The Gorstey Lea Street Choir are – despite the name – a duo from Staffordshire (Michael Clapham and Russ Phillips) who through their new single ‘Bluebird, Hollywood…Domino’ create an out of world shimmering sound that encompasses folk and indie pop influences with an expansive, dramatic horizon. It is a sound that is filled with grace, energy and a touch of psychedelia. This track is magnificent: a statuesque, heart pounding anthem that draws in a bucolic, almost medieval thrum with a stadium-filling melody.
With production input from Ride’s Mark Gardener, an undeniable guarantee of quality control, ‘Bluebird, Hollywood…Domino’ is something that is quite unique, drawing in as it does a host of eclectic influences to deliver a style that is unique and bold. It feels rural and ancient yet at the same time fresh and vibrant.
According to Michael Clapham:
This song is a cautionary tale of days gone by, what may have been and where we are now, we are two man in our ‘mid lives’ (average age 51 and a half). We have a lot to look back and learn from and a lot to look forward too!!! It’s amazing what we have created, two middle aged men fumbling around with some of our favourite musical toys in Russ’s converted garage.
Creativity is not solely within the purview of the young, as this track proves:
Stirring stuff. The single is off the band’s forthcoming new album ‘…from Prince’s Park to Farsley – Volume I’ out on 9 July 2021 through Britain’s 500 Broadcast Recording Co.
You can listen to the song through all the usual streaming sites and get it via the link below where you can pre-order the album:
‘Bluebird, Hollywood… Domino’ was recorded at the Gorstey Shack (Russ’s converted garage) and Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton with producer Gavin Monaghan (Robert Plant, Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, Scott Matthews, Squeeze, Goldblade), who also produced and mixed this track. The forthcoming album also involves mixing (and a guest cello performance) by legendary producer George Shilling (Blur, Primal Scream, Cathal Coughlan, Teenage Fanclub, Mike Oldfield). Ride frontman and renowned producer Mark Gardener provided oversight and mastering at his OX4 Sound Studio near Oxford.
Feature Photograph: Michelle Martin
