Believe It Or Not ‘ELVIS IS ALIVE’ – Irish Graceland-Based Dream Pop Team THE CRAYON SET Wrote A Song About It

Daily electricity to load your batteries

26 January 2024

Band: THE CRAYON SET
Who: Dublin outfit producing
hook-filled alt pop.

New single: ELVIS IS ALIVE

Title track from their new 3-track EP. Stream here.

“The song is about conspiracy theories – and how a conspiracy theory can
sometimes be more comforting than the truth or the reality of your situation.
It’s the song the mainstream media doesn’t want you to hear.”

TUTV: This Irish, Graceland-based, dream pop team reveal that among all Elvis imposters the real King is still hanging around, somewhere in a ghetto. The revelation comes with a glossy pop tune that progresses in slow-motion, gentle and gracious. Its whispering vocals create a kind of mysterious feel. Mellow strings and soft guitar glimmer accentuate that feel. Let’s make this a hit so the mainstream can’t but play this bittersweet symphony. One more thing: trust me, The Crayon Set are for real (I think).

The stars are not light
The sky is really blue
The Earth is not round
There’s a man on the moon

The ozone is fine
The sea won’t ever rise
Elvis is alive
And you are still mine

I don’t believe what you tell me
I don’t believe that it’s true
I’ve no time for your nonsense
You’ll be back home soon

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SOULFUL SUNDAY – 10 New Musings For The Laziest Day Of The Week

16 October 2022

The 7th day is one to be lazy, to relax, to walk in slow-mo
from your bed to your couch, to have a glass of wine and
to listen to musings/reveries/ballads that massage your
ears and mind gently.

Turn Up The Volume picked 10 new musings
to create a fitting atmosphere for a blissful Sunday.

Start dreaming

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1. Love Is A Real Place by THE CRAYON SET

A dream team from Dublin, Ireland.

Robert Baker (songwriter): “The song is about how when you are younger you don’t fully appreciate what you have – those intense connections and unique first-time experiences – you presume life will always be that way. And of course life usually isn’t like that – and you only realise this when it’s far too late”

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2. Face To Face by DAVID STEWART, STEVIE NICKS

Two stars Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
get together with Russian musician Boris Grebenshchikov and Ukrainian
counterpart Serhii Babkin for a melancholic pearl.

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3. ‘Into The Blue’ by BROKEN BELLS

The moving title track of the American
indie pop dreamers’ brand new LP.
Stream here.

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4. ‘Where Did The Time Go?’ by LOUIS COUPE

A melodramatic beauty by this up
and coming British singer-songwriter.

Coupe: “I’ve always looked up to my grandparents and thought they had
the best love story ever. They’ve been together so long and my Grandad still
loves my Grandma no matter what — just as much as he did when they met,
and I thought that was so inspiring for someone my age.”

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5. ‘When We Are Together’ by THE1975

Mellow ballad from the new LP, called Being Funny In A Foreign Language
of the immensely famous – in the UK – pop combo.

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The album’s artwork
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6. New In Town by RAINN BYRNS

Sweet reverie from this affecting Texas born, Swindon bred
South Londoner singer-songwriter. It’s the title track from his
brand new excellent debut LP. Stream it here.

Think Jake Bugg and Father John Misty.

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7. ‘Mycelium’ by KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

The hardest, most prodcutive band on the planet have another longplayer
(the 1st of 3 in 3 weeks) out, baptized Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms
and Lava
. This track is a rare one from the Aussies. It’s soft, smooth and
no guitar solos!

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The album’s artwork

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8. ‘Mystery Pt. 2’ by DROWSE

DROWSE about the song: “Change and apprehension. Allowing negative segments of
the past to scatter as ashes in the air. How much space is too much space for the self-isolationist? ‘Mystery Pt. 2’ re-examines themes from my previous album, Light Mirror.
A sequel? It’s one of the most direct songs I’ve ever written, though listen closely and
you’ll hear field recorded snippets of my life, organs, Moog synthesizer, Mellotron,
distant sheets of metal vibrating, hidden voices—always a world beneath a world.”

It’s the arresting new single from his upcoming album Wane Into It.
Out 11th November. Order info here.

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The album’s artwork

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9. ‘Beverly Hills’ by DUNE MESSIAH

A touching highlight from the 3rd longplayer, titled Privileged
by Danish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (born Magnus W. Jespersen).

Messiah about the album: “I had 30 completely unfinished songs that I had to pick from.
So I found the vibe that was most present, together with good friend and bass player of the band Andreas, and then found songs that fit that vibe. I went on to finish and record them all at home, when the world was shut down during covid. It was a very liberating experience, and I am glad that I will have it with me throughout my life. I hope that the songs will also give every listener a liberating or enriching experience.”

PRIVILEGED on Spotify

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10. ‘Something’s Wrong’ by TRAVELS WITH BRINDLE (Massachuttes)

Melancholic mellowness from this ukulele project from Chelsea Spear.
A wistful, yearning ballad in collaboration with cellist Marshunda Smith
and harmonic vocalists Trisha and Thara Iyer. It sets the tone for
her forthcoming 2023 album Notes From Undergrad.

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(Credit: Susan Margot Ecker)

Dream Pop At Its Titillating Best – Melancholic Irish Team THE CRAYON SET Move With New Album ‘DOWNER DISCO’

28 September 2021

Band: THE CRAYON SET
Who: Dublin based outfit
producing hook-filled alt pop

New album: DOWNER DISCO – 3rd LP
Released: 24 September 2021

The band: “The album explores a happy-sad dynamic – we’re always trying to write & record the perfect pop song but lyrically the songs couldn’t help but reflect the increasingly stressed-out world we breathe in every day. So that’s where the album title came from – the idea of sad bangers, melody with melancholy, downer disco. In terms of the disco thing, it is a bit tongue-in-cheek but we did incorporate more electronic elements and we wanted to get people dancing more.”

Turn Up The Volume: Dream pop at its titillating best. Instantly sticking tunes,
scintillating guitars, crystal voices (female/male), and gripping Belle & Sebastian
wistfulness all over the place.

Although the songs are not really about the birds and the bees, but rather a worrying reflection on our troubled times, you can’t but hum along or sing along or whistle along. This is exactly what pop-ular music is all about.

Totally 2021 melancholia. Hopeful but with realistic considerations. For my state of what about tomorrow mind this is a perfect record. Seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel, but hoping that it’s not a runaway train. I know it’s a cliché, but so accurate this time. No fillers, only 9 killers. Prove me wrong. Anyway, The Crayon Set don’t need to be rock stars
to write moving heart and soul gems. A mesmerizing pleasure.

Stream/buy the full album…


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THE CRAYON SET: Facebook

Robert Baker – Vocals, Guitars, Synths
Kate Dineen – Vocals, Guitars, Synths, Percussion
George Guilfoyle – Bass, Double Bass, Guitars, Vocals
Phil Casey – Drums, Percussion
Finn O’Reilly – Guitars, Bass, Keys, Vocals

Album Artwork & Design
Monika Gregulska & Ania Dauenhauer

(band photo via FB)