BIOG BY DELIA DANSETTE:
Bath is a village of calm tranquillity and decorum. The gentle waft of chamber music floats through the air to soothe the frazzled souls of the over-charged American tourists and photo-snapping Japanese parties. But what is there for the restless natives of Bath? What sounds will entice the savage beasts of Somerset from their lair and onto the dance-floor, or at least the first five rows of a pop concert? How about a ready-made party? One in a similar vein to the early ‘70s travelling fun-show of Canned Heat, or perhaps working on becoming the true-life take on the unfulfilled dream/vision/not-quite-real spectacle of the Rolling Stones Rock’n’Roll Circus…. Ulysses are a band who bring their own caravan of entertainment with them. Their audience feeds from their music and feeds them back appreciation in a symbiotic soul-love-power sunburst of warmth and noise.
References? Pop Levi, Patrick Wolf, Bobby Conn, Kings Of Leon, taking from the raw blues style that White Stripes articulate their songs from, but with added zest, pop padding and harmonies. There’s even some early ‘70s Bowie and ‘Electric Warrior’-period T.Rex in the mix.
Currently in the studio with EMI Publishing house engineer Mark Aubrey, the charm and wistful glitter of Ulysses is being added to five new stompers, destined for their forthcoming debut EP, full details of which will be posted here soon.
Meanwhile, here’s a brand new live review to stick in your pop pipe and blow harmonious bubbles with:
"Ulysses look like a cluster of illegitimate love children from the Keith Richards/ Marc Bolan tryst of my dreams, ding-dong. They are a real rock 'n' roll band, delivered from the ‘70s and planted in The Cooler, minus the posturing. They aren't re-writing the rules, it being rock 'n' roll and all, instead smacking of melody and huge choruses. You can't help but stamp your foot, nod your head and prepare to bray at this Bath four-piece. Any band that has it's own cowbell section gets a high-five, thumbs-up, hearty pat on the back from this quarter. Crunchy guitars, geometric polo-necks and butterfly stickers are back: you heard it here." - Colette Thurlow, Venue Magazine (Feb 2008)
And another one!:
"Local favourites Ulysses kick it off with their bright shiny psychedelia. The motto on their MySpace is 'Future Classic Rock' and I think that sums it up brilliantly. They're obviously in love with 60s rock - which suits me, personally - but they still sound like a contemporary guitar band on stage, they don't sound dated at all. But then, I suppose psychedelia in its various guises is in resurgence lately anyway so they're right at the heart of what's going on. They let the good times roll, the beat always essential, pulsating and the guitars flowing forward. There's no hint of gloom, rather it's the early days of glam, when Bolan was transmuting the hippy rainbow into a pot of gold. Just what we need as we enter a similar age of depression. Rebel against faded browns with sunshine for your ears." - Mark Froud, Moles Online (May 2008)
"Ulysses are the total f*cking shit!!!"
BOOBYTRAP RECORDS
"Fantastic - Ulysses are the business. We love your band!"
BRISTOL UNCOVERED ON BBC RADIO
"They rocked the place. I watched the whole set and it was something quite special."
KLUB KUTE BRISTOL
"A formidable ensemble, liberally blessed by the hand of genius. This band should come with a warning – "listening to this music is likely to make you want to abandon your job, your partner and your kids, and sink your life's savings into a big fat convertible with a psychedelic paint job, and go cruising off into the vast unknown, not stopping until your CD player is fried"
BRISTOL BANDS.COM / DISOBEY MAG
"An EP that leaps from your speakers...a unique and vibrant soundscape, full of wonderful melodies, spacious fuzzed up guitars and catchy choruses you'll be humming for days. A mesmerising listen."
SPILL MAG Cd Review
"Quite simply the best band Bath has ever produced."
MOLES CLUB Quote
"Their sound is louche, melodic & groovy and provides the best cowbell fix we're going to get until LCD Soundsytem come to town. A warm, rich throb is dished up by the most enjoyable band of the night."
VENUE MAG Live Review
"Short, lively songs with striking hooks and heavy, chugging melodies with Who-style backing vocals weaving between anodyne guitar solos and absolutely mesmerizing riffs. The kind of raw, blood-and-bones rock that makes you want to pump your leg up and down like an idiot. For forty sweet minutes you can't help but yield yourself to their engaging vintage kicks. Someone give them a record deal. Immediately."
DECODE Live Review
"Classics before they've even been released, you know the type of song you hear and you're convinced it's been one of your favourites for years."
JUNXION 17 Cd Review
"Beautifully crafted songs from the darkside. It is seriously in your best interest to find out where to see them next."
FUSE MAG Live Review