FR: MSO – MITCH SCHNEIDER/ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/
LIBBY HENRY
KINETIC – LINDA YANG
LONDON RADIO GOES SOUTH
“LOOSEN YOUR HOLD” #1 ON XFM’S LISTENER’S CHART
Critically acclaimed band SOUTH will be releasing “Loosen Your Hold,” the first single from their sophmore album WITH THE TIDES, in the U.K. on August 11 (Kinetic Records/Double Dragon). Radio stations in the London based trio’s homeland have been embracing the single. Early support came from tastemaker Zoe Ball of XFM who selected “Loosen Your Hold” as her ‘Record of the Week’ on July 7. Since then the single has been added to the station’s A List and has moved up quickly on the stations charts including the #1 position on XFM’s Listener’s Chart and The Top 7 at 7 (8/5). “Loosen Your Hold” continues to gain strong airplay and chart positions at local and national stations across the U.K. including:
- Radio 1 – Jo Whiley & Zane Lowe
- BBC London – A List
- Radio 2 – B List
- Virgin Radio – B List
- Virgin Radio Breakfast Show Record of the Week (July 14) & acoustic session July 22
- 6 Music- B List
- SBN – B List
- Music Choice – Hit List
In America, “Loosen Your Hold” is receiving early airplay and positive feedback from tastemaker Nic Harcourt’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” show on KCRW in Los Angeles and Live 105 in San Francisco in support of the September 23 stateside release of WITH THE TIDES (Kinetic Records).
Early critical reaction indicates this is truly a band to watch:
“Full of understated, but painstakingly crafted anthems, With the Tides is a trim, efficient, and perfect pop mouthful. South make a strong claim to the British music throne that’s been dusty since the days when Stone Roses held court.”
Lily Moayeri, NYLON, September 2003
“Just what we like to see–a band with some real direction. And yet, musically, South tugs the listener in all directions at once, splashing elements of electronica, alterna-rock, and, of course, the Beatles into one gently undulating elixir…On the stunning first single, ‘Loosen Your Hold,’ a delicate harpsichord gives way to the chorus’ string arrangement, played over a lilting banjo line–an unexpected yet super-cool twist.”
Chris O’Byrne, GUITAR ONE, September 2003
“The sweeping…rock anthems on With The Tides, the British trio South’s second CD, are anchored to propulsive grooves but take unexpected detours—such as the harpsichords and banjos that grace the standout track ‘Loosen Your Hold.’”
Carlene Bauer, ELLE, August 2003
“South makes a bid for an American incursion with the concise yet still epic second album, With the Tides. A blend of U2’s big-sky grandeur and Coldplay’s warm-hearted romanticism — with just a touch of Radiohead’s art-school smarts — South could follow such contemporaries up the charts and into the arenas. Now that it’s cool to be a Brit band again…South might find itself in demand on this side of the ocean…”
Cary Darling, MIAMI HERALD, August 3, 2003
To hear the song or for more information on SOUTH, log on to www.south.uk.net. Stay tuned for news about the band’s fall U.S. tour.
SOUTH’s upcoming appearances include:
Date City Venue
August 13 Cardiff, ENGLAND Barfly
August 15 Glasgow, SCOTLAND Nice’N’Sleazy
August 19 Nottingham, ENGLAND Rescue Room
August 20 London, ENGLAND TBA
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