Band Update

Just a quick update to let you all know what we are up to. The band are currently rehearsing the new live set, which is Sugarstealer in its entirety. It’s a strange process really. When we went into the studio to record it, it all very well rehearsed and you knew exactly what you wanted to do, but being in the studio offers new possibilities and so, being the tinkerers that we are, we had to add new things. So when we come back to revisit the songs to learn them, we have new parts to learn. It’s very much a good thing though and adds even more fun to playing the songs as there are little surprising thing popping up. I’ve often said that I would love to see Mr. So & So live and this is as close as it gets I think.

Sugarstealer has been selling really well, as much via Amazon and CDbaby as iTunes which is fantastic. If the cunning plan comes together we will have a physical release out by May. It’s been really interesting finding out what peoples favourite tracks are and it’s really pleasing to find out that it’s very varied, there isn’t a single song that is generally considered the favourite. Always a good sign.

As for me, I’m sure quite a few of you are aware that I’m now part of Steve Rothery’s Wishing Tree live band, I’ll be at Tring for the warm up, that’s now sold out I believe, and at The Marillion Convention on the 20th March.

See you all soon.

Dave x

First Sugarstealer Review

Sugarstealer, the fourth album from Mr So And So, marks a welcome return for a band who have been off the scene for while now, their last album being 1998’s ‘The Overlap’ (which was the first album to be released on Steve Rothery‘s Dorian label) . Since that time the members had gone their separate ways until principal songwriters Dave Foster (guitars) and Shaun McGowan (bass / vocals) resumed contact in 2005. Vocalist Charlotte Evans was soon back on board and two new members introduced, Anthony Hindley on keyboards and drummer Stuart Browne.

A Floydian soundscape of alarm clocks and birdsong introduces ‘Flying Triangles’, a typical example of the bands ability to blend a modern progressive sound with delicate pop sensibilities. ‘New Years Day’ continues in a similar fashion with an insistent melody and highlights the distinctive male / female vocals. There are a number of mood changes throughout and ‘Bleak Hill’ marks a shift in tempo as the band take it up a gear and, despite the title, boasts an uplifting melody. With its PT-esque riffing ‘Bi-Polar’ is a brooding and intense rocker and rightfully earmarked as the first single. The albums stand out highlight is ‘Falling’ which allows Foster a chance to impress on the solo and is high on both atmosphere and emotion.

Across a weighty eighteen tracks McGowan handles the majority of the lead vocals and at times you can’t help but feel that Evans is somewhat underemployed. Her haunting voice is highlighted on the acoustic interlude ‘Lemon Tree’ and piano led ‘Photograph’. Whilst for the most part the album is notable for its tight arrangements and little in the way of excess closing number ‘(Return of) The Gold’ offers a more extended instrumental workout during the coda. With both a powerful chorus, intricate acoustic work and a soaring solo it provides an energetic close.

Available from January 31st Sugarstealer will be exclusively an online release via iTunes, Amazon, CDbaby, Napster and Rhapsody with the physical format following later in the year. Hopefully this will mark the start of a new chapter in the career of Mr So and So and we won’t have to wait so long between albums next time around.

Rating 3.5
Dean Pedley

Blimey, time flies by if you don't notice it...

Even Axl Rose has beaten us and we've still yet to receive my free can of Dr. Peppers. It's now the best part of six months since we began the Sugarstealer voyage and at last we look to have arrived at our chosen port. The album will be released in January by ourselves on our spangly brand new record label and will initially be released as a download only via iTunes, Rhapsody, CDbaby, Napster and Amazon Download amongst others. Hopefully the physical release will be sometime in March.

Links to reviews will appear on here as and when they arrive if you need convincing that this is by a very long stretch the best Mr. So & So so far. If you fancy a sneaky butchers we have put up on the Myspace a sample track of the album to whet your appetite. Everyone here at Mr. So & So wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Dave, Shaun, Charlotte, Ant and Stu

The Sugarstealer is taking shape!

The So&So's arrived home in the early hours of this morning - feeling tired but happy - having done a long stint in the studio working on the forthcoming SUGARSTEALER album.

We've had the first couple of waves of mixes and are now at the final mix/editing stage and WOH! (and I do mean WOH!) it's sounding incredible! We're as happy with this as anything we've ever done previously and can't wait to get the project completed so we can release it into the wild.

Two tracks that stood out from the last studio session were FLYING TRIANGLES and BLEAK HILL, neither of which have been heard/aired on myspace as yet but we intend to do something about that soon - (watch this [my] space!)

Magoo