Brix & The Extricated who released their “rollicking debut album” (as quoted by Q Magazine) ‘Part 2’ and their latest single ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ both on 22nd September on Blang Records are playing a gig in Brighton at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar on Thursday 2nd November as part of a 15-date UK tour.
Brix & the Extricated, who formed in Manchester in 2014, are a 5-piece outfit made up of ex-Fall members Brix Smith-Start (vocals/guitar), Steve Hanley (bass) and his brother Paul Hanley (drums), Jason Brown (guitar) along with Steve Trafford (guitar).
The band have – in the words of an old Fall lyric – something of a “track record”. Brix Smith-Start is one of the few true female rock icons of the indie and alternative era, an inspiration for generations of women, not just those who play music. Her best-selling 2016 autobiography, The Rise, The Fall And The Rise, detailed a hugely eventful life including the years in which she was married to Fall singer Mark E. Smith and wrote songs and played guitar in the group. Steve Hanley’s own acclaimed memoir, 2014’s The Big Week, revealed what is was really like to spend 18 years in the Fall, the longest spell of any member of the iconic and influential Salford group.
Their new single ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ is a gorgeous dreamy piece of music, with hypnotic undertones and psychedelic edges. It shows the breadth, delicacy and musicianship of The Extricated as a band. Steve Trafford (another former member of The Fall) wrote the music, which was originally titled ‘Midnight In Aspen’ and featured on 2005 album ‘Fall Heads Roll’.
Brix elaborates, “Steve said, ‘This is the best song I’ve ever written and I don’t want it to go to waste.’” So when Brix & The Extricated began writing the album ‘Part 2’, under Steve’s instructions, Brix completely reworked the song with new lyrics and a melody and the result is one of Part 2’s strongest songs. “I was so moved by it that it took me just two hours to write. The inspiration for the lyrics came from a movie by Wes Anderson of the same name. I wanted the song to be a love song about the aching passion of youth, a time when the possibility of life’s adventure seemed limitless and soaring. I wanted to set this scene of fierce longing, against the backdrop of the savage beauty of the land, and the vast powerful sea.” Brix says “It’s the perfect song for the end of summer. Those long days when the sun sets low and the moon rises high. The very moment when day and night converge, and the golden glow of dream-time is cast upon the earth.”
2017 has already seen Brix reaching a new audience with her fantastically received BBC 6Music show (sitting in for Guy Garvey). And now with this sonic juggernaut of an album that infuses hypnotic brutality with sunlight, harmony, hooks and riffs, Brix & The Extricated will not only enthrall and delight their current fans but they are sure to win an army of new ones.
For Brighton tickets, click here: https://www.stargreen.com/brix-the-extricated-brix-smith-41581.html/ and other relevant links, visit: www.twitter.com/brixextricated | www.facebook.com/extricated
I’m sorry, but this honestly sounds like a dreadful idea. The Fall without Mark E. Smith would be like Yoko Ono fronting Paul, George and Ringo, or when Carl left “Fields of the Nephilim” and they struggled on as “Rubicon”. Or “The Mission”! (shudders)
A very ill-judged notion.
Fishwife, 49 you stated “sounds like a dreadful idea”, which obviously indicates to everyone that at this present moment in time that you have more than likely failed to have even listened to their new album! Otherwise, “My Heart And I Agree” that you might not have posted your “T-T-T-Totally Wired” comment!
good luck to her. never much cared for the fall when she was part of the group but that’s more my opinion than anything else because credit where it’s due; she put the work in and the group did well out their association with her. female musicians have it so much harder than men so its good she’s still a working artist. plus – the hanleys!? come on, lets be positive and wish her and them all the best.
Here! Here! Thanks for your interest Edward.