Premiere: First release on Ghostly Figures records – Stay/ Ocean by Two Skies

Here at Backseat Mafia we pride ourselves in the fact that we don’t just regurgitate or cut and paste press releases, there are plenty of other sites that do that and that’s fine. We write for the site because we love music and want to promote it when we hear it, and we want others who share our passion to discover new sounds too.

On this occasion, however, I am going to cut and paste a press release because I need to declare an interest. This brilliant single from Sheffield band Two Skies is the first release on Ghostly Figures Records, a label set up by people who write for this blog for the same reasons as the blog itself was set up – to promote good music. As such I/ we have a vested interest in this, but by the same token I really want to to hear it because it is really, really good.

So, you can hear it here – judge for yourselves:

And here’s the press release:

Ghostly Figures Records is a new label founded by a group of music fans who really care about the music we love, so when it came to releasing a debut single for our label we thought long and hard about who would fit the bill, it would have to be something very special…

Caught somewhere between the fleeting glimpses of heaven and hell, Sheffield psych-extraordinaires Two Skies were driven together by a mutual love of ethereal noises and powerful trippy grooves. Influenced by late night jamming sessions and David Lynch films, their music is an almost nightmarish mix of rollicking basslines and fuzzy washed out guitars. In sharp contrast to the sun-drenched vibes of the modern psych revival, Two Skies evoke the dark night of the soul and hammer out an aural expression of urge, lust and craving. Their EP ‘Red’ was released earlier this year to rave reviews –

“The atom of cosmic rock is split, spilling itself out in an avalanche of cascading guitars and voice.” GOD IS IN THE TV

”They deal in bass-heavy, freak-out friendly reveries with their sights set on the stratosphere.” Q MAGAZINE

”The band make gargantuan sounds which contain the incredible pressure of blast off, the Earth’s gravity pulling you back as your body lurches forward at impossible speeds.” CLASH MAGAZINE

‘Stay’ sees the band continue to develop their huge psyched out sound, bristling with fuzzed out guitars on top of a tight heavy motorik beat. The song has become a strong favourite in the band’s live set in recent shows, whether headlining or supporting the likes of Wooden Shjips, Toy, Ultrasound and Elephant Stone.

Two Skies are on tour in October/ November:

OCT

25th Barnsley ~ Opium 10

NOV

1st Liverpool ~ Sound Food & Drink

2nd Nottingham ~ Jam Cafe

3rd Lincoln ~ The Jolly Brewer

4th Sheffield ~ West St Live

5th London ~ Hope & Anchor

6th Brighton ~ Bleach

7th Manchester ~ The Castle

8th Stoke ~ Underground