Two weeks away passed Bestival and i'm still buzzing. What a summer that was. Pretty special in the life of an elephant. We released our album, and while sharing it everywhere we got invited, we used every little time we had together to start planning the next stop and what we want to find at the next station. We planned a lot but started bits there and there, using every moment where the music stopped to call what's next.

Time to move to pasture new, set our camp in the studio again. It's both exciting and freaky. Right now, I don't know what key we're gonna play this, and what will be this tune about, as it's hiding somewhere between now, Sam's wurlitzer, Paul's bass, Lawrence skins and spring. ;o) 

Our new EP is coming out soonish I think, middle of October. "The Reverend Tisley" will be out with different outfits. The Sunday Best crew had a cool idea - releasing a limited edition of 7'' dressed up nicely, while the electonic version includes different versions of tunes. I love it.

Each band is different. Many bands we know are led by one or two individuals...calls and decisions are the fruit of someone with a bigger influence and more confidence. If you were to imagine us having to make a final call on something, we could probably be pictured as some very funny looking tribe sitting in circle, discussing.

The reason why I'm saying this is because the EP to download will come with two alternate versions of songs from Star Sign Trampoline. Both brought moments of sitting down in circle, discussing what to do. "The Reverend Tisley" EP will be released with a Sunday Best Remix of a song on the album called "Neptune", while will also be available for download a second version of "Red Ties Vs The Bees" and the original recording of "When u Fall 2 Earth (local league of pacifists)".

It's such a treat to be able to release those because the version of "Red Ties Vs The Bees" brought looooads of discussion amongst us. I liked the darkness, roundness, warmth, groove and color of it - a very upbeat approach to it - while the others loved it but thought that the original version which ended up on the album offered a more reflective moment and would suit the album far better. They were right ;o)   But it's so nice being able to share the latest recording of it too.

The real treat of the EP is the release of "When you fall to Earth" as it was originally thought, with real Vietnam War fields recordings in the background. A young american soldier went to Vietnam with a tape recorder, and shared with it what he was going through while hiding himself, or being caught under the machine guns fires. He too never made it back.
I want to post more about him. Firstly because he must have been an incredible man to know, but also because his legacy is unique.

See you soon here or elsewhere

Manu Elephant