El of a deal! Element sign up

PENDLE noise wizards Element have finally struck it lucky and clinched a record deal - five years after they formed.

The three-piece have signed to Glasgow-based label Creeping Bent, and are set to release their first single in September - a double A-side shared with a band called Mongoose.

The young group - comprising singer and guitarist Jay Stansfield, guitar man Karl Eden and drummer Mark Tattersall - look set to play north of the border on their record company's homeground.

Creeping Bent put nights on in Glasgow for their own bands at a venue called 13th Note and Element look set to play at one of the events soon.

Jay said the record label had strong links with the John Peel show on Radio One and hoped the deal could lead to them recording a session for the long-established DJ.

Jay said: "We sent the record label a CD that we had done and the guy told us it was the best thing he had heard in eons."

A song written a few months ago by Jay and Karl called Lords Apart is set to be the band's debut single.

Earlier this year, bassist Warren Smith quit the group to concentrate on his career as a bar manager at the Thatch and Thistle pub in Barrowford.

Jay said it was an unlucky coincidence that the band got signed just after Warren left, but said the former bassist had wished them well.

Jay's mother Linda will continue to look after the band's management interests.

Last year the band, who are all 19 years old, attracted attention at Manchester's In The City music convention, but came away without a deal.

Element formerly managed to get tapes of their music sold on a low-profit basis in the United States. They set up two distribution deals after striking up a friendship with a Texan musician on the internet.

Element have secured a gig at intimate but trendy London nightspot Po-Na-Na's in Islington on Wednesday, September 8.

Matt's gloss on Milo's new disc

MATTHEW Nelson, who once fronted Colne's baggy indie exports The Milltown Brothers, has given Pulse and exclusive look at some of his new group's latest material.

From the outset of the five track CD its clear that Milo have set their sights on a return to pure melodic, light pop.

'She's So Young' is a bright brisk pop song, full of sharp, shrill, guitar work .

The track which captures a little of the magic of The La's There She Goes, has an immediate feel of a tune destined for radio play. However for me the standout track of the collection is the Beatles-influenced 'Me to You'.

New bass player Steve Taylor's dance background is evident from the opening bars, his funky yet chilled hooks forming the backbone of the track.

Mixed with Simon Nelson's guitar riffs, which are reminiscent of his earlier work, and his liberal use of the wah wah pedal, make a solid foundation for Matthew's lyrics.

Eraser breathes the maturity of Matthew's songwriting skils and shows a more gentle side to the band's sound.

Acoustic guitar and strings give depth and quality to the mellow number.

The uptempo 'September Comes Around' is again blessed with heavy emphasis on Steve's bass, but it features perhaps Matthew's most confident vocal on the demo.

He sings with a belief in his lyric rarely heard since his former outfit's debut 'Slinky'.

Although the smooth love song, Swimmers, finishes the collection, the track has already been penned into new movie 'One More Kiss' and will feature on the film's soundtrack CD.

With more than an album's worth of new material in the bag, the four-piece are looking forward to a brace of gigs in the capital.

They play at the Highbury Garage on Tuesday night and again on September 7. For ticket information call 0171 344 0044.

Anyone wishing to receive information about Milo's future, gigs and releases can do so by sending name and address to Pumpkin Music Ltd, 43a Gloucester Square, London, W2 2TQ.

CLIVE LAWRENCE

Monthly showcase

BANDS from East Lancashire are offered the chance to play at a monthly event which it is hoped will become a showcase event.

The first Time Of The Month event is on Friday, September 3, at Burnley's Comfort Inn. It is organised by Fuzzy Bear Promotions, a company set up by Element.

Element singer Jay Stansfield said: "The aim is to provide a regular venue where local bands can stage their underrated talents. The event needs local bands to support it so that it can attract A & R interest."

Bands who are interested should call Linda on 01282 703765, after 6pm. For more information, check out the website at: http://members.tripod.com/

captainwasp/totm

Goodbye dead-end street

PLAYING in dead-end Lancashire bands, working in cinemas and fast food shops, Gerard Starkie and Ray Chan thought their break might never come.

But three years ago Gerard, from Adlington, near Chorley, and Ray, from Wigan, answered a newspaper ad which was to change the course of their musical careers.

Bass player Dylan Keeton placed an ad in Loot looking for band members, and after a few line-up swaps, Witness were born.

Since then the band have signed to record giants Island, played on Later with Jools Holland and last month played in front of a crowd of thousands at the Water's Edge festival at Manchester's Castlefields Arena.

The band are currently based in Wigan and parallels can be drawn between their measured, complex sound and the music of fellow West Lancashire bands Gomez and The Verve.

Their Before The Calm, a deliberate, impassioned mix of moody rock and country influences, has brought comparisons with REM an the enigmatic Nick Drake. It's the sort of record which takes time to grow on the listener.

The band's first taste of success followed the entry of experienced drummer John Langley, veteran of well-travelled Bristol bands The Blue Aeroplanes and Strangelove. They signed to Island Records in December 1997.

Bassist Dylan said: "Our plan has disappeared. When we first tried to get signed we knew it would take time because we are not the most immediate sort of band.

"We weren't expecting anything from this album. But when the first single came out, people latched on to us. Since then we haven't had time to think where we are going because things have been very hectic, like riding a wave."

Bands from the other side of Lancashire have had more recent success than their counterparts in East Lancs.

Ray said: "It's hard to get the break when you are from a small town, no matter where you are. It's a matter of luck and that's a shame. In Wigan there's a music collective going on which aims to encourage new bands, and that's something which can help.

"The advice I'd give to bands in East Lancashire is to be self critical. Sit back and look at what you are doing and think whether you really like it."

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