Description

London producer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and soul singer Royce Wood Junior is to release his debut album lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo via 37 Adventures on January 29th.lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo beautifully incorporates elements of nostalgia with modern, multilayered production that perfectly characterises Roycersquos unique sound. Combining a distinctive mix of soul, funk and RampB, Roycersquos debut evokes the sounds of RampB heroes Prince, DrsquoAngelo and Stevie Wonder. The album is also infused with spikes of wonky electronica that brings to mind Radiohead or JDilla, effortlessly bringing together these genres into jaunty and harmonious pop songs.The moonlit, soul stomper lsquoMidnightrsquo January 29th, 37 Adventures will be the next single to be taken from lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo. The track is an ode to that strange twilight hour where one day ends and another begins and yesterdayrsquos mistakes can be erased, or at the very least slept on. Built around a skewed garage beat, wobbly synths and shuffling percussion lsquoMidnightrsquo perfectly demonstrates RWJrsquos distinctive, understated bluesy voice, combing unique, woozy electronic sounds with a familiar soulful backdrop.lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo is not short of RWJrsquos world of electronic, genrebending soul jams. Whether itrsquos the playful, piano led moodlifter lsquoClanky Loversquo or the gloriously fuzzed out, guitarheavy wonky RampB single lsquoHoneydripperrsquo, lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo is a remarkable debut from someone who has been honing his craft working behind the scenes for a number of years. First gaining attention with the soulswooning coproduction of Jamie Woonrsquos debut album lsquoMirrorwritingrsquo, Roycersquos profile continued to rise producing tracks for BBC Sound Music poll topper Kwabs, before coproducing the likes of RampBsoul ingenues Nao and Denai Moore. Royce has undoubtedly proven his musical credentials that confidently shine through on his debut album.The Deluxe Edition of lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo will also feature three new songs, Loversquos a Lonely Town, Ophelia and Donrsquot Wanna Lose You. lsquoLoversquos a Lonely Townrsquo was written in what Royce describes as a lsquoreally grimey, super lonely period of isolation living in a recording studio in Brightonrsquo. Recorded during the same sessions as previous single lsquoHoneydripperrsquo, it features similar squelchy, gloopy sound textures, but is the opposite side of the coin the heartbroken, melancholic relation to lsquoHoneydripperrsquosrsquo molten lust. lsquoOpheliarsquo available as an instant grat track with preorders of the album is both deeply personal and epic in ambition itrsquos major chord structure and fragmented, rave influenced keyboards belying a song that is both beautiful and fractured, bringing Roycersquo love of songsmith Rufus Wainwright and Radiohead to the fore. The three new tracks on the Deluxe Edition are completed by lsquoDonrsquot Wanna Lose Yoursquo, a cover of Grand Central Recordsrsquo underground classic of the same name by Toni D and Veba.An exceptional future classic debut from one of the UKrsquos most exciting new artists, lsquoThe Ashen Tangrsquo by Royce Wood Junior is due for release on January 29th, 2016 on 37 Adventures. Royce Wood Junior Heavyweight-LP is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £19.99