It’s the first song I’ve ever written on piano and I wrote it during one of the UK COVID lockdowns. I’d borrowed an electronic piano from a teacher at my daughter’s school so she could do virtual piano lessons at home. Next thing I know I’ve written a song on it. Thanks Mr Norman!
It was produced by Jim Sclavunos who’s also drumming and playing the organ. He also ‘went to town’ on bird samples at the end of the song.
Love and thanks to Sophie Hjerl for devoting her time into making the beautiful, mesmerizing video that accompanies the song. Please follow the link for the video & song here: https://ffm.to/birdofprey
The song was Mastered by Kramer Shimmy-Disc & Mixed by Sebastian Muxfeldt at Clouds Hill, Hamburg. It’s released on LABELMAN records and is the second single taken from my upcoming LP ‘ALTERED SELF’ released May 3rd! Thank you to the beautiful souls who have helped bring this song into existence: Jim, Steven Thomassen, Sarah Lowe at Fifth Avenue PR, Kramer, Johann Scheerer, Sophie and Jessica.
Photo by Jessica Strid ❤️⚡️
Album Launch!
Excited to announce a special Co-Headline show with label mate Jess Ribeiro at The Waiting Room, London on Thursday 9th May.
It’ll be a first chance for me and Jim Sclavunos to play the album we made. Also in the band are the amazing musicians John J Presley and Hannah Feenstra.
So happy to share this song with you. It’s called, ‘Arctic Moon’ and I made it with music-partner in crime Jim Sclavunos. (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Teenage Jesus & The Jerks). It’s a first release from my upcoming album, ‘Altered Self’, which’ll be coming out May 3rd! On LABELMAN records.
The Video was made in Copenhagen by the wonderful Danish artist Sophie Hjerl.
By sheer coincidence, it’s released today during the moon-phase, ‘Waxing Gibbous’, which I reference in the song.
For streaming and to pre-order the (limited) Vinyl, please follow the link: https://ffm.to/arcticmoon
Love and thanks to Jim, Steven Thomassen, Sarah Lowe, Sebastian Muxfeldt and Sophie
‘…It’s a stunning set of tension and release, lyrical bon mots and rhythmic power and imagination with very English melodies entwined around the songs…’
‘…Armagideon’ stands as an exploration of time, denial and humanity, delivered with a mixture of anger and grace. It never points the finger of blame, but questions our inaction as we scan the skies, or steadfastly stare out to sea for the storm that we seemingly refuse to believe is coming…’
‘…With an end of the world theme recurring throughout, interspersed with Jim Morrison-like poetry circa American Prayer, these are songs that demand to be listened to and like all classic albums, give up a little more for the listener on each subsequent play…’
Out Now!!!!! ☄️🌍💥🐣🐣🐣🐣 Back from the brink and reborn!! 3 and a half years in the making. Me, Jim and Gris are so proud to see it released. Thanks Clouds Hill!!!! for putting it out. See you on the road.
Me and the band playing in Bridport, Dorset this Sunday, 26th at the #Clocktowermusic record shop! Free to get in. Might even have a sneaky vinyl or two of the new LP, ahead of ‘Armagideon’ release day, the following Friday, Jan 31st. Can’t wait!
Interview On Soho Radio, January 13th
In case you missed it, here’s the podcast of yesterday’s show. Where I discussed with Jim, amongst other things, the timeliness of trying to summon #SunRa back from the cosmos to save us from ourselves, plus the pizza incident with #SteveAlbini with my old band Bikini Atoll…
Today’s show featuring Joe Gideon and Imperial Wax’s Keiron Melling& Pete Greenway is now archived on the Soho Radio Mixcloud for your perpetual listening pleasure. Link below (actual show starts about 3 minutes in) and here’s the playlist:
The Qualities “Happy New Year To You!” Smoke Fairies “Elevator”
Sun Ra “Rough House Blues”
Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind “Get Down Get with It”
Lulu Lewis “City Below the Hunter” Liz Martin Band “Night Time” Joe Gideon “Eugene Went Crazy”
Sun Ra “Cosmo-Extensions”
Sun Ra “Ancient Aiethiopia” Joe Gideon “Rule Roost”
Bikini Atoll “Eve’s Rib”
Bikini Atoll “Black Dog”
Joe Gideon & The Shark Civilization”
Joe Gideon & The Shark “I’m Ruined” Joe Gideon “Expandable Mandible” Gris-de-Lin “I Won’t Be At The Mercy Of Your Ghost” Sterling Roswell “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” Joe Gideon “The Gaping Yawn”
Conway Savage “Only Ghosts”
The Fall “Victoria”
The Fall “Alton Towers”
The Fall “Fol De Rol”
Imperial Wax “The Art of Projection”
Imperial Wax “Bromidic Thrills”
Listen to Jim Sclavunos (13/01/2020) by Soho Radio
Me and my band, Jim Sclavunos and Gris-de-Lin, can now confirm dates in the EU! Super-excited to be returning to the continent to play music. Been too long! Tickets for all the dates are on sale now. Just follow the link here… JoeGideonTour.tix.to/UKandEU
And spread the word! These’ll be our first and last dates with Jim for a bit before he sets forth around the world with his ‘other band’. Plus, we’ll have vinyl of the new #ARMAGIDEON LP. Only available on the road… Hope to see you soon
UK Tour!!
🎙️🥁🎹 Got a Tour! So happy to tell you that me and my band, Jim Sclavunos and Gris-de-Lin will be touring the UK in January and February 2020. Tickets for all dates are on sale now – joegideon.lnk.to/LiveAF
We’ll be hitting London, Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, Hastings, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle, playing songs from my new album ‘ARMAGIDEON’, which will be out just in time for the first show. See you all very soon 👁️👁️
Quack No Duck. Official Video!
The official video for my new song ‘Quack No Duck’ is out today. Look out for a special, spectral appearance by Gris-de-Lin. And of course featuring music by Gris and Jim Sclavunos.
Beautifully shot and directed by Phil Wrixton.
Quack No Duck. New Single!
⚡OUT NOW 🦆
Very happy to share the 3rd and (for now) final single from my upcoming album ‘ARMAGIDEON’ feat. Jim Sclavunos and Gris-de-Lin. It’s called ‘Quack No Duck’ and is available on all digital platforms now. Hope you enjoy 🦎 Buy / stream the song here – joegideon.lnk.to/QuackNoDuckAF
Special thanks to Josie Ford for animating her beautiful illustrations here in the You Tube link.
UK Tour! Supporting Kevin Morby
Next week! I’ll be sharing the stage with KEVIN MORBY for a mini UK tour in Brighton, London, Leeds and Manchester in November. As promised, Jim Sclavunos and Gris-de-Lin will be on band duty for the shows. Very much looking forward to this!
New single ‘The Gaping Yawn’ is out now!🦎
It’s the second song taken from my forthcoming album ‘Armagideon’ and is available digitally now. Listen to ‘The Gaping Yawn’ – https://JoeGideon.lnk.to/TheGapingYawnAF
Official preposterous video for my song ‘Expandable Mandible’ made by Phil Wrixton, simply entitled, “Box”.
Despite head decapitation, a lot of fun was had making this…
Showcase this Wednesday, September 25th
Excited to be playing this wednesday night!… It’ll be a short 20 minute set from us, and it’s free to get in! Just email 25years@toutpartout.be to get on the guest list. Showtime 10.10 p.m
New Single! Expandable Mandible
OUT NOW 🌪️
So happy to share my new song ‘Expandable Mandible’ with you all. It’s getting royally re-released courtesy of my new label, the amazing Clouds Hill. It’s the 1st song taken from my new album, entitled ‘Armagideon’, which is out on 31st January and available for pre-order now. Special thanks to Jim Sclavunos and Gris-de-Lin for recording the tune with me! Be sure to see us all on a stage near you soon…
Songs that switch from tombstone blues to pastoral psychedelia to sparse post-punk to grinding grooves. It’s a stunning set of tension and release, lyrical bon mots and rhythmic power and imagination.
Louder Than War
Weird and Wonderful
Narc magazine
Versa Vice
Released 13th November 2015 on Bronze Rat Records
Eve’s Rib
Naked Eye
The Lady With The Metallic Voice
Eugene Went Crazy
Rubber Room
Heart Attack Girl
Salvation
The Past Is Never Over
Fearsome
Intensely Spirited
Mojo
A Triumph of Freakish Weird!
Fatea
Freakish
Joe Gideon & The Shark
Released 7th January 2013 on Bronze Rat Records
I’m Ruined
Snake Candy
Poor Born
The Insignificant Bullet
You, The Pole & The Rastafarian
Nine Bells Of Hell
Higher Power/Where Have All The Good Times Gone
Freakish
Friday 13
Wickedly Inventive
Uncut
Immaculately Deranged
The Mirror
Harum Scarum
Joe Gideon & The Shark
Released 8th March 2009 on Bronze Rat Records
Harum Scarum
Civilisation
DOL
Kathy Ray
Johan Was A Painter & Arsonist
Hide & Seek
True Nature
Anything You Love That Much, You Will See Again
Pale Blue Dot
Astonishing
NME
It’s Brilliant – 4.5/5
The Sun
Liar’s Exit
Bikini Atoll
Released 6th June 2005 on Bella Union
I Turned A Blind Eye
Bluebeard
Eve’s Rib
Remains
Nervous Wreck
The Conversation
Shark Requiem
Silver Moon
Cement Names
Autumn’s Child
Secret Filming
Moratoria
Bikini Atoll
Released 2nd February 2004 on Bella Union
Moratoria
Then Amplify
Cinnamon
Black River Falls
Black Dog
Cheap Trick
Perfect Method Flawed
Desolation Highway
Clear Water Gravity
Biog
In a review for his debut solo album Versa Vice in 2016, Joe Gideon was described as playing “Pithy, powerful, lyrically erudite and observational, post-financial crisis English blues.” (Mike Barnes – Wire)
Joe Gideon first came to wider attention with his band, Bikini Atoll, signed to Bella Union in 2003. The first album, Moratoria, was critically well received, with the lead track ‘Desolation Highway’ (described by The Independent as “…an awesome, soul-searching slice of sprawling Americana”) featured in the film My Little Eye. Their second album Liar’s Exit, recorded with Steve Albini and released through Bella Union in 2005, received glowing reviews from the likes of NME and Q magazine.
Soon after, Joe decided to hone his craft as a songwriter and lyricist and formed Joe Gideon & The Shark, a two-piece band with his sister Viva. Their debut album, Harum Scarum, released in 2009 on Bronzerat Records, achieved rave reviews and a rare 6-stars-out-of-5 review in Time Out magazine, with reviewer Bella Todd observing, “To be funny and moving at the same time is one thing, but their combination of true grit and grace is rarer still.” Joe Gideon & The Shark toured with Seasick Steve and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to packed venues across the UK; but by the time their second album, Freakish came out in 2012, also to great reviews, Joe and Viva had decided to move on.
Having made friends with Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos on tour, Joe invited Jim to contribute drums to his debut solo LP, Versa Vice. Released in 2016 also on Bronzerat, this under-the-radar release nonetheless elicited raves from blogs & online press, including Joyzine (“A dark but rewarding trip into the shadowy corners of the human mind”) and Penny Black Music (“A master class in minimalism”).
And now, Joe has teamed up with the Clouds Hill Label and, ahead of the release of his upcoming new album, due early 2020, Joehas returned with a brand-new single ‘Expandable Mandible’. The track, produced by Jim Sclavunos,(Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds/Grinderman), is available for airplay following its release on 13thSeptember 2019.
The new record was written and recorded with Jimand band mate Gris-De-Lin. Joe, Gris and Jim play all the instruments in the densely layered arrangements, which include an army of saxophones, an antique piano, a cranky old synth-vibraphone rescued from the dumpster, heavenly choirs and a menagerie of percussion instruments. The new single is a statement of intent ahead of the new album release — the listener can look forward to Joe’s ruminations on, amongst other things, time travel, primordial bliss and reptile people.
