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About Me

Our first release, a collection of 10 songs titled 'Fish / fowl / flood', came out at the end of 2008 on Best Kept Secret, which is based in Vicenza, Italy, and releases only on cassette. The songs were recorded at home in London and Lincoln, and received radio support from Marc Riley, Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and John Hillcock on Radio 2, 6 Music and XFM.
You can get more information and order the tape (for the reasonable sum of 5 US dollars) from www.indiepages.com/bestkeptsecret.
A slightly edited version of ‘Fish / fowl / flood’ will be released on CD in early autumn by Sounds Experience, and will be accompanied by our first ever live shows. More details to follow soon. new songs & recordings are on the way too, promise.
Newly-mastered versions of some of the tracks on "Fish / fowl / flood" can now be heard on the player above.
I also play in a band called My Sad Captains. Our debut album just came out on Stolen Recordings: check out my 'top friends' and have a listen.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 03/05/2006
Band Website: wrestlinggators.tumblr.com
Band Members: jim wallis with, so far, andy bell & dave howgego.
Influences: bright eyes. vetiver. m.ward. the band. elliott smith. iron & wine. wilco. grizzly bear. adem.
Sounds Like: “Nothing less than a stripped down Sufjan Stevens…on this evidence, Wallis will be worth watching out for.” Americana UK
“He has a brittle voice that isn't swamped by the gorgeous Americana-tinged instrumentation and the lovely melancholic melodies are joyously appealing. If ever there was a reason to dust off that old Walkman then this is it. Brilliant.” Sounds XP
“Finely crafted and charming stuff…will definitely stand the test of time and get repeat plays.” The Beat Surrender
“The perfect soundtrack for a new movie about two bookish American brothers with quick mouths who escape their dysfunctional family and hang out at the local balloon park where they meet Mary and Kate Olsen as surprisingly mature companions.” New Noise
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Free download on the Eardrums spring compilation

The kind folk at Eardrums music have included "Ah La Ha" on their spring compilation, "Birdsongs, Beesongs", which can be downloaded free of charge here:http://www.eardrumspop.com/2009/04/12/birdsongs...
Posted by on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:03:00 GMT

BBC Introducing Interview

Here's my interview with Tom Robinson on 6music... http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_robinsons_in troducing/ It will be there until Saturday!   
Posted by on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:19:00 GMT

Marc Riley session repeat

You can hear a couple of songs from the session we recorded for Marc Riley, played on BBC Introducing last night & available to 'listen again' for this week...http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_rob...
Posted by on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:46:00 GMT

Americana UK Review

http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/modules.php?op=modload&name= Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=4271 "Sometimes the medium itself plays a significant part in the appreciation of music. Live music is...
Posted by on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Steve Lamacq on Radio 2

More radio action, this time on Radio 2! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/lamacq/musicthisweek.shtml
Posted by on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Sounds XP Review

http://soundsxp.com/artman2/publish/albums/Looking_Glass_-_F ish_Fowl_Flood_review.shtml "I hope Italian label Best Kept Secret's policy of releasing music on cassette only doesn't prevent this wonderf...
Posted by on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Marc Riley’s Brain Surgery on BBC 6music

Marc Riley has kindly played 'ah la ha' a couple of times now on his show on 6music; he's also invited us up to Manchester to do a session on Monday 8th December. In the meantime, you can 'listen...
Posted by on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:35:00 GMT

BBC Introducing with Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson played 'Ah La Ha' on his BBC Introducing show on 6 Music on Monday night. If you're short of things to do this festive season, you can listen again here...http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/show...
Posted by on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

6music session for Marc Riley

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/marc_riley/tracklisting_20 081208.shtmlYou can listen to our session on Marc Riley's show at the above link. It'll be there for a week.
Posted by on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT