Updated September 2016:
HMS MORRIS
INTERIOR DESIGN
Debut Album Released: 18 November
Label: Waco Gwenci Records
Formats: CD/Digital | Catalogue no.: WACO001
“HMS Morris use the more fractured end of psychedelia - think Syd Barrett, Skip Spence - as a leaping off point The band's debut album 'Interior Design' is a real trip, a multi-dimensional sound that traipses across hitherto unexplored regions of sound.” – Clash
HMS Morris are a Welsh trio making colourful, sparky alt-pop psych.Some would describe their sound as resolutely ‘pop’ but only if you think of Syd Barrett’s first album as being pop music (there is a psychedelic vibration at the blurred edge of HMS Morris). There’s glorious, fuzzy, pan-dimensional synthesisers too, but not in 80’s revival way; the synths of HMS Morris sound like they were stolen out of the more accessible grooves from one of Yes’ good albums. The woozy off-kilter sound has raised comparisons to Stereolab, and there’s a subtle nod to the playful infectious indie of the early 90’s. Songs such as title track and latest single Interior Design sharp with its Elastica-paying-homage-to-Wire angular guitar, but juxtaposed with something deliciously unhinged and avant-garde.
Running through the songs is the melodious vocals of front-woman Heledd Watkins. Like the dulcet tones of fellow Welsh singers Gruff Rhys or Gwenno, Heledd’s voice is a warm fuzzy joy to listen to. You want to be friends with it the moment you hear it.
Alongside Heledd on aforementioned vocals and guitar, HMS Morris comprises of brothers Sam (keys, backing vocals and bass) and Wil Roberts (drums). The trio live in Cardiff, immersed in the city’s rich tapestry of psychedelic pop music (described by Bethan Elfyn, BBC Radio Wales as "one of the best examples of how colourful our pop scene in Wales is"). Heledd has spent some of her time in the last couple of years playing bass on tour with Emmy the Great and Chloe Howl. Sam and Wil were in the excellent (and under-rated) Mwsog.
Between 2014-2015 the trio released three singles as HMS Morris, Shipping Forecast and Nirfana (self released), and I Grind My Teeth backed-with I Dream Of The Diner(Blinc Records). More recently their Interior Design single (July, 2016) catapulted them from ones to watch in the Welsh music scene, (with fans in BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales among others), to purveyors of big radio tunes, as spins on BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens) and BBC 6 Music (Stuart Maconie, Tom Robinson, Chris Hawkins) suggests.
Live the trio played BBC Introducing Stage Glastonbury, Festival Number 6 and Truck Festival in 2015, with performances this year at Canadian Music Week, The Great Escape, Truck, Wales’ largest music festival Maes B and a debut appearance at Green Man, with a return to Festival Number 6 coming up plus a UK headline tour in October including a free entry gig in London:
4 September: Festival Number 6
7 October: Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
13 October: Mr Wolfs, Bristol
14 October: Ryan’s Bar, London (Free Gig)
21 October: The Parrot, Carmarthen
22 October: Telford’s Warehouse, Chester
Connect with HMS Morris via: www.facebook.com/HMSMorrisband/ | @HMSMorris
Press contact – Hannah Gould PR: Hannahgould@hannahgould.co.uk | 07974 000415