“Film Noir was originally conceived as an instrumental record and that will explain its propulsive and sparkling krautrock vibe. The overall effect is of the soundtrack to a sci-fi thriller, with moments that recall Mogwai’s more synth-orientated work.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RECORD COLLECTOR

“Bends and swoons with the sort of incandescence abandoned by My Bloody Valentine earlier in the decade […] states of epic rock grace, bubbling and oozing with beauty. Swervedriver feel like a group who in a more just universe should have been as big commercially as the sound they made.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE

“Moments shine like long-lost nuggets from the annals of krautrock…”
THE QUIETUS

“If the songs are meant to conjure soundtracks to ’70s Euro sci-fi flicks and spaghetti westerns that don’t exist, listening to the album feels a lot like channel-surfing through B-movies at 3 a.m., stopping just long enough to get a snapshot of a film’s vibe before flipping over to the next one.”
PITCHFORK

“It never disappoints. If you missed this album the first time like I did, run out and get this straight away.”
ECHOES AND DUST

“Fans of Italian giallo, horror and spaghetti westerns will in particular find a lot to like on Film Noir but these songs – not all instrumental, either – are appealing all on their own, gorgeously textured with keyboards, vibraphone and strings along with the awe-inspiring axe-work Franklin is known for.”
BROOKLYN VEGAN

“All in all, proof that a good soundtrack can sometimes work without a film.”
VISIONS

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PRESS INFO:

Embarking on a veritable journey both backwards and forwards in time, Outer Battery Records and Adam Franklin, renowned artist and founding member of Swervedriver, is thrilled to announce the reissue of the legendary Oxford rockers 1998 LP, 99th Dream, alongside Film Noir, the brand-new album from his rolling sideshow, Bolts of Melody.

On paper, Film Noir is a debut album of sorts with the name “Bolts of Melody” originally stemming from one of Franklin’s solo tracks. Over several incarnations the name has since taken on a life of its own, coining the collective group of music-makers responsible for touring and recording the project. Teaming up once again with long-time musical companions, Locksley Taylor (SIANspheric), Josh Stoddard and Mikey Jones, the album features notable collaborations and guest appearances from The Besnard Lakes and Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis.

“This new record was loosely conceived by Taylor as an instrumental album,” explains Franklin. “Like a soundtrack hence the ‘film’ part of the title. Each song was given license to roam. Some were quite literally composed as library music before being rescued from life in an elevator when it was realised that they contained some semblance of heart and soul.”

Within the music voices appear. A football crowd here, a church choir there, a spoken word vocal by Heinz Riegler, the dulcet tones of Jace Lasek, Kellie Lloyd, Sukie Smith, Duncan Swift, and even Franklin himself. Not to mention a riotous guitar solo from the one and only, J Mascis. All captivating individual performances that when combined showcase the collective brilliance of Bolts of Melody, a moving and enthralling project that transcends boundaries and genres.

To coincide with the release of Film Noir, Outer Battery Records will also revisit and reissue on vinyl Swervedriver’s legendary and nearly lost LP, 99th Dream, which was originally released in 1998 shortly before the band broke up. Remastered and re-released in limited-edition ‘Coke Bottle Green’ (400 copies), the extended double vinyl LP features three new remixes by Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Led Zeppelin). While the 3CD version packs in the remastered album and remixes on Disc One; the remastered live 1998 New York show on Disc Two, and a hour-long Disc Three featuring outtakes and studio demos.

Bolts of Melody’s Film Noir and Swervedriver’s 99th Dream are out now on Outer Battery Records.

Bolts of Melody on Bandcamp | Website | Facebook | Instagram
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