First Steps Into, by Blue States

First Steps Into

by Blue States

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1.	Allies 03:54	buy track
2.	First Steps..Last Stand 04:44	buy track
3.	Holding Ground 04:03	buy track
4.	The Electric Compliment 04:08	buy track
5.	Gaining Time 03:38	buy track
6.	100's and 1000's 04:31	buy track
7.	Look to Your Laurels 03:21	buy track
8.	Down the Days 03:45	buy track
9.	Red and Shine 03:30	buy track
10.	What Can Be Done to Right a Wrong 03:34	buy track
11.	Distant Shores 01:04	buy track
12.	Writing Home 03:24	buy track
13.	Last of Old England 03:38	buy track

about

With “First Steps Into…” Blue States return from whence they came - to being, to all intents and purposes, a one man band as they were on first album “Nothing Changes Under the Sun”. Having previously worked with vocalist Tahita on second album “Man Mountain” and turned into a fully fledged 3 piece on the third, “The Soundings”, Blue States is once again the sole work of Andy Dragazis, save for the able assistance of Sam Walker on drums and a string section. Heavily treated vocal duties are shared between Dragazis and Serena Strong.

The album was recorded in Dragazis' studio in Whitechapel, according to a schedule based around the next door mosques’ prayer time, and interrupted frequently by angry Imams.

Beginning with "Allies" and its other worldly vocal line, it’s as melodically dense and richly textured as you’d expect from Blue States. Taking inspiration from Vangelis, Aphrodite's Child, The Moody Blues, David Axlerod and Joe Meek, Dragazis weaves a rare subtlety through the album, climaxing in “Last of Old England” which builds from the bells of a Greek Orthodox church to an string laden climax replete with Zeppelin drums. Lovely.

In between working on "First Steps..." Dragazis found time to produce and arrange ex-label mates and new Interscope signings The Pipettes' album "We Are the Pipettes", record his mates, Eighteenth Day of May's debut album and join glam/prog outfit Zan Pan (whose first single 'Sirens of Titan' on new imprint Pigeon Coup Records is due to drop in July).

“First Steps Into...” is all set to be released by Memphis Industries on 27 August 2007. Watch out for the single Allies, released a week earlier with b side Pale House and Time Codeesque video by Doug Schachtel.

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released August 27, 2007

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Blue States London, UK

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