Manchester’s The Speed of Sound have just released their new album A Cornucopia: Minerva which coincides with the band’s 35th anniversary, a milestone not many bands can claim. also rare is a father/son in the line-up John Armstrong (guitars and vocals) and Henry Armstrong (keyboards) as well as Ann-Marie Crowley (vocals and guitar), Kevin Roache (bass guitar) and John Broadhurst (drums).
The band have shifted genres from their roots in punk and new wave to indie rock but always with a keen sense of the melodic in with their experimentation. New single ‘The Great Acceleration’ is reminiscent of R.E.M. at their height with its twisting guitar riff and syncopated drums all leading to a very ear-wormy chorus that you may find yourself humming long after the song has finished. Joyzine readers get a chance to see and hear the video first:
And here is another look at the video for ‘West Wind’ which is full of Bo Diddley bounce and call and response vocals.
As of April 26, ‘Minerva’ is available in both formats via Bandcamp and also through Big Stir Records’ website. This is the first record of the three-album set ‘A Cornucopia: Minerva, Victory, Bounty‘. While these albums will see digital editions over the next year, the Vinyl and CD versions are 3-disc sets carrying the umbrella title A Cornucopia. Released as deluxe editions, each set includes two full-length bonus albums Victory and Bounty. But it all begins with Minerva.
In case you were wondering the speed of sound is 343 m/s in air and way faster in water at 1,481 m/s (m = a meter).
The Speed of Sound socials: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Mastadon | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify
Big Stir Records socials: Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Mixcloud | YouTube
Review by Paul F Cook
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