Pool Of Sound - Novelty Island

 

Tom McConnell

Every now and again, you hear a band that screams out fun, imagination and creativity. Following on from his project 'TV ME' launched in early 2017, we have the surrealist, analogue pop workshop, 'Novelty Island'. This is the band/alter-ego/creative vehicle of Liverpool-based songwriter/producer, Tom McConnell and this current musical project began out of the recordings he made while studying at the Abbey Road Institute. So far he's released 2 EPs online, the second of which was made during lockdown and tells the story of the summer holiday no one could have in 2020. He creates the stage props and videos for the project and set up the Abbey House Records label with fellow 'Novelty Island' live bandmates to release the music. Born in Liverpool on the 8th of April 1993, Tom grew up in Newcastle before moving back to Liverpool in 2009. His musical background began when, aged 6 or so, he started listening to 'The Beatles' who were his biggest influence, particularly Paul and his solo career. He started playing guitar aged 7 and then went on to teach himself piano and a few other things. Hailing from Liverpool he was one of the most promising young singer-songwriters on the British music scene, touring with Glenn Tilbrook, Ian McNabb as well as supporting Squeeze, Ian McCulloch & Ian Broudie and Steve Cradock. His cover of Paul McCartney's, 'New', recorded the day the song was released, was shared online by Paul himself in September 2013 which led to an endorsement deal from Hofner Guitars.

Based in London he worked on 'Novelty Island' material from the Abbey Road Institute's studio, next to the tapes in the vaults of Abbey Road. His biggest music inspiration, besides Paul McCartney is Brian Wilson and he says, " I set up my project Novelty Island in the basement of Abbey Road Studios where Abbey Road Institute is based. I then proceeded to fill Novelty Island with my surreal pop songs and papier-mache…" His sound is a blur of classic song writing, warped electronica and surrealism and marks the band out as distinctive from the mainstream.  The rest of the band comprises Frankie Tibbles on keys, David Dargahi on guitar and Harry Carter on drums. The EP, 'Welcome To Novelty Island' featured four tracks that surf the sound of all things psychedelic whilst also generating the warmth of the mid to late Beatles music. The end track of the four, 'The End of the Whirl', finishes with this sound. It makes a musical and creative statement which has continued throughout the EP. Beyond the tranquil nature of 'Magdapio Falls', where the Saturn Alarms ring out through the night, there is a much mythicised location. A location so dangerous, so remote, so beyond comprehension – it’s image so tarnished that each generation fears it more than the last. A place known as 'The End Of The Whirl'. Feeling the impact of COVID-19, the situation affected both his work, and his personal life that he moved back to Liverpool. He says, "I’m more settled than I was at the start of 2020, I guess. I had to move back to Liverpool after being south for a few years, and that really messed up all the plans we had. But it's been okay so far."

 

The EP, 'Suddenly on Sea', released in August 2020, takes the idea of the escapism and runs with it, inviting the listener to the seaside holiday that never was. Tom says, "For 'Suddenly On Sea', a lot of the tracks were based on demos that were made years ago, so I didn’t really need a studio. It was a really fun distraction from everything that was happening. That's one good thing about lockdown, people don't focus on solely live music as much."  His single, 'Michael Afternoon' was released in August 2021 and Tom recorded all the instruments and vocals at his home in Liverpool except the drums that were added on by Jan Simson at 13 Studios in London. It was then mixed by Carlos Lellis and Tom says, " I had help from Carlos, Jan and my guitars." On the 31st of December 2021 Facebook detailed, "Twenty twenty one! My debut album 'How Are You Coping With This Century?' and my shiny new live band were born this year... (Novelty Island top poll!). It was another twelve months of WHAT?!?! But the weariness turned wonderous while singing new songs to fantastic faces around the country.

Huge thanks to Think Like A Key Music  (in Miami) for releasing my record, 'The Pale White' (in Newcastle) for having us on tour and most of all to those who support 'Novelty Island' (on Novelty Island) - whether you album'd the album, gigged a gig or onlined me online!"

 

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2022/03/pool-of-sound-oya-paya.html