Rodney Cromwell - Exercise Class
London-based indie electronic artist Rodney Cromwell presents his new 'Exercise Class' EP, released on June 14 via Happy Robots Records. As with all output from this retro-futuristic songsmith, Cromwell's new output is just as fitting for the indie-disco dancefloor as a sweaty exercise studio. The title track is a case in point, with its fun video, animated and directed by Martin J Langthorne.
Arriving just a year after his 2023 EP 'The Winter Palace Remixes', the 'Exercise Class' EP arrives just in time for summer. With its dead-pan spoken-word lyrics, melodic chorus and Cromwell’s signature classic synth sound, the title track draws influences from LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy and New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, as well as the iconic soundtracks of Jane Fonda workouts videos.
The four-track offering was previewed by 'Madeline Trip'. The shortest track on this EP, this 55-second electronic hauntological trip was inspired by Marcel Proust’s seven-volume novel ‘In Search of Lost Time’. It's also the first song introduced to Cromwell's live audience when his band enters onto stage.
Rodney Cromwell is the solo moniker of Adam Cresswell of 2000s electronic duo Arthur and Martha and, before that, 90s indie folk band Saloon (John Peel faves), who appeared on Peel's legendary eclectic radio show, had four entries in John Peel’s Festive 50 & three Peel Sessions. Now, under his solo moniker, Rodney Cromwell's music was voted into the Official Festive 50 as compiled by Dandelion Radio, carrying on the tradition Peel had established.
Since debuting with the 'Age of Anxiety' album, Cromwell has been featured in NME, Electronic Sound, Huffington Post, Paste, Shindig!, Louder Than War, The Big Takeover, Magic RPM, Post-Punk.com and Bandcamp Daily. National radio play includes BBC 6 Music in the UK, RTE in Ireland, airplay in Tokyo, and RNE3 in Spain, for whom he also recorded a live session.
Live, Rodney Cromwell is a joyful mixed-media extravaganza, incorporating analogue synths, video visuals and live instrumentation, interjected by Rodney’s 'offbeat wit'' (NME). Described 'like a spiritual experience", he has shared the stage with icons such as A Flock of Seagulls, Damo Suzuki, Pram, Death & Vanilla, Rowetta, M!R!M and Steve Davis. In 2022, he recorded a live session for Electronic Sound and supported Blancmange on a number of dates, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the electronic music scene.
The 'Exercise Class' EP is out now and available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
