), Ben Pierce (Bass), James Harrison (Drums), Ian Sheridan (Guitar) and Richard Parks (Keyboards).

TRACK LISTING

1. Pressure Drop
2. Only So Much Ligh
3. Finding Gravity
4. I Don't Want To Talk
5. Crashing Out
6. The Day After Day
7. Sparks Die
8. The Final Wave

Air Formation formed in 2000, long before spiritual forbearers Slowdive and Loop were considered acceptable influences. Since signing to Club AC30 back in 2005, a long time bastion of the modern shoegaze sound, the band have gained a devoted following and received critical acclaim, with Drowned In Sound describing the band as "one of the nation's most consistent outfits" and their incendiary live shows have seen them share stages with the likes of Swervedriver, Chapterhouse and The House of Love.

Originally released in February 2007 on CD, 'Daylight Storms' quickly became a classic album in the genre. Glowing reviews followed in the likes of Drowned In Sound, NME and Brooklyn Vegan, alongside radio play from 6Music's Steve Lamacq and Gideon Coe.

Air Formation in 2007 are: Matt Bartram (Guitars & Vocals), Ben Pierce (Bass), James Harrison(Drums), Phil Macy (Guitar) and Richard Parks (Keyboards).

TRACK LISTING

1. Cold Morning
2. Tidal
3. Daylight Storms
4. I Can't Remember Waking Up
5. Into View
6. Formation 1
7. You Have To Go Somewhere
8. Adrift
9. The Dark Has Fallen
10. Before We Forget

Formed by brothers Will and Matt Ritson, Formation's life-affirming blend of disco grooves, punk attitude and vehement social insight builds towards its ultimate statement as they deliver their eagerly anticipated debut album "Look At The Powerful People".“The album title refers to the moment when everyone has realised the secret power we have when we're all together,” adds Will. “For me, it’s a power that relates to the security that I found when I was young and hanging with my outsider friends. We had no money and no scene but we didn’t care because we had each other. We began to ask questions of the world and started to rebel about what we could or couldn’t do or say.” Produced by Leon Vynehall, ‘Look At The Powerful People’ demonstrates that Formation’s forward-thinking sonics have evolved to reach their full potential. In addition to the new single, other highlights such as ‘On The Board’ and ‘A Friend’ capture Formation’s irrepressible and bass-heavy cocktail of dirty dance rhythms which pound with the fiery energy of their live performances. At the other extreme, ‘Blood Red Hand’ in an understated, slow-burning anthem and the closing track ‘Ring’ offers something entirely different with a dreamy, piano-orientated approach closing the album on an upbeat high. In addition to the new tracks, the album also features fresh new productions of some of the key singles from Formation’s journey to date in the shape of ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Drugs’. Inspired by artists as diverse as Sly and the Family Stone, John Maus, Fugazi, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Herbie Hancock, Theo Parrish, Beastie Boys, Pantera and Ornette Coleman, Formation have built a cult following as well as exponential critical acclaim including a nomination for Best Newcomer at the NME Awards.

TRACK LISTING

1. Drugs
2. Pleasure
3. Powerful People
4. Back Then
5. On The Board
6. Gods
7. Buy And Sell
8. A Friend
9. Blood Red Hand
10. Ring 

A richness of voice; a depth of emotion; and wise beyond her years; with Listen To Formation, Look For the Signs, 23-year-old New Zealand native Nadia Reid has claimed her place as one of the country’s most evocative and profound young songwriters. Her music traces the sharp mountain peaks, azure coastline, and mirrored images of the land and sky that pinpoint her home country’s vast open landscapes.

“For me, inspiration for writing happens everywhere,” explains Nadia. “On buses, airplanes, walking, driving… it can be very unpredictable. My songs have a strong connection to the places they were written, from Port Chalmers, to Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.”

Whether nerding about with friends, stunning audiences into silence with her spellbinding live shows or unwinding in the tranquillity of her favourite hometown spot overlooking Port Chalmers’ harbour through her large-rimmed spectacles, Nadia Reid has achieved a gloriously fresh and eloquent new folk sound. “I’ve been in New Zealand my whole life and guess at times I take for granted the serene beauty that I live so closely with,” she says of her music’s majestic affiliation with nature. Mapping out tales of change and loss, whilst drawing inspiration from reading, writing, the human condition, falling in and out of love, death, and birth - it all lends to a superbly balanced album that moves surreptitiously between sparse and fragile melancholia to beautifully brutal lyricism with a philosophical maturity that bellies her years.

Born in Auckland, Nadia’s acoustic roots stem from an upbringing in a musical household where attending folk clubs and festivals were regular occurrences on the family calendar. “I was lucky to witness a lot of live music and theatre performances because my mum was an actress. I was encouraged to learn piano and guitar, and attended a Steiner school where we spent a lot of time in nature, singing songs.” Before long Nadia was listening to The Be Good Tanyas with friend and fellow recording artist Aldous Harding, which spurred her chosen career path. “There was something spiritual about the Tanyas’ records - I vividly remember the goose-bump feelings up my arms, a true connection to the lyrics and vocals,” she recalls. “[Aldous] was the first person who told me I had a good voice and I thank her for that. I admire her as an artist and writer, and we like to keep up with what each other is up to.”

Creating her own enchanting wonderworld, each of Nadia’s songs explores the elements; truly organic, her vocals ebb, flow and soar but are always ignited with fire from the gut. Her lyrics clearly reference lush landscapes but equally reflect alienation provided by the surrounding Pacific Ocean and mortality of living in such close proximity to Mother Nature’s wrath, as experienced whilst living in Christchurch at the time of 2011’s devastating earthquake. “It shook the city to its core,” Nadia recalls. “I’m sure living through it has shaped my personality and writing. My first EP was recorded just months afterwards, it was a strange time. We were all quite fragile, but I was braver somehow.”

Boldly infusing folk with full flavour, Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs was produced by Ben Edwards, owner of Lyttelton Records in his Sitting Room studios with Nadia’s band consisting bassist Richie Pickard, guitarist Sam Taylor and percussionist Joe McCallum. Whilst 'Reaching Through’s rich but unhurried nature evokes She Hangs Brightly -era Mazzy Star and intricate nuances of Beth Orton are recalled on lead single ‘Call The Days’ which talks of moving to a new town and was the first song penned after Nadia moved from Christchurch to Wellington; spurred on by a “panic attack” and being “worried about making the right choices in life”. Elsewhere ‘Runway’ and ‘Some Are Lucky’ immediately channel Nadia’s love of TBGT’s Jolie Holland and appreciation for New Zealand’s Maori music by Maisey Rika and Anika Moa, plus the inspirational narratives of Kenyan-born Somali poet Warsan Shire.

"It has all that well-smoked wisdom, that mingling of strength and yearning that seems to charge the work of all my favourite female artists – Laura Marling, The Weather Station, Sharon Van Etten and Tift Merritt, to name but four. Reid is just 23, and since I am loathe to run that “old beyond her years” line, let us simply say that when I hear a young artist making an album as soulful and rich and self-possessed as Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs, I feel so thrilled not only for the existence of that record but for all the music they will make over all the years to come.” THE GUARDIAN.

TRACK LISTING

Runway
Track Of The Time
Reaching Through
Holy Low
Just To Feel Alive
Seasons Change
Some Are Lucky
Ruby
Call The Days
Holy Loud