Starless and Bible Black

Starless & Bible Black are a Manchester band drawing musical lines between torch song, bluesy chanson, vintage folk-jazz and early electronic music. Built around the three core members of Hélène Gautier (vocals); Peter Philipson (guitar, dulcimer); and Raz Ullah (electronics, samples, drones), the band have played a succession of shows around the UK both as a stripped down three piece and as a five piece with Paul Blakesley (double bass) and Brian Edwards (drums).

After releasing their first EP on their own Timbreland Recordings label, the band was spotted by Chicago based label Locust Music and they agreed an album deal in early 2006.

Their music has been described as "Charcoalesque female vocals, antique guitar folk and dark chamber song with radiophonic Moogness" but even that neglects the melodic bass, rolling drums and occasional woodwind section that forms their eclectic sound. As a vague reference the key influences are records by John Martyn, Pentangle, Cocteau Twins and BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

While some may assume that their name is taken from the 1974 King Crimson album, it is actually inspired by the classic 1965 recording by Stan Tracey that in turn is lifted from a line in Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.

On their debut self titled outing, the band brings to bear much of the lively attitude, passion, rejuvenation and rain of the old textile city they’ve all come to call home for the last several years.


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