Hiya,
Here's the blurb for the upcoming vinyl reissue of my first solo album 5:14 fluoxytine seagull alcohol john nicotine.
‘5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine’
Malcolm Middleton’s darkly humorous and critically
fêted debut finally makes it onto vinyl (bolstered by a
tranche of bonus material).
One half of legendary Scottish duo Arab Strap and celebrated solo performer Malcolm
Middleton is about to see the landmark album which launched his solo career reissued
on vinyl for the very first time. While ‘5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine’ may
have proved something of a mouthful to say, it was certainly a hugely affecting listen,
with scores of critics tripping over themselves to lavish praise on Middleton’s
lugubrious debut.
Originally released in 2002, ‘5.14...’ saw Middleton step up to the mic and prove that he,
like his erstwhile bandmate Aidan Moffat, was no lyrical slouch either when it came to
articulating all of our emotional frailties and the relationship crises they so often trigger.
Malcolm’s crises arrived in the bleak midwinter of 2001. Turning to pen and paper and
with his musings modulated by those titular anti-depressants, Malcolm penned a candid
collection of poignant, funny and lovelorn songs which would, with a little help from his
friends Aidan, Jenny Reeve (Strike The Colours) and Barry Burns (Mogwai), blossom
into ‘5.14...’.
For Middleton '5:14...' was a big step as it realised an ambition harboured for years but
hamstrung by a persistent lack of nerve: "I suppose hitting rock bottom and going
through the common-or-garden, late-20s-life-crisis helped me lose those inhibitions and
just go for it. The album was an expression of hopelessness which, paradoxically, ended up
creating the very sense of hope I had been lacking in the first place. It also connected with
a lot of listeners who had perhaps gone through something similar; there was a bonding
that took place, a feeling of camaraderie at gigs. Hope appears when there is nowhere left,
or lower, to go: ‘5:14...’ dwells there.”
Middleton’s solo work continued to develop post-‘5.14...’ with four more critically
acclaimed albums (including its extraordinary successor ‘Into The Woods’) and last
year’s ebullient, 80’s-infused debut as alter ego Human Don’t Be Angry. Arab Strap’s
dissolution in 2006 was notable for its disappointing lack of acrimony and sordid sexual
revelations.
Praise for ‘5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine’
“When it's bleak, there're none more bleak, but a very special record all the same.” UNCUT (4/5)
“Middleton has a warm, immediately engaging voice that makes even his saddest songs sound
strangely joyful” THE GUARDIAN (4/5)
“A 12-song journey through the depths of his besieged mind that both expands his musical breadth
and challenges Moffat’s crown for lyrical supremacy” MOJO (4/5)
____________________
For the live dates I'll be playing solo and doing a selection of new songs as well as stuff from 5:14 and all the others. Support for the tour will be from Seamus Fogarty:
Dates are:
AprilMon 29 - Edinburgh, Electric CircusTue 30 - Newcastle, The Cluny 2MayWed 1 - Winchester, The RailwayThu 2 - Reading, South Streets Art CentreFri 3 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach Sat 4 - London, Dalston VictoriaSun 5 - Hull, AdelphiMon 6 - Sheffield, The HarleyTue 7 - York, The DuchessWed 8 - Kirkcaldy, Adam Smith TheatreClick on venue links to buy tickets.
Other dates this summer are:
Thanks,
MBM Snr.
