HELLO. Last year somtime we released an album called Lions. There were some made, and these have just about sold out. So we are getting some more made, and to mark the occasion we are doing some kind of re-release, so expect to see thousends of copies of Lions flooding your local indie emporium. There have been a few new review floating about, which i've put at the bottom here.
As you can see we have a big old tour booked for June, and we're excited to be visiting a lot of places that we've never been, like Mancheter, Liverpool, Bath, Sheffield, Carlisle. Its going to be rad, so come and say hello.
In other news Crossword Records, which is run by the Brighton half of Jonquil, have released their second compilation, and its available to buy with Paypal HERE. Jonquil side-projects including Birdrib, Deja, Poems While Drowning, Bleeding Gum, and Eleven Twenty-Two all feature, as well as Andrew from Youthmovie's Plosives.
Here are Foals in front of Yannis's house bigging us up:
MUSIC WEEK
Ahead of releasing their debut album, Jonquil have already been tipped in the NME by fellow Oxfordians Foals.
But such exposure can be a double-edged sword; obviously gratefully received at such an early stage in their career, but sometimes a band can be simply dismissed as "that band that another band quite liked".
Luckily Jonquil prove to have more than enough thrills and spills in their arsenal to gather attention with or without such high profile patronage.
Their distinct sound is bolstered by accordions, brass and expansive vocal loops which wrap around their deftly defiant songs. And subtle production techniques embellish but never crowd out what is at the core a heartfelt and touching set.
The band have been gathering exposure slowly under their own steam, with radio sessions for Xfm's John Kennedy and Radio One's Huw Stephens under their belt.
Meanwhile a full UK tour looms, with an appearance at Latitude surely a highlight.
Lions is a fully realised offer, which belies Jonquil's collective young age, and, while it might not cause the same ripples as their high profile friends, it brims with the same enthusiasm and invention.
STRANGER MAG
By Jane Dawson
Jonquil belong to that slightly bespectacled clan of musos dubbed post-rockers. You can therefore expect foreign dialects, flugelhorns and such beautiful goose-bump inducing utterances to draw tears. Having played at last year's Truck festival they have since moved up the echelons, supporting acts like A Silver Mt. Zion and Adem – a move which on the basis of songs like 'Lily' and 'Here's to the Little Man' is utterly warranted. The Oxford six-piece are endearingly off-key at times, but full of soul and many intriguing instruments. The lyrics in particular parade youth in all its bare-bellied beauty- a perfect companion to Indian summer nights and lazy post-party Sundays. Jonquil's second album is one of the best new releases to be heard in months – it's ridden with promise and is sure to be better still when heard live.
ALTERNATIVE ULSTER
By David Hamilton
Lions is the second record from Oxford based Jonquil. Follwing the relative success of their 2006 debut 'Sunny Casinos' Jonquil have developed into a 6-piece band featuring drums, accordion, organ, melodica, flute and trumpet amongst all manner of other instruments. Lions is anthemic and illusive, mesmerising and emotive, hypnotic and earthy. Vocal melodies and drum grooves combine to provide the backbone to the impressive textures woven by the other instruments. Lions is an incredibly impressive record which is better by far than anything the current crop of tight-jeaned indie-guitar bands are churning out. Jonquil are an inspiring band who are carving out a new path, Lions is an essential purchase.