Whilst putting the finishing touches to their third album, Lupen Crook and The Murderbirds are offering fans the chance to hear the results of one the band’s 2008 acoustic sessions, in the form of a download-only EP entitled Great Fears & Curious Predictions. The EP contains fledgling versions of five new songs performed live throughout the past year and represents a candid insight into the band’s creative process. Returning from New York in June 2008 as a revived and
inspired three-piece, Lupen Crook, Tom Langridge and Bob Langridge headed straight to a local analogue studio to record these tracks. Performed with the same “back to basics” equipment that the band had used in New York – two acoustic guitars, a Cajon box drum and the odd pot and pan – and recorded in a single session, the sound is warm, earthy and occasionally raw. The EP documents the work of a band in the process of reviewing its approach. These were the first recordings to take place following the release of the second album, Iscariot the Ladder. Crook’s voice is yet to shake off the occasional Americanism and settle into his natural Medway accent. However, the material is more concise and less baroque than previous output, performed with a surprising lightness of touch. Pleased with the results, the band summoned Craig Harff – who they had met during their New York misadventure – to join them in England to work on enhanced versions of various new songs for the next album. Recorded several months prior to the material released earlier this year as The Lost Belongings, this EP therefore provides a window into the band’s recent past, as well as further indicating its future direction. Lupen Crook and The Murderbirds’ third album is now due for release in early 2010. The Great Fears & Curious Predictions EP is released as a free download at 09:09 on 09/09/09, via the band’s website at
www.lupencrookandthemurderbirds.co.uk.
Ongoing information about the band’s creative output across a
variety of media (music, video, artwork, writing) can also be found on the website. On 16th November 2009, Lupen Crook & The Murderbirds will release a six-track download-only EP entitled Curse of the Mirror Wicked, in support of the YoungMinds charity. The EP will be free to download. In return for the music, listeners will be encouraged to donate whatever amount they can afford to YoungMinds. All donations go straight to the charity. Until the release date, you’ll need to use username and password to access the site. From the 16th November, access will be free to all. The mini-site tells you more about the band’s motivation behind this project. The press release contains an edited version of an interview with Lupen Crook on this subject.
About Lupen Crook & The Murderbirds
LUPEN CROOK: Guitar & Lead Vocals
TOM LANGRIDGE: Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion & Vocals
BOB LANGRIDGE: Drums, Percussion & Vocals
CRAIG HARFF: Violin, Mandolin & Vocals
Lupen Crook started out life as a bright idea in the South East of England with an 8-string acoustic guitar, a sketch pad of skewed stories and a pocket full of obsessions. Driven by birds, butterflies and a thirst for artistic self-expression, he released a steady stream of EPs: Petals Fresh From Road Kill, Halloween and Love 80.
Midway through recording his first album Accidents Occur Whilst Sleeping, Lupen met the multi-talented Langridge brothers, Tom and Bob, in a pub in Canterbury, Kent. The band was formed immediately and during the following few years Lupen Crook & The Murderbirds gigged and recorded, experimenting with a host of other musicians. The A Silver Boot For Sam and Matthews Magpie EPs were followed by the second album Iscariot The Ladder.
Completing their contractual obligations in January 2008, Lupen, Tom and Bob stripped the band back to its foundations. Armed with two acoustic guitars and a Cajon drum, they travelled to New York. During a hectic fourteen-date tour they met Chicago-born violinist Craig Harff, who had landed in the city in search of fresh adventure just days before. The band spent the remainder of 2008 writing material, with a series of UK gigs designed to ‘break in’ the new songs. 2009 has been spent recording their third album with engineer Jim Riley, in the earthy, analogue environment that is Ranscombe Studios in Rochester, Kent.
During this period Lupen Crook released an experimental 10-track limited edition CD Old Books, Broken Bands And Other Little Treasures; self-produced and hand-made, it signalled a return to an art-driven ethos. The band chose July 4th to release the The Lost Belongings EP, which gave a glimpse of the band’s fuller sound on lead track ‘Lest We Connect The Crooked Family’ alongside four more experimental tracks. This limited edition EP was presented in painted canvas sleeves bound together by a black puzzle piece and safety pin. A further EP, Great Fears and Curious Pre-Dictions was released on the 9th September. This acoustic live session included 5 tracks and downloadable artwork that was available free of charge via the bands website. 2009 also saw Lupen Crook produce a series of stylised paintings and rumour has it a novel about his methodical writing process will coincide with the release of the band’s third album.
Lupen Crook, The Murderbirds and their extended Crooked Family seem set to ensure that this thirst for artistic independence is finally realised. Described as uncompromising, eccentric and ‘Britain’s best kept secret’, these descriptions befit their often genre-defying approach to structure and sound. With the album all but complete, Lupen Crook and The Murderbirds are preparing for its release in early 2010.
