THE GOLD NEEDLES are from Hull. PEARLS has been described as Power Pop with psych and prog elements. All true but, most important, melody is king on this 18 track delicacy.

Mark English and Simon Dowson talk about their new record and more … .

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixtape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

This was really hard and we had a good discussion about how best to woo a lady. We wanted to appear cool but not obscure so we went for the following:

It’s My Life – Talk Talk

And Your Bird Can Sing – The Beatles

Skin Deep – The Stranglers

Air That I Breathe – The Hollies

Untouchable – Rialto

Hopefully that selection would secure a second date. If not then we would have to question her taste and we wouldn’t want to be with her anyway…….

Which is the song you wish you had written every time you hear it? And why?

We would have loved to have written Yesterday or Merry Xmas Everybody so we wouldn’t have to ever work again! Failing that, Dancing With Myself by Gen X is the perfect powerpop song. It builds, it’s simple with a great beat, it has a great riff, great lyrics and a great hook. And the album it’s from, Kiss Me Deadly, is grossly underrated. Well worth a listen.

If you could tour the world with 2 other bands, who would you ask to join?

I’m going to cheat a little here and jump in a time machine back to 1977. We would have loved to have been part of the Stiff Live Stiffs tour. Imagine the package of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and Wreckless Eric. Although we would probably have needed a spell in rehab afterwards! For a current band we would plump for King Crimson. Their shows are awesome, often featuring 3 drummers, countless guitarists and Robert Fripp’s outrageous and inventive lead guitar.

If the budget was unlimited, how would you record the next record?

A big studio would be perfect with a top class producer. Abbey Road with Tony Visconti or Andy Partridge would be ideal. Failing that our local studio, Fairview, with Bill Nelson would be excellent. And not just because I could walk there and back! Simon would love Trevor Horn in Sarm Studio. Now that would test the budget.

What’s up for 2018?

This is shaping up to be an incredibly busy year. We’ve just released our album, PEARLS, on US label koolkatmusik. It’s available on cd and download however, if we can get enough interest, it will be released on vinyl as well. In May we are appearing at the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool as part of the IPO Festival and in June we are supporting Duncan Reid and The Big Heads. At the beginning of August our cover of SMELL OF INCENSE is being released on Fruits de Mer Records. The single is being launched at their 16th Dream of Dr Sardonicus Festival at which we will be performing an acoustic set. In September we are bringing The Darling Buds to Hull to do a gig with them. We’ve also submitted a track to Canadian label, TBM Records, for their tribute album to Adrian Borland and The Sound. Our cover of COUNTING THE DAYS will feature. This album should be released later this year. And we continue to write and record. Exciting times ahead!!!

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