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NEWS ARCHIVE 1998-2002
2002
October 7th, 2002 Groovsters, Funksters & Hipsters Released Fawcett / Poustie released the long awaited compilation album Groovsters, Funksters & Hipsters (The Best of Fawcett/Poustie) featuring 13 career spanning hits plus the brand new song Hippy, recorded in August 2002 at the Coach House and Cooper’s Court studios.......(Read More)
2000
February 14th, 2000 Fawcett / Poustie Make Plans for 2000 ! Nick Fawcett and Chris Poustie are currently engaged in a series of discussions to determine the band’s plans for the new year. Talks commenced at the beginning of February and details are already emerging that will excite the F/P faithful ! The band has issued a statement outlining the decisions already made and the plans afoot for 2000. Nick and Chris have decided to record another album together as "Fawcett / Poustie" with recordings prospectively starting around the 3rd week in August with the band using both the Coach House and Fawcett’s Sleepy Hollow studio. The band has said that the album will follow the tradition of many of their previous classics in having 10 all new songs. The album will be the first time the pair have recorded at the Coach House since 1996’s Framed I&II. The last F/P album "Lessons in Samuvian Dance Technique" was recorded in segments with Fawcett performing his tracks in England whist Poustie added tracks at his Studio 404 in Bangkok. The band have promised that the new album will be recorded very much together and that they will also be at liberty to devote more time to it. There are also early plans to release "Genius Part III" in time for Christmas and the band hope to record a couple of new tracks for inclusion on the compilation album during the sessions for the new album. The third chapter in the Genius trilogy will include material from the band’s last 2 albums, "Framed", "Lessons" plus the forthcoming studio album. There are no plans to record the long anticipated "Live in Northwich IV". Preparations for the new album are well underway. The band say they already have a wealth of new material written and will be busy composing new songs right up to the point where they enter the studio in August. Nick already has the following songs to chose from; Temple of The Marble Monkey - an Epic which is said to be longer than his signature tune "If I was a Poet" ! Ballad of an Ordinary Man – a modern rocker with Brit-pop undertones. She Stole My Bike – A dynamic catchy rocker. The Corner Song – A commercial Quirkmeister Joyshine – An acoustic ballad. Gettin' Older – A sing-a-long Strutster Here On Business – A heavy anthemic groove rocker ! Chris has written the following; Aeroplane – a dramatic quasi-epic with Beatlesque overtones. Your Love’s Divine – A pop friendly rauncher ! Me and My Honky Tonk – A Honky Tonk rocker with balls. Easy Street – A theatrical rocker with huge choruses. Dancing on the Table – A Latino boogie. Fonksville – A groovy funk-rocker. Who’s That Mr. Man ? – A heartfelt ballad-cum-rocker. I Feel Alright – A throwaway good-time rock anthem. With this kind of selection to chose from the band are very confident of recording the best album of their incredible career so far. The band statement also addresses the Chinchok project and clearly stresses that it is an ongoing venture which will continue alongside F/P. The statement reads; "Chinchok is very much alive but right now it is not yet the right time to do the second CD. We use the F/P vehicle to basically experiment, innovate and fool around loosely. F/P is free and flexible and a really creative environment where anything goes. We see Chinchok as an environment where we can refine and perfect, and really siphon off only the very best material to release as the finished article. Using both these avenues we are in the best position to create the very best music and it is only logical that one follows the other. So at this point we need to create and be spontaneous and just make a blast of a record like all the others we have done. Later we will refine things given the tight band setting which is Chinchok and just select the areas from the new material which have really shone through. No other band works this way. We see the recording process now as a 4-step process which is writing, demoing, F/P album and then Chinchok refinement. It’s us becoming the audience and looking at the finished product and saying ‘I like that, how can I take it and make it even more accomplished and complete’. The forthcoming album, which is as yet untitled will be the 10th studio album from the band and will celebrate the third decade of F/P recording. All tracks will be written by Nick and Chris and at this point there is no co-penned material. Production and mixing will again be handled by F/P. Expect the first single in late August and the album to be released on September 1st, 2000. 1999 August 24th, 1999 F/P Turn into Chinchok ! Fawcett / Poustie today stunned the music world by announcing that they have now become a four-piece band called "Chinchok" and are soon to release their first 4-song EP which was recorded between August 14th and 15th. The revelation follows weeks of speculation regarding their top secret project code-named "Frog". As it turns out "Frog" is the name of the recording studio in Cheshire where the band recorded the EP. The EP which is titled "Superdude EP" will be the first release put out under the band’s new name Chinchok. Chinchok, is taken from the Thai word "Chingchok" which is a small lizard from the Gecko family. This name change follows over 10 years where Nick Fawcett and Chris Poustie have recorded under the Fawcett/Poustie moniker. The band have explained that the reason for the change in name is to give the 4-piece band a true group identity. Chris illustrates "After 10 years working together as a partnership Nick and I thought it would be interesting to put a real band together. All our favourite artists have worked in band situations and we feel it is the best way to take our sound forward and into the new Millenium." "We could have continued as F/P however we felt that that would not be an appropriate name for this band. This band is a continuation of F/P but is also a totally different band with a bigger, broader sound. I think once everybody hears the EP they will be just as excited about this as we are." Asked whether this represents the end of Fawcett/Poustie as we know it Chris replied "No. F/P still exists however it is now called "Chinchok" and features 2 other musicians. We are still F/P however we have evolved. To use a ridiculous metaphor we are now the butterfly that was previously the F/P caterpillar." "I don’t know if this is the end of the evolution of the band either" he continued "I can foresee us eventually adding a horn section. I would also like to work with strings and so the band will continue to develop. Fawcett/Poustie can go on and on just as long as we continue to grow and I think the band setting that is Chinchok allows us greater opportunities to do so than the partnership." Rob "Bunny" Laurence and Lawton Green Chinchok is still in its infancy and as such is something of an experiment however the band are absolutely delighted with the EP and expect to remain as they are for the foreseeable future. "Where we go from here is not certain" says Chris "Obviously we don’t want the EP to be the only release by Chinchok as it is now. I want this band to continue on indefinitely." "Lawton and Bunny (Laurence) are an incredible rhythm section. We were very impressed by their contribution to the EP. Basher (Laurence) is a very quick learner and a powerful drummer who likes to experiment and that’s what we want for the band. He always tries to find the right rhythm for each section of every song which means he’s often playing several different styles in one song. In Superdude he plays in loads of different styles and that really enables the song to reach its full potential. He’s a big asset to the band in more ways than one !" "Lawton was amazing too. He arrived for rehearsals with just a couple of hours remaining and had us all worried yet when he plugged in it was immediately obvious that we had a world class bassist on our hands. Lawton is phenomenal. I don’t know of any bassists of his age that could have done as good a job as he has done. He is tight and experimental. He writes really brilliant lines that make the song really groove tightly. I can’t wait for the 4 of us to go into rehearsals again and start jamming. I think this is the rhythm section that can really allow us to realize our dreams. I think they could be very funky. That’s where I want us to go." EP and Video Releases The Superdude EP is set to be released in early September. The track listing is "Venetian Rendezvous", "Superdude", "Follow Me Down" and "You’re Welcome To It". The first 2 songs are updated versions of the tracks that were recorded earlier this year and featured on the "Lessons in Samuvian Dance Technique" album. Also from the "Lessons.." album is "You’re Welcome To It" which was originally recorded back in 1997. "Follow Me Down" was originally recorded for the "Captain Parrot" album back in 1994. The album sleeve will feature a cartoon chinchok (lizard) on the cover as well as a band photo on the back sleeve and in the inlay. Also to be released at the same time as the EP is a 3-hour video entitled "The Making of Chinchok" which will feature plenty of footage of the rehearsals and recording sessions which spawned the EP. The video starts in the early stages of rehearsals with the band as just Fawcett, Poustie & Laurence, takes in Lawton’s arrival at the Coach House and runs all the way through to the end of the recording sessions as the equipment is packed away. It also takes in the band clowning around in the studio, playing pool, working out solos, laying down vocal and solo tracks and much more. The video compliments the CD perfectly introducing Chinchok to the audience visually as well as aurally. Both will be available for purchase here on the F/P website as soon as they are released. Chris says the EP remains true to the familiar F/P vibe despite being a much bigger, broader sound. "You’re Welcome To It" is almost identical to the version on ‘Lessons…’ The only difference is that it is cleaner and flashier and has more balls. The vibe is the same but the sound is much more dynamic. ‘Venetian Rendezvous’ is snappier than the F/P version and Bunny’s drumming is really tight and boppy. It is really crisp and funky. ‘Superdude’ is way bigger than the original. The groove on the verses is incredible and the choruses are wide and dreamy. Just how it was meant to be. The sound is symphonic and way beyond anything we could have achieved as F/P. Apart from that the song structure is pretty much identical to the original version. The only song that is significantly different than the original version is ‘Follow Me Down’. In rehearsals the song was really groovy and hard rocking as well as melodic. On the original ‘Captain Parrot’ version the song is very bluesy and pubby and badly muffled by the mix. The EP version is very different. The verses are very smoochy and soulful adding a really different feel to the song. The guitar solo is really cool and jazzy but the piano solo stays true to the pubby sound of the original version." "We’re really delighted with the whole EP". This is how our songs are meant to sound and Basher and Lawtie were the backbone of these recordings. When you hear the songs you will see that they are very much in the F/P tradition but taken to the limits. This was a very successful experiment which I believe everyone involved enjoyed and was satisfied with. It took us just 3 days to rehearse and record. I think given more time we could record the greatest album of all time. Now it’s just wait and see what the reaction is and then maybe go back into the studio next year to record a full album of new material." "It’s probable that we will continue to select material from the F/P back catalogue as there are so many gems there which need to be tapped. Songs like "If I Was a Poet". But now I feel like writing again. It’s been a year since I wrote and I can’t wait to get ideas going which could work well for Chinchok." Stay Tuned For Further Developments………… July 18th, 1999 Project "Frog" Details Emerge ! Following much speculation over recent weeks about a secret F/P project, code-named "Frog" we are now in a position to exclusively reveal some details. Unofficial sources have revealed that "Frog" will be a recording project made by Fawcett / Poustie in August 1999 featuring two guest musicians. It is not apparent whether the name of the group will be changed from Fawcett / Poustie to "Frog" or quite what the relevance of the code-name is. Sources close to the band say that presently Chris and Nick are not revealing any details but assure us that the project is a significant departure from the band’s normal activities. Guest Musicians Names Leaked Sources have also revealed the identities of 2 guest musicians who will be playing prominent roles as guest musicians on the recordings. They are Lawton Green on bass guitar and Rob Laurence on Drums. Lawton’s name is familiar to F/P fans. He is a long-time friend of F/P and also featured as MC on "Live In Northwich II". He is also the brother of Vanessa Green who performed vocals on "Colorado Pips". Lawton is described as a very talented funk-meister of a bass player who recorded an album with a band called "Toxic Barbecue" in the early ‘90s. Lawton also played an impromptu live version of the Tommy Bolin classic "Wild Dogs" with the band in Manila, Philippines in 1993 and also recorded a demo of the wonderful unreleased song "Beach Dreams" with Nick sometime around 1994. Rob’s name is less familiar to the band. He was recommended to the band by Chris’ keyboard-wizard brother Richard. Rob is the vocalist of the London based outfit "Contraband" who feature Poustie senior on keys. Richard has described Rob as "very inventive and skillful" and adds he "plays in a variety of styles". Sources close to the band say that there has yet to be a meeting of the 4 musicians and that they will not be uniting until shortly before going into the studio in mid-August. Experiment To Be Released ? It is not yet understood whether the 4-piece band will go under the moniker "Fawcett / Poustie", "Frog" or something entirely different. It is also unclear at this point in time as to what the recordings will be used for. Some sources are suggesting that this is F/P experimenting with a broader band sound. There are going to be 4 songs recorded all of which are F/P standards; "Venetian Rendezvous", "You’re Welcome To It" and "Superdude" from F/P’s latest album "Lessons in Samuvian Dance Technique" and another classic Fawcett penned song which is most likely to be "Sunshine Girl" or "Follow Me Down" or could even be a new Fawcett song. Music Industry insiders are stunned by this unusual revelation. Many questions are being asked about the reasons for this project and the incredibly tight security surrounding details of the project. It is not unusual for F/P to keep the fans in the dark about their future projects but this time it appears we are in for a massive surprise. Stay Tuned For Further Developments………… February 23rd, 1999 Fawcett/Poustie stun fans with brand new album ! On December 10th Fawcett / Poustie announced their plans to record a 4 track EP in early 1999. Today February, 20th the band issued a surprise statement that their fans have been waiting over 30 months to hear: F/P are to release a brand new album on or before March 15th, 1999! The album is titled "Lessons in Samuvian Dance Technique" and features the following tracks, "Venetian Rendezvous", "High Seas of Rock'n'Roll", "Hot Head", "Labyrinth", "The Jazz Detective", You're Welcome To It", "Veny Rendy (Extended Samuvian Dance Mix)" and "Superdude". All but one of the tracks on "Lessons..." were recorded between January and February 1999 in 2 locations, Fawcett's "Sleepy Hollow" studios in England and Poustie's "Studio 404" in Thailand. The other track "You're Welcome To It" was recorded at the "Sleepy Hollow" back on October 1st, 1997. The album marks the first time in the bands history that they have used a recording studio outside of the U.K and is also the first album that they have not recorded at the legendary "Coach House" studios. A new single, the co-penned "Venetian Rendezvous" with B-Side "Veny Rendy (Extended Samuvian Dance Mix), will be released on Monday, 22nd February. The single is the first co-penned F/P song since "Colorado Pips" which was released way back in the Summer of 1994, almost 5 years ago !!! The album also features a second co-penned Fawcett / Poustie song "High Seas of Rock'n'Roll" which is an acoustic song which Nick and Chris wrote on the Thai island of Ko Samui in late January. Samui being the location that gives itself to the album title. Nick Fawcett is currently finishing his guitar work on the lengthy Poustie anthem "Superdude" following which the album will go into the post-production phase which will include some minor fixes, mixing and mastering. The official release date of March 15th might be brought a few days earlier if the album is mastered ahead of schedule. The band are keeping the album cover and concept secret but have revealed that several photo shoots took place during the band's recent holiday in Ko Samui. Although the album features less songs than usual for an F/P album the band have assured us that each song is of the highest pedigree and that the album marks a bridge between '96's "Framed" and the band's proposed next album due to be recorded in late '99 or the year 2000. The new songs have been described by the band as being the following; "Venetian Rendezvous" an upbeat and poppy tragic comedy about a cad in a gondola"; "High Seas of Rock'n'Roll" a mellow memento of classic adventures climbing the mountains and sailing the seas of F/P !!; "Hot Head" a punch-packed riffarama of tasty guitar leads and rebellious lyrics, "Labyrinth" a haunting Beatlesesque ballad with great harmonies and incredible Fawcett solo; "The Jazz Detective"....pure jazz lunacy and mayhem F/P style; "You're Welcome To it" classic F/P good time rock with popster grooves, "Veny Rendy (Extended Samuvian Dance Mix)...an extended version of the opening track featuring an additional minute or so of funk-out instrumentation; "Superdude" a long Poustie rock masterpiece with lengthy solos and plenty of twists and turns. The album is the band's 9th studio work and herald's their 100th song in 10 years of recording. It was produced and recorded by F/P and will be released on "Fawcett / Poustie" records. 1998 December 10th, 1998 Fawcett/Poustie plan EP release Rock geniuses Fawcett / Poustie today announced plans to record and release an EP of all new material early in the new year. The EP, which is planned to have between 4 and 6 songs, is set to be recorded in three different locations; The Sleepy Hollow, England, KC Court, Bangkok and The Villa Flora, Ko Samui, Thailand. The EP marks the first release of the band since their 1997 single "You're Welcome To It". A remixed and remastered version of that song is set to be included on the EP. Rumours are that the EP is tentatively titled "The Fawcett / Poustie Honeymoon EP". Although the track listing for the EP is not yet confirmed it is likely that the featured songs will include "Venetian Rendezvous" a co-penned number, "Superdude" a Poustie number, "The Jazz Detective" a Fawcett number and possibly 3 other songs including "You're Welcome to it", another Fawcett track and a song which they plan to co-write on Ko Samui in January. Speaking from his Bangkok residence Poustie said that the EP was a bridge between Framed and their next album which is expected to be released at the end of '99 or in the year 2000. At this point it is not known whether the tracks from the EP will also be included on the next album or not. Poustie said he thought it probable that some would be. The EP will mark the second time in the bands career that they have released an EP. The first time was back in December 1991 when they released "Stocking Filler". Only one track from that EP "I Never Said Goodbye" resurfaced in an updated version on the band's 1992 release "Magic Bowler Hat Ride". As usual the band plans to produce, arrange, write and record all material for the EP but also expect to feature guest musician Richie Flood, the veteran jazz man, on saxophone. Flood, who is a long time friend of the band, was also a member of Poustie's previous band, the jazz outfit, Saighton Syncapators, who released a very rare album with Chris on drums back in the mid 1980's. Flood keeps himself busy these days playing sax in a local Jazz band, still playing for the occasional Syncapators gig and was spotted most recently as a session musician on an Elvis impersonator's album. Guest musicians and vocalists have featured on F/P releases numerous times before, but this will be the band's first track to feature the saxophone. Pre-production of the EP has already got underway in Northwich where Fawcett has been preparing bass tracks for "The Jazz Detective". Over in Bangkok Chris is preparing his songs and getting the new studio, the KC Court, ready for recording which is expected to start around January 20th 1999. It is not yet sure which other Fawcett track is in contention to make it onto the EP. Rumours have it that prospective titles include "She Stole My Bike", "Hot Head" and "Daisy Chain" although none of these are confirmed. The as yet unwritten song, which is to be written and recorded at the Villa Flora studio in Ko Samui, will mark the band's first time to co-write with each other on an island since the legendary recording of "Feed The Monkey (Boracay acoustic demo)" back in the summer of 1993. The band hope to capture the same vibe of that recording session but not necessarily write the same kind of song. Fans have greeted the of the announcement of the band's first multi-song release since Framed I and II, after a pause of just over 30 months, with hysteria and great excitement. |
