Back in January, we wrote and recorded a demo of a song we called Waterlight Park. It won't fit on the next album but we like it all the same, so we decided to give it away here. If you dig it, check out the video, which was made by a friend of ours. And maybe come see us play it live in October! You gorgeous things.

P.S. The track was produced by us with Jamie 'Jellis' Ellis and engineered by Matt 'Ear' Wiggins at The Square in Hoxton.

CCx

http://www.nme.com/nme-video/chapel-club--blind/911161807001

Thank you. X

Back in January, the band gave an interview to the NME in the lead-up to the release of 'Palace'. During the interview, we were asked about many things - the recording of the album, our views on art and religion, what bands we love etc. We were also asked (as a so-called 'buzz' band of 2010) to give our views on the buzz bands of 2011. Really, we should've kept our mouths shut: there's no good reason for one musician to do another down, even if they've got a fair point. It's hard enough to keep your head above water in this industry without all the childish feuding and sniping. But, being relatively new to it all and a little naïve (I guess), we tried to engage and give honest answers. Mine centred less on the artists themselves than on the media's coverage of them.

Most notably (for want of a better term), I talked about Jessie J, who I'd only heard of the night before, and who was the recipient of a pretty glowing feature in The Guardian newspaper that same morning. This feature said that Jessie's latest single, Do it Like a Dude, was part of a 'feminist conversation' in music. In the printed interview that appeared in the NME, my response was memorably reduced/paraphrased to read 'Jessie J is a lesbian from Essex who was mildly interesting until I heard her music. It's not subversive. It's mildly ironic.' This was the magazine's pull quote for the interview, in fact - and I've been berated (understandably) and celebrated (not so understandably) for saying it.

The problem is, I didn't: not quite – or at least, not in the way the article implied. I'm not trying to wriggle out of anything - stupid, colourful stuff like that actually serves to increase a band's popularity, I don't know why; at any rate, it's not like it's done a huge amount of damage to the band. But a few months down the line, I still feel uncomfortable with the implications of that quotation, and I just want to set the record straight for anyone who's remotely interested. Which I realise might only amount to two or three people.

So what did I say? The actual conversation went *something* like this:

Interviewer: What do you think of Jessie J?

Me: You know what, I didn't know anything about her but my friend was telling me about her at dinner last night.

Mike: I've never heard of any of these people! Fuck, I'm out of touch. Who is she?

Me: [to the interviewer] She won the Brit Critic's Choice award and the BBC Sound of 2011 thing, didn't she? [To Mike] She's a lesbian, she's from Essex and she co-wrote the biggest-selling single in the US last year, Miley Cyrus or something. I thought she sounded really interesting and then I was reading the Guardian this morning and there was this piece talking about how her new single, ‘Do it Like a Dude’, is part of a feminist conversation in pop. And I watched the video and I was so disappointed. I was like, This is not part of a feminist conversation on any meaningful level - this isn't subversive. It's just part of a trend of female pop stars and singers trying to do something sexy but vaguely alternative to sell records… [and so on].

That dialogue is not verbatim because I didn't record the interview. But it's nonetheless an honest depiction of what was said and - most importantly - the way it was said. Taken somewhat out of context, especially in the pull quote (ethical sub-editors could probably change the world), it reads like I'm an airily dismissive or disdainful, vaguely homophobic misogynist; in context, I hope you'll agree, it reads more like a slightly anal, absurdly completist guy explaining to his friend and bandmate (in answer to a direct question) the key facts he'd learned at dinner the night before as to the public identity of a pop star - facts which seemed relevant to the Guardian piece's claim that Jessie J's song is actively engaged in 'feminist conversation'. The full NME article didn't change the content of what I'd said a huge amount, though I think Mike's interjection and the fact I was explaining Jessie J to him rather than to the interviewer is a pretty significant omission. But the decontextualised pull quote must (in my opinion) have been aimed squarely at cooking up controversy from something fairly uncontroversial.

Anyway, I still regret saying anything at all, because Jessie J sounds like a nice person and the video to that song is actually pretty ace on a few more viewings. Not that she needs to worry what I think! But I do maintain that there's an element of irresponsibility (or shit-stirring) when any publication takes someone's (slightly drunken but still valid) viewpoint and reshapes it (even ever so slightly) into something that seems more aggressive, more offensive and more intolerant than was ever the case. The tone and intent of what I said was massaged into something uglier somewhere between the journalist's dictaphone and the newsagents' shelves, and that seems a little sad and unnecessary to me.

Also missing from the printed version of that interview was my subsequent (and directly related) assertion that some journalists seem to fall over themselves to read poetic and/or political depth into the work of more obviously mainstream/pop artists while more 'alternative' artists trying to work in a more 'meaningful' space (arsey as that sounds) often find it hard to get a look-in. It can sometimes feel that way, at any rate - like it's hardly worth trying, because the very fact of doing so renders you somehow pretentious or a smart-arse. I realise many people think I’m a pretentious smart-arse anyway: a ‘self-proclaimed poet’ or whatever (I’d like someone to dig out an interview where I say anything but the opposite, but still), but still I don’t think it’s a particularly terrible thing to talk about.

Anyway, I remember the journalist nodding and saying that this was an interesting point before asking what female artists I like. I mentioned Joanna Newsom (the journalist said she found her irritating). She then recommended Anna Calvi - I said I'd definitely check her out (I think she's great). Anyway, I'm telling you this simply to show that the journalist hadn’t misunderstood me; I don't think there was any chance she thought I was being aggressive or homophobic towards Jessie J - she knew I was talking about artistic intention and worth and validity, the active choices musicians make as to how and what they communicate to the public – and the media’s various responses to them. Credit where credit's due, and all that.

I might also note that virtually none of the stuff about art, religion or the bands and musicians we love was printed, but I guess rounded reportage and editorial balance don't sell magazines. Actually, I bet they would, but there are probably very few music press editors or publishers that have the imagination to try.

Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks to anyone who bothered to read all of this. Apologies if it seems self-indulgent, but I don't want anyone to see me as a standard-bearer (and yes, before the caustic remarks begin, I know it would be of the very poorest sort) for any kind of intolerance or narrow-mindedness.

My apologies also to Jessie J, and to anyone else who may have been upset or irritated by the implications of what was printed. I imagine there'll be a bit of grief to come just for posting this, but whatever.

 Love as always x

L

fuckyeahchapelclub

CCx

Thank you so much to all of you for your continuing support, we know it's taken a while, but the day is finally here. Thanks for coming to the shows last year, we can't wait to get out on the road again in February. Thanks for buying the singles that paved the way here - for sticking around long enough for us to go full circle and actually release Surfacing.

The delayed release of Surfacing is, to us, a testament to your loyalty and support - that a year later, you're all still here, and we can't thank you enough.

Palace is now available on CD and 12" Vinyl, with a Deluxe Edition for both which include the Wintering EP. There is also an MP3 bundle available from iTunes which includes not only the Wintering EP but also some live material and an interview with the band, along with the standard album version.

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered Palace - it was a kind, illustrative gesture that didn't go unnoticed and we appreciate it.

Enjoy the record, we'll see you all very soon.

With Love & Thanks,

Chapel Club

CCx

Trish Keenan was one of the finest vocalist our country has ever produced and she will be sorely missed. For any of those who haven't heard them please go out and buy an album...Broadcast needs to be a part of your life.

I've attached a mesmerising live performance of my favourite track Winter Now. Enjoy.

Mike and CC

Check it out here!  (you\\\'ll need to delete the http://chapelclub.com bit from the first bit of the url when you click the link, and the \\\"/ off the end - cos the links are playing up )

CCx

1: Depths
2: Surfacing
3: Five Trees (Album version)
4: After the Flood
5: White Knight Poition
6: The Shore
7: Blind
8: Fine Light
9: O Maybe I (Album version)
10: All the Eastern Girls
11: Paper Thin

Cd 2

1: Roads
2: Telluride
3: Bodies
4: Widows

PALACE Standard CD:

1: Depths
2: Surfacing
3: Five Trees (Album version)
4: After the Flood
5: White Knight Poition
6: The Shore
7: Blind
8: Fine Light
9: O Maybe I (Album version)
10: All the Eastern Girls
11: Paper Thin

PALACE MP3 Bundle:

1: Depths
2: Surfacing
3: Five Trees (Album version)
4: After the Flood
5: White Knight Poition
6: The Shore
7: Blind
8: Fine Light
9: O Maybe I (Album version)
10: All the Eastern Girls
11: Paper Thin

PALACE Deluxe Double Vinyl:

Cd1

1: Depths
2: Surfacing
3: Five Trees (Album version)
4: After the Flood
5: White Knight Poition
6: The Shore
7: Blind
8: Fine Light
9: O Maybe I (Album version)
10: All the Eastern Girls
11: Paper Thin

Cd 2

1: Roads
2: Telluride
3: Bodies
4: Widows

It's getting colder out there, so we thought we'd drop a little something in your laps in the new year to get things warmed up. Yep, it's our debut long-player PALACE which will be hitting the shelves on January 31st!! First-up though is our new single SURFACING (yesss, we can finally release it) which is out January 24th.

The new tracks we recorded for the WINTERING EP have been getting the CC camp pretty wild too, so as a rare treat we've decided to give it away with a limited edition version of the album...PALACE and WINTERING, together as one, in a special edition CD pack. We'll post pre-order links as soon as we get 'em. Bienvenue 2011!!  CCx

Listen to Widows at NME.com now

X CC

CC x

So he has brought me my last inheritance:
Archaeology of the mouth: the home fire's embers,
Fluff, breath-frail, from under the looms of Egypt.
Funeral treasures that crumble at the touch of day -

The huge fish, the prize of a lifetime,
Exhausted at the surface, the eye staring up at me,
But on such a frayed, fraying hair-fineness -

Any moment now, a last kick -
And the dark river will fold it away.

- Ted Hughes, from 'The Dark River'

Sometimes we make stuff that doesn't ever make it out of our bedrooms, and we thought you might like to hear some of it.

So... this is not quite Chapel Club. This is Songs from the Dark River Archive. Sketches, odd ideas, stuff that we remembered we'd forgotten. No studio songs. Just stuff recorded on Macbook mics and messed around with on laptops. Fluff, breath-frail, as it were. We'll add to it from time to time if people seem to like it, so let us know. First few bits and pieces below. Enjoy.

 

 Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself (Morrissey cover) by DarkRiverArchive

  Sweet Words by DarkRiverArchive

 The Light of the Sun by DarkRiverArchive

X CC

Check their Facebook page for details:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150991018276587&ref=ts

X!

X L

Sea of Leaves

Birch bark night

Black streaked with moonlight
Wild white doe
Adrift in the forest
Steps so light
So quiet and cautious
Stutters through
The gloom like a code
I will walk
These thousand moonstruck miles
In the hope
Of seeing you up close

Sea of leaves
Promise me no harm
As I leave
The comfort of myself
Welcome me
Faithful and enchanted
Small and weak
I hear the bells, I know

i o i
i o i
i o i
We reduce to vowel sounds


Ended so sad
Why is that?
Tired I turned around
Moon-white doe unfound
The earth rolled silent
Under trembling skies
Disassembling atom-light
I came apart

Sea of leaves
Promise me no harm
As I leave
The comfort of myself
Welcome me
Faithful and enchanted
Small and weak
I hear the bells, I know

i o i
i o i
i o i
We reduce to vowel sounds

i o i
i o i
i o i
We reduce to vowel sounds

If you prefer wax to bytes, get yourself a copy of the super-limited 7" - backed exclusively with new song 'Sea of Leaves' from http://www.recordstore.co.uk/productdetail.jsp?productPK=unittest-o9zcIfTgbO5ixUDFqN3IEb-1

Thanks as always for your support,
CCx

x L

x L

So the ace Breton remix of 'All the Eastern Girls' can now be downloaded free from Hype Machine.

Go here to get it, and make sure to vote for it whilst you're there.

More remixes to come soon...(some real sweet ones too;)

Ccx

Just click the the link below to listen:

http://bit.ly/bcsDMN

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00tgwkq

Heavier than a Death in the Family by Japanese Noise terrorists (one member actually was involved in the highjacking of Japan Airlines flight 351 in 1970) Les Rallizes Denudes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvhX9D-qvT0

F**k Yeah

Mike

https://nmeweekender.com/tickets/

CC x

The road to Haldern Pop yesterday saw us take in more than a couple of early Herzog films, along with The Devil and Daniel Johnston and a few highlights from Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps. Made our 8 hour journey surprisingly easy...

Looking forward to the festival later on.

Rich x

More details can be found here:

http://webnews.textalk.com/en/article.php?id=432669

See you there. CCx

It's at the Redchurch Bar on Redchurch Street in Bethnal Green, and it's open to everyone. It's also free entry.

All you have to bring is yourself; we'll bring the disco.

See you there x

P.S. You can read more about theLBD here. 

x L

Stage time is 8:50.

CCx

He's reviewing various stuff as part of the 'Round Table' segment of the show, alongside a couple of other indie types.

Listen in online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/

X

For you, today at chapelclub.com. Check it out.

Love x

Cheerio, CC, x

CCx

http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/reg/reg.pl?id=4699-137331

no time wasters please, only enter if you're feeling particularly lucky.

Alex, x

Other bands playing on the night are The Courteeners & The Cheek.

CCx

Peace.
CCx

X

A x

If you're thinking of coming to see us at Glastonbury, please note that we are only playing once - NOT twice as advertised in some places.

We'll be on at 8pm on the Queen's Head Stage this Thursday, June 24th.

See you there x

It's an imagist song.

Here's the lyric:

***

Their bodies, like islands, swum to meet
And merge the havens of their fleets
Two bodies like shorelines close beside
Two slender opposing forms that fall and rise

You, my act of love
You, my act of
You, my act of love

To bear like a tide these searching hands
Two slender opposing, proposing, supposing hands
Like swan heads on slender necks of swans
Joined in the swaying of silent palms

You, my act of love
You, my act of
You, my act of love

***

X L

Mike.x

"What do you see?" She asks.

"The Shore"

- Updike, Rabbit is Rich

Alexx

X L

Machine Music : O Maybe I B-side : Lyric

milk thighs
she's got
honey in her eyes
she's hot
but all about the money
so you'll have to exercise
restraint, hold off
but you can't help but fantasise
about what she's got
can you imagine?

so young
unwise
you're a slave to the wet tongue
and the glowing eyes
those eyes
are you the stinger or the stung
are you the winner or the prize?
wishing you could close down your heart, your lungs
and your mind
can you imagine?
can you imagine?

light was the first gift the lord let play
on the untried senses of the man he made
even as night fell from his bent brow like blossom
even as blue oceans boiled in the embryo
of his one blue eye
even then
it was light the first gift
that clamoured and sung on the infant skin
like birds

light was the first castle he raised
in the sands
but then came woman
came you
your hands

Birds of the Morning : Five Trees B-side : Lyric

when
will you learn
that life can be more than you allow for it
safety does not make you happy
so why persist?
you can only succeed at the challenges
you accept
so please
            please
don't close every book unread

speak one true word and you will have spoken
speak one true word and you will have spoken
when everything that they taught you
was a lie
watch the birds
watch the birds of the morning
see how the ice and the wind
cannot keep them from singing

            and watch the path
watch the path you are treading
if it fades into dust
choose another
you are like your brother
and you love him don't you?
of course you do
it doesn't matter what he achieves
no one will ever be him

there is no shame in learning
nobody expects you to know everything
when everything they promised
ain't arrived
watch the birds
watch the birds of the morning
see how the ice and the wind
cannot keep them from singing

be a friend to yourself
in these darkening days

be a friend to yourself
in these darkening days

don't be afraid

Here are some photos from the May tour dates - taken in York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton, Cambridge, London and Dot to Dot in Bristol. Newcastle, Nottingham and Manchester, you were all sunlit and special but alas, I didn't take a single photo of any of you. Next time.

X L

http://www.banquetrecords.com/CCFIVE

x

CCx

Alex, CC x

We're very pleased to announce our new single Five Trees is out today.

It's the first fruits of our recent recording sessions with Paul Epworth, which you can check out now hereWe've also signed some very limited 7"s (100 to be precise), so for those of you who prefer to have something more unique here's where you should go. The previously unreleased track 'Birds of the Morning', recorded and produced by our good selves, backs the vinyl and is also available on download from the usual places.

The video for Five Trees (directed by the brilliant Lamo Wizard duo) you can watch now on our media page

Much Love

CCx

We'll be in the Gigwise chat room at 4pm today, follow the link if you fancy joining us

http://www.gigwise.com/news/56548/Chapel-Club-For-Gigwise-Webchat-Wednesday-Today

CC X

http://ifthereishellbelow.blogspot.com/2010/05/if-there-is-hell-below-episode-13-with.html

Alex

x

This Wednesday (May 26th) some of us (the best ones) will be taking part in a webchat thing for Gigwise.co.uk. As far as we're aware, this will be a chatroom style setup where anyone on earth can come to ask us questions, ideally about the band and the music but also (if you're so inclined) about other stuff besides. Rich in particular is an expert on all kinds of strange subjects.

Anyway, the webchat starts at 4pm and you'll need to be registered with Gigwise in order to take part. Further details etc. can be found at the link below. So quite literally, speak to you soon.

http://www.gigwise.com/news/56466/Chapel-Club-For-Gigwise-Webchat-Wednesday-Next-Week

Artist's impression of Gigwise webchat with Chapel Club:

X L

pretty disgusting. Edinburgh tonight...funny one so far - played an acoustic set for Leith fm - not gonna lie, made a few mistakes - then a taxi driver called us poncey c**ts when we were loading in...yikes. still! i'm sure the gig tonight will be far removed from the terror of the streets (please, please don't throw stuff at us).

mad love, Alex x

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2010/may/17/cannes-film-festival-liam-gallagher

Need I say more.

Al x

We are very fortunate in that some talented individuals have re-imagined and remixed our forthcoming single, Five Trees. 

Tom Horror put together a pretty fantastic Kraut take on the track, while Memory Tapes went for equally amazing euphoric sunset vibes.

We love them both, and you can too. Download the Horrors mix here and the Memory Tapes mix here.

And keep an eye on this blog - further to some plans we made today at rehearsal (the sun was out, we felt cheerful), it looks like there's some exciting news (and more free music) coming soon...

X L

The first TGE gig last night in Brighton was fun and tomorrow's will be funner. Yes, funner. So get down to LIFE on Saturday night and we can be all emotional together.

Oh and if you haven't already, check out the new video for Five Trees on the Media page of this very site. And let us know what you think by commenting and what-not.

X L

P.S. To the dude on crutches at the Prince Albert last night: I'm really sorry I never came down for a cigarette when I said I'd be right behind you. Just after you went I was reminded that my train back to London left in about 9 minutes and I had to make a mad dash for it. But it was great to meet you and be assured I felt pretty mortified about not managing a proper farewell.

X L

http://3voor12.vpro.nl/tv/#/41129336/43411204/10

You'll notice Rich has focused on the actual members of Chapel Club much more than I did in my now world-famous 'Tour Stories' posts. This is what makes Rich a decent tour blogger (or would, if he posted them himself) and me a pretentious bastard. You have to admit though, the streetlamps of Brussels are far prettier than Chapel Club. Still, everyone and everything deserves their chance to shine.

Enjoy.

X L

Both cities were amazing, don't get me wrong. I even stayed on in Paris after the tour ended, walking about 75 miles a day and seeing loads of undeniably beautiful stuff. But in the end I took less than a dozen photos the whole time. I guess that's what happens when you're no longer sat in a van for eight hours every day, then a venue for a further five: you stop thinking about compiling experiences and just have them instead.

Anyway, sorry again if these seem a little lacklustre. What you can look forward to are some nice photos of the band that (drum-fiend) Rich took during the tour and sent to me over the weekend, and which I'll post tomorrow.

Yes, you heard me right - actual pictures of members of the band! Not just clouds and streetlamps! Imagine!

X L

Neu! - Negativland, Beach House - Heart of Chambers, Mr Oizo - Jo & (obviously) Pavement - Zurich is Stained. Oh, and whether the majority of us liked it or not, 'Darcy, Darcy etc etc' from Tilly & the Wall...

Other things were Rich's rather constant occupation of the back shelf (a bed, when on tour), my first time in Berlin which gosh darn blew my mind, the dark depths of the Red Light District & Liam/Rich's virtually unceasing comedy/idiotic antics.

In short, we had a swell time, and we truly hope you did too! Can't wait to get back out there, big big love,

Alex X

P.s. Netherlands - let us know when you're having another festival, we want in! x

http://3voor12.vpro.nl/tv/#/41129336/43401703/1

Just before the Amsterdam gig and having had no time for practice, a nice lady recorded us playing acoustic versions of Eastern Girls and Paper Thin in a lift. We'll let you know where you can see that performance as and when we find out ourselves. And apologies in advance for any gooselike honking.

I’m posting this from Switzerland – we left Amsterdam early on Sunday, meaning I had no chance to take any photos – so expect the next set of pictures to feature Zurich and/or Paris. The ones below were taken in Berlin and while driving along Dutch motorways.

X L

Here are some photos from the current (European) leg of our tour, taken in beautiful, bountiful Brussels two or three days ago.

Tomorrow: pictures from Hamburg, Berlin and various wind-farms along the autobahnen.

Right now we're still in Berlin, getting ready for our show tonight at Magnet. But there's been time to explore, nonetheless. About an hour ago I saw the Berliner Dom for the first time, sat foursquare and bellowing beside the Spree: completely awestruck.

X L

Fortunately, the rhythm section (or 'The Guts' as they call themselves - the rest of us being 'The Glory') had nine or ten drinks too many and are still in bed while the rest of us wait to check out of the hotel - affording me just enough time to post some more photos from the UK leg of the tour. 

Enjoy. And feel free to fill me in on any hangover cures that actually work.

X L

We headed to Portsmouth a week or two ago to play the Cellars on the first night of our tour. The gig was good, the air was warm and we spent one blue twilight and one bright morning wandering the seafront suburbs. I took some photos here and there.

A nice start to our spring jaunt.

X L

Many thanks,

Alex x

Anyway, apologies once again for the resultant messiness. We'll try to make it up to you next time round - and if you email chapelclub@chapelclub.com with your name and postal address, we'll send you a limited edition numbered Don't Look Down tour CD to sweeten the deal. There were only 500 of these made and there are very few remaining, so it's first come, first served.

X

CC

Here are a few from the last few days:

Click here for more details

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/events/inmwtlive/

x L

It's limited to 1,000 vinyl-only copies and will be available at all good UK independent record stores. If you don't want a wax copy, download will also be available from www.eastcityrecords.com and our Sandbag Store from the day of release.

CCx

Remaining Tour Dates
London Stamford Works - 10th Feb
Manchester Deaf Institutre - 11th Feb
Glasgow King Tuts - 12th Feb
Birmingham Flapper - 13th Feb