BAND WATCH - Findlay Brown

Though this might be the first you're hearing of him in the US, Findlay Brown has made a splash in the Europe.

Don’t be fooled by Findlay Brown’s apparent youth – this guy can conjure up the ghosts of several decades worth of heart-searing love affairs, emotional road trips and the very essence of human longing.

His debut album Separated By The Sea was released in the UK on Peacefrog Records in February 2007 to critical acclaim, including a 5* review in the Guardian, where Dave Simpson described it as the most unlikely classic of the year. [should we provide a zip folder of album one?]

His new record, Love Will Find You, is a very different type of album. Produced by Bernard Butler (Suede), it’s a move away from Findlay’s earlier folk influenced sound, featuring more deeply soulful songwriting and lush, delicately orchestrated arrangements. The album came together while Findlay was stuck on his sister’s couch nursing a broken leg (after having been run over by a cab driver!). “I’d already started going back and listening to a lot of records I’d grown up on, like Elvis Presley, soul music, doo wop, Phil Spector, The Righteous Brothers and the like. I had an idea about making a modern record influenced by the songwriting of the late 50’s and early 60’s. I just started writing, trying to work out what made a universally great song, like ‘Stand By Me’. These new songs are the first part of that process.”

Currently on tour with Duffy in the UK, Findlay will be coming to the U.S. for a few shows in early 2009, and will release Love Will Find You here next spring. We will have advances of the new album available in a few weeks, along with some MP3s and video clips for you to enjoy and share.

In the meantime, you can enjoy a taste of Findlay Brown by heading over to RCRD LBL, where they are hosting two MP3s: An acoustic version of “I Had a Dream” (which is on the upcoming album; hear the album version on MySpace) Pilooski's amazing remix of Findlay's cover of "Promised Land," the house classic from producer Joe Smooth.