Album Notes

NEWS......Puressence to play in NY

Wednesday 10th September - The Mercury Lounge
Friday 12th September - Instore at The Apple Store,

see www.puressence.co.uk for updates

Daily Express Review (UK)
PURESSENCE – DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER (REACTION RECORDS)

Every now and then a little musical gem lands on my desk and I am instantly hooked. That’s the case with ‘Don’t Forget to Remember’ – the rather enchanting album by Manchester’s finest, Puressence. I had not known much of this band before now but I am determined to expand my Puressence ‘collection’.

From the Velvet Underground intro of first track “Moonbeam” with its fabulous thumping bass, I am under the spell of this frighteningly good rock band, then, the voice appears. Yes, and what a voice! Singer James Mudrickzi’s stunning vocal cords grab you like no other singer I have heard since possibly Gene Pitney, or the female tones of David McAlmont. James’ voice is as dreamy as his lyrics – suddenly we are on a different musical and vocal plane here. No wonder the likes of Andy Rourke (ex-bassist with The Smiths) has described this record as “impossibly infectious”. There is so much brilliant imagery on this album! It is the stuff of a true northern ‘kitchen sink’ drama – break-ups, betrayal, pain, healing… each and every song takes you on a wonderful journey that, for a humble man like me, expresses everything I cannot when it comes to love and loss.
It is impossible to choose standout tracks – they are all superb. “Drop Down to Earth” is a good contender as one of my favorite songs of the year. The heartbreaking Brainwaves has ‘classic’ written all over it, with those unforgettable lines: “I hold out my hand, you bend back my fingers..” This is poetry!
Bitter Pill, Sold Unseen and the title track, “Don’t Forget to Remember” are so well arranged they are faultless.
I am told Puressence have had a mind-blowing three previous albums – why have I not heard of them before??? A musical travesty, but one that must not continue. Let’s hope some film or television supervisor out there drops one of these tracks in a U.S. HBO series and brings the sound of Puressence to a worldwide audience.

www.puressence.co.uk