ARMSTRONG

ARMSTRONG from Newport in South Wales were originally a three/four piece band in the late 1990s. They appeared in the NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS top ten best unsigned bands showcase in 1998. Armstrong released two singles on a local record label (Size 8) based at the music venue Le Pub. The first single release was YOU DESERVE TO SUCCEED/Triple Jump which was a shared band single with the excellent Mumbo Jet. You Deserve to Succeed also featured on the FIERCE PANDA record label album release called DIAL M FOR MERTHYR alongside other Welsh bands including THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS, 60FT DOLLS, DUB WAR, STEREOPHONICS and CATATONIA. Armstrong's second single release was a AA sided record, DWELL/BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY which received favourable reviews in the NME and many radio plays throughout the country. Local Size 8 record label head honcho, Keiron (also released Derrero's first single). Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton, Hugh Williams (the then 60ft Dolls manager) were invaluable with their help in supporting ARMSTRONG. The 60FT DOLLS were also invaluable and offered us many support gigs around Wales. I am Julian Pitt, the singer/songwriter and having amassed many many songs over the last few years, have just recorded a debut ARMSTRONG album called 'UNDER BLUE SKIES'. The album has been produced by ex-60ft Doll Michael Cole using a 16x track studio. The album features 12x new songs and the idea behind the writing was that I wanted it to be a similar sound to 'Rattlesnakes' by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions or Rubber Soul by the Beatles. We had a ball making the album and there was definitely some magic in the air during writing and recording. The next three albums are all written and ready to record and it would be great if someone out there decided to release UNDER BLUE SKIES for us, however in the meantime - IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A COPY OF THE ALBUM, IT CAN BE PURCHASED FOR £5.00 (WHICH INCLUDES FREE POSTAGE AND PACKAGING WITHIN THE UK). Anyone living in Europe would just need to add £1.00 for postage and packaging. Anyone living outside the UK and Europe would just need to add £2.00 for postage and packaging. PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA THE MYSPACE SITE IF INTERESTED. Or you can simply go to EBAY and type in ITEM NO. 300152208993 and buy the album directly. (The album sleeve is a DIY job although constructed by yours truly). Four of the songs can be heard here. They are basically the first 4x songs on the album. LOVE, HATE, PASSION and WAR is influenced by the Beach Boys and has lots of vocal harmonies. (approx 3.5mins). CRAZY WORLD has influences of Aztec Camera & The Smiths and I wanted a twangy guitar sound for the solo. (approx 4.5 mins) SORRY ABOUT LATELY was influenced by The Verve, Oasis, The Smiths and Radiohead with a bit of Red House Painters thrown in. (approx 5 mins) BABY, YOU JUST DON'T CARE has influences of Lloyd Cole, The Go Betweens and 'Rubber Soul' Beatles. (Approx 2.5 mins) THE ARMSTRONG PHILOSOPHY is to always write and record strong melodic songs, each song must have a certain character about it. My favourite songwriters/bands and artists have after all, always been about the songs!!