New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Green Light Go Entertainment) Putting all the pieces together. It's what Manchester's Blind
Atlas excels at, and it's what makes their music so unique. They've assembled a band of multi-instrumentalists to synthesize disparate influences: The
Rolling Stones to Townes Van Zandt right through to artists such as
Calexico and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to create a "melting pot of British and American Rock N' Roll." Even the band's name was a jigsaw puzzle assembled from distinct sources. "We just got together, got drunk and chopped up lots of words a la Bowie or William Burroughs," says singer Ross Thompson. "Then we just pulled them out of a hat and Blind
Atlas was born." Their latest EP, "Iron Wall," recorded with Christian Madden from the Earlies, at
Modern English Studios, showcases the band's team writing style in the three tracks, which range in sound from the dark tribal title track, to the decidedly country "Mary Anne" to "My Proud Mountains", originally written and recorded by Townes Van Zandt, reinterpreted with sweet harmonies and delicate electric guitar. This last track has a special meaning for Thompson, a transplant to Manchester from Denver roots. Blind Atlas' video for "My Proud Mountains" was recently picked Nemone's Video of the Week on BBC
Radio 6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/nemone/videos/video-of-the-week/. "Iron Wall" will be released July 25th.
"Iron Wall," the somber title track, with its ancient sounding drums, bowed bass and epic chorus inspires many interpretations, both from Blind Atlas, who always close live shows with the song, and its fans. Recently, the band invited listeners to respond to the song through art, resulting in a documentary that can be seen here: http://youtu.be/yM7ryS_h9Yg.
Hailing from Denver and disparate points around the U.K., BLIND ATLAS came together in the bohemian suburbs of south Manchester, united by a shared preoccupation with drinking, failed relationships and the Flying Burrito Brothers. They've received airplay on BBC Radio 2's Whispering Bob Harris and BBC6 Music. They have also notched up headline slots at some of Manchester's most iconic venues, as well as supporting the likes of Lucy Wainwright Roche, The Deadstring Brothers, The Features, The Acorn, The Travelling Band, Blitzen Trapper, Buffalo Tom and The Bees.
