Archangel

Physical Energy / Drive is OUT NOW to download and on super thick limited edition 7" vinyl on Monday 22nd October!
Also available on iTunes - click here
Non iPod owners, click here for Pure Groove Digital!

"Essentially a double a side, 'Physical Energy' / 'Drive' is a slice of wistful and angry melancholia, driven by hard pianos and unrelenting synth bass, though not without a sense of humour to boot. rakish, distorted vocals teamed up with glorious harmonies make this a little gem of a record that must only be played loud and preferably with tons of eyeliner on. think the cure and bowie after a heavy night and a punch up..."
Some of the nice things people have been saying about "Physical Energy"
"What a record.. one of our favourite new songs of the year.. we love it” (Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1)
"Corking, angular art punk" (NME Jan'07)
"On constant rotation on the stereo since it was dropped in 3 hours ago - ones to watch in 2007" (Rough Trade)
"SINGLE OF THE WEEK - An astonishing new white rave sound such as Phoenix and Hot Chip has united. Maybe we found a genius at last!" (Shop Escalator, Tokyo, Japan)
"Something brand new, something we really really like.. something we've been dying to play you" (Zane Lowe, Radio One)
"Bewitchingly catchy at their best, Archangel take the very essence of a balmy summer afternoon and instil it through some jumpy indie rock curves that are impossible to dodge. Never in your face, the songs allure is purely charm based, and one you wont want to resist" A Subba-Cultcha.com SINGLE OF THE MONTH "An exceptionally good cake!!!"
"Despite the stuttering pace of 'Physical Energy', with its timely handclaps and short beats, this is deceptively languid. The repetition of the synth gives the lull of chill, but it's without a doubt clear that Archangel are influenced by something far more gritty and dystopian. A band to keep a beady eye on. 4/5" Disorder Magazine's Myspace
"The second release from London based Archangel sees the art indie upstarts take on the mantle of early Cure and 80's Bowie. With dark undertones and mournful harmonies, the band are touching the darkest sinews that many bands willingly avoid. The song relies on a menacing keyboard bassline and juddering drums that sit on the precipice of violence without peering too far over the edge. There's a melancholic fear that shows itself in the melody, but this is not to be mistaken for sounding depressing. Far from it - the song is of the sort that would appear in an indie club as the night is wearing on and needs an injection of energy. 3/5" Click Music
Physical Energy
How To Lose Your Best Friend
Official Press Release ARCHANGEL “Physical Energy”
Download OUT NOW
7” Vinyl out 22nd October through Medical Imprint
Essentially a double A side, Physical Energy / Drive is more “corking angular art punk” (NME) but is so much more than that.
Physical Energy (The cover depicts the bronze statue in Hyde Park of the same name by G F Watt) whilst musically anaemic is lyrically nasty, brutish and short. Racked by insomnia as well as worry, the song is an observation of one who is asleep by one who is awake.
Drive on the other hand, is more musically sophisticated though light hearted, particularly in relation to the production, which much like the statue, borders on what one might call dubious taste. There is a reason for this; the song has a deliberate lyrical immaturity and a subject matter not a million miles away from what Philip K Dick might consider plot worthy.. for the record, it’s the story of a computer that falls in love with its owner..
“this machine will give you love, have a care, one’s enough.
Piece of you, have some fun, line of code, nought or one”

With no obvious result although its pretty clear what that would be. The stunning coup d’etat of this clever counterfeit appears to place Archangel firmly in some kind of Lost Future version of late 1970’s early 1980’s Britain, a landscape where optimism and nihilism cohabit quite satisfactorily.
Archangel have released one record to date, an alarmingly good three track EP came out in February 2007. The EP kicked off with How To Lose Your Best Friend, an apocalyptic three minute blast of 1977 inspired pop punk., essentially a song about drug addiction:
“The best things come to those that wait
But on the way you learn to hate”

The EP also featured the threatening Dawn Raid:
“Will the guns ever come to bear, like my good intentions
The stars are falling everywhere, but I’m all smiles”

And Odysseus, which reminds you of Scary Monsters-era Bowie, with singer Nick Webber’s off kilter jerky vocals coolly intoning the virtues of dispassion:
“Cos you always disappoint me, and I should care but I don’t”