Ellen and the Escapades #4 - Lost Cause

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It's been over two years since I've featured (and perhaps listened) to Ellen and the Escapades, one of the pitfalls of continual new music discovery is that many acts you post about and enjoy can be forgotten in the midst of time. The Leeds band return to my attention with their new single "Lost Cause" (due for release on June 2nd - available via iTunes).

The track is a beautiful, brooding return, armed with a familiar but new sound and a melody that is gracefully simple and complex too. It gets under your skin with swooning strings, dark guitars and a defiant drums beat that forms the focal point of the track around Ellen's rich, warming vocals before growing to a stirring, heartfelt conclusion.

"Lost Cause" is beautifully written, understated and well, lovely. Listen below:

Ellen and the Escapades #3 - The World's Greatest

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There's only two days left of the Olympics now, I'm sure like most of the nation who've found themselves on the edge of their seats at the most unlikely of sports (Taekwondo, Rowing, Shooting and Canoe Slalom to name but a few - not the horse dancing though, that was just odd!) they'll be a bit of a national hangover next week with no sporting action to turn to as you return home from work and I'm equally sure that the sense of optimism brought by all of the positive broadcasting of Team GB's success will soon be shrouded once more in gloom as news of worsening economies, job losses and the unthinkable again takes centre stage, first though I'll try and keep the positivity here for just a little while longer...

The latest ray of hope comes in the form of a cover which at face value could make you wince, Leeds' Ellen and the Escapades covering none over than R Kelly and his part anthem part cheese-fest "The World's Greatest", gone are the children's choir, R Kelly dressed as Muhammed Ali and of course the woo's, instead dramatic strings and the rising feeling of empowerment is replaced by subtle, laid-back guitar and soft brush strokes, with Ellen Smith's vocals perhaps even smoother than the original, it's her stunning vocal delivery that gives the track a completely different feel to the original, just beautiful and perfectly in keeping with Team GB's successes. I'm staying patriotic for at least a little bit longer....

Ellen and The Escapades #2 - All The Crooked Scenes

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Leeds alt-folk quartet Ellen and the Escapades are back with a couple tasters for their forthcoming debut album 'All The Crooked Scenes', due for release on April 16th (the same day the band headline London's Lexington with support from the equally lovely Paper Aeroplanes - tickets).

The title track instantly pulls you in, its meandering melody is infectiously catchy as it roars on along like a steam train journey through the countryside, Ellen's husky vocals complement perfectly, though hidden amongst the up-tempo joyous rhythms the lyrics are deceptively dark, the highlight for me is the ending verse, the pacing slows down and the instrumentation subsides to allow the gorgeous vocals to blossom in defiant strength. Compelling and addictive, it cries out for repeat listens.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, the equally well crafted album track "This Ace I've Burned" has also mean made available for your listening pleasure, a slower and melancholic number, its warming, intimate and completely gorgeous. Listen below:

Ellen and the Escapades - New Music "Introducing"

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I'm behind the times with Ellen and the Escapedes, other than the knowledge they won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent contest in 2010 I'd gone no further with the five piece until I listened to their forthcoming single 'When The Tide Creeps In’ (which is due for digital release October 24th), it certainly was enough to pull me in.

Ellen has this commanding vocal, dusky, warm and gorgeous, the country tinged a-side "When the Tide Creeps In" sweeps along with delicious melodies and passionate vocals, it's beautifully put together and delivered in such a captivating manner, a perfect choice for a single.

B-side "Always in My Heart" is slower, more delicate and intimate, Ellen's soulful vocals backed by gentle acoustic guitar and glorious harmonies. You can listen to both tracks below.

Ellen and the Escapades play an intimate show at London's Bowery tonight (details), the support is the wonderful Emily and the Woods and I'll be trying my darnedest to get there. Further dates throughout the remainder of the year can be found on Ellen's site.

When The Tide Creeps In by Ellen and the Escapades
Always In My Heart by Ellen and the Escapades


Green Man Session 017 // Ellen And The Escapades - When The Tide Creeps In from Green Man on Vimeo.