Rocket Kings - Paving The Way
Reading-based indie pop outfit Rocket Kings present their new full-length 'Paving The Way' album, previewed by the video for the title track. With 12 tracks on offer, this is the band's sophomore album, chalked full of original songs. Expect top tunes, ukuleles, melodies, harmonies - like a sweet cocktail of The Beautiful South, Belle and Sebastian and The Cranberries.
Formed in 2016, Rocket Kings are a 5-piece made up of Dave Stewart (ukulele, vocals), Bex Crossland (vocals, ukulele), David Heath (drums), Jess Tuthill (ukulele, vocals), and Yoshiko Nakayama (bass). United by their love of music, their positivity is infectious through the upbeat, original pop-rock songs they perform. With three ukuleles in their line-up, along with bass and drums: this is ukepop as you've never heard it before!
The 'Paving the Way' album was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Josh McCrohan at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell. Dave Stewart produced this record together with McCrohan, who has become a really important factor in Rocket Kings' sounds. Having provided professional sound services for Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Echo & The Bunnymen, Squeeze, Paul Young and Fairport Convention, among others, his input has been invaluable.
"We are really excited to share this album with people. It is chock full of Rocket Kings signature sounds and, as with our first album, these 12 songs are laden with top tunes and harmonies. The overall sound is perhaps a little more rocky this time around, and we regularly use overdrive and phaser pedals. We even have trumpet on a couple of tracks," says Dave Stewart.
"The song arrangements were more collaborative this time around, partly because we feel like we are all playing better than ever as a band and we feed off each other with creative ideas. Also partly because the band found themselves with time to meet up just after Covid without gigs to practice for. Amongst other things, there are songs about space (a regular theme for the band), yellow birds, missing museums, faithful dogs, tall tales and the Berlin Wall."
'Paving the Way' follows on from Rocket Kings' 2021 album ‘Everyday Adventures’. The band debuted on the music scene with ‘The Spellbound EP' in 2018. Their influences are diverse, ranging from Teenage Fanclub, Lou Reed and The Kinks to The Wedding Present, Status Quo and The La’s. The band also recently shared a series of demos (from 2016), called 'Intense Whirlwind'.
As of September 15, the 'Paving the Way' album will be released digitally, and also on limited edition vinyl and CD. All formats can be ordered via Bandcamp. The album will also be available via other fine digital outlets, including Spotify and Apple Music.
