Sleep and Release

"We release our records on two of the coolest labels (Chemikal Underground and Matador) on the planet. Europe think we fucking rock. Stephen Malkmus thinks we fucking rock. John Peel thinks we fucking rock. Ergo, we fucking rock!" - Campbell McNeil

Aereogramme release their second full length album and it will surprise those new to the band and will delight and confound those who are familiar with the band's previous work. …

Glasgow, late nineties… Craig B., fresh from the ashes of Ganger, called upon long time friend Campbell McNeil to work on some ideas. In need of a drummer they found satisfaction in one-time jazz percussionist Martin Scott. Not chin strokers mind, but all proud to be beard wearers. Add fourth man Iain Cook, a shadowy figure operating within the confines of the film and TV soundtrack world, had always been there but this was unknown to all but a few. Aereogramme walked straight off a plane into CaVa studios to work on this record. The imprint of dark films and the clinical beauty of 'shoot-em ups' loomed large. The resultant effect, on record, is that there is natural flow: a deeply cinematic structure - tracks move forward like scenes in a film. Sleep and Release is also a highly charged and political record - the band are serious in their intent.

"Each great civilisation in the history of humanity has been judged by its artistic output as well as its progress scientifically and politically - great art defines progress. Put simply a society that advocates the perpetual regurgitation of culture is a society in its death throes. This terrifies me when connected with current world events and there has got to be something more to creating great music than how well you can ape your dads record collection." Campbell.

Aereogramme should be celebrated for their breadth of vision. They have made a truly great record - one that covers the whole emotional spectrum.