28th April 2014: RELEASE DAY: Rory Simmon’s Monocled Man ‘Southern Drawl’ out worldwide today! + 4 Star review from Marlbank and London Jazz

“An album that is a serious listen, further evidence that Simmons can be counted as one of the most creative trumpeters on the UK jazz scene at the moment with ideas to burn firing us all up.” – 4 Stars, Marlbank

“At times fascinatingly challenging, unsettling and emotional, this album is an emotive piece of composition which gives these three musicians an opportunity to improvise and combine in an exciting new format.” – London Jazz

It gives us great pleasure to announce the worldwide release of Rory Simmon’s new project Monocled Man and their debut album Southern Drawl.  Please click here to listen to more sounds and to pick up a copy.

Southern Drawl is the debut album from Monocled Man, the brainchild of trumpeter, composer & producer Rory Simmons, an artist who comfortably sits at the forefront of the UK’s new wave of improvising and creative musicians. A trio consisting of Simmons on trumpet, Chris Montague on guitars and Jon Scott on drums, Monocled Man are already known for their unabashed raw energy, eclectic mix of genres and tricksy yet accessible compositions. These three astute musicians enjoy careers pushing music to its limit as sidemen with many of the most celebrated contemporary British bands, and bring this wealth of experience to make the music on Southern Drawl a completely unique and exciting statement, representing some of the best in what’s happening on the UK’s new music landscape.

Much of Monocled Man’s music is inspired by the contemporary explorations of the NY Downtown scene, including Tim Berne, Jim Black and Craig Taborn, with sonic influences from David Torn, Cuong Vu and The Chicago Underground Ensemble. And in London where the trio is based, influence is found in the vast output from the forward-thinking Loop Collective (Simmons is a founding member) as well as music made by Chris Batchelor, Liam Noble, Julian Argüelles and the band Troyka.

Southern Drawl lays spiraling post rock inspired riffs over soaring brass lines and saturated guitars. Hypnotic guitar loops evolve out of through-composed knotty melodic lines and polyphonic writing; rumbling free drums with loose trumpet improv bristles over the top of the energy created between Chris Montague and Jon Scott. Simmons’ trumpet playing lurches between sweet, almost Arve Henriksen moments to the wilder improv of contemporary players like Ralph Alessi and Herb Robertson, while even invoking the delayed soaked psychedelia of 70’s Miles Davis. Chris Monatgue’s post-Krantz driven sound, with influences of Marc Ducret and David Torn, brings elements of acid country, skronk and noise improv. Enveloping the ensemble with intricate but driving poly-rhythm and multi-layered texture is Jon Scott, one of the UK’s most in demand new drummers. Playful percussive moments give way to thrashing grooves at the next, propelling the energy of the trio throughout the record.

And this album is lit with colors of layered synths and processed audio from the sessions, which were carefully and skillfully edited and produced by Simmons. Filtered drums fly across the stereo image, while de-tuned brass chords throb under moments of hi-octane noise. An array of analog keyboards paired with stretched audio give this album a fresh panorama of high energy contemporary jazz and rock improv, soaked with a post-produced kaleidoscopic landscape that marks Monocled Man out as one of the most eclectic and exciting new ensembles on the European scene.