Bio
The natural beauty and order of the alphabet places The Speed Of Sound between Sonic Youth and Dusty Springfield, which is fairly close to perfect, described as “like The Stranglers” and “like Jefferson Airplane” by different people watching the same gig… the truth of course is The Speed Of Sound don’t sound like either, they have an original and distinctively identifiable sound, something that is lacking in the 21st century cookie-cutter corporate music industry… The Speed Of Sound exist in spite of the music industry rather than because of it, firmly outside the grasping and toxic tentacles of major labels they create real music for real people, with a wealth of tune-heavy songs that grow in stature with repeat listening, mesmeric and addictive with a depth and quality that immerses the listener and transcends traditional genre limitations. There is an alternative and this is it. The Speed Of Sound create atmospheric music; taking influences from across the last fifty years and moulding it into something new. They have been colliding the 1960’s with the Now since 1989, producing hard edged music with optimism and lyrical bite. And the lyrics are important, they are the starting point to every song, rather than being made to fit an existing structure it is the words themselves that shape the music. With a DIY ethos derived from punk and a lust for experimentation taken from psychedelia. Inspiration comes from inside, from rage and exasperation and also external themes of dissatisfaction and the inherent instability of the 21st Century, sitting alongside those inspired by nonmusical art forms, paintings, cinematography and literary works as well as deeply personal subjects. And, there are a lot of songs. The Speed Of Sound have never played the same set twice and the songs themselves change and evolve with every performance, taking on a life of their own. Therefore, recordings are more ‘that is how we did it today’ than a final definitive version to be continually replicated. Live is where music lives and thrives. To capture this The Speed Of Sound record with an unusually traditional approach, setting up as a live performance and playing together in the same room; the combination of live drums and live lead guitar allows the spontaneity of performance to be encapsulated in the studio in a way impossible when playing layer by layer to a click track. The Speed Of Sound have their own recognisable style, which is a rare thing in the 21st century. The Speed Of Sound make real music for real people. John Armstrong – Songwriting/Guitars/Vocals: John has developed a vivid style of guitar playing borne of combining rhythm and lead techniques and – in defiance of rock tradition – an almost total absence of riffing. The songs are steeped in unresolved chords and entrancing vocals. Kevin Roache – Bass guitar: Kevin has performed with John since 1990, he brings a love of Northern Soul and a six-string guitar based approach to the four string bass. With wide experience of playing differing genre’s including music of Indian origin he has an individual outlook on the bass. Paul Worthington – Drums: Paul had always played in covers bands before joining The Speed Of Sound, the freedom of playing originals was liberating while the fluid and improvisational sections are something he embraced. His understated style compliments rather than fills the natural space in the sound. As at July 2017 Paul is taking a break from drumming and we have substitutes in the chair for live performances.
