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If Destroyed True

by The Understudies

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Standard black vinyl edition of If Destroyed True

    Includes unlimited streaming of If Destroyed True via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

      £13 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Gig-Only 'Sea & Sky' Split-Colour Edition Vinyl
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Very limited coloured vinyl edition, continuing the colours of the album artwork onto the vinyl itself.

    Includes unlimited streaming of If Destroyed True via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
Helsinki 03:14
2.
Grousebeat 04:11
3.
4.
Sweet Tea 05:22
5.
New Dress 02:34
6.
7.
Daybreak 04:02
8.
Wolves 04:15
9.
10.
11.
Slow Train 04:16

about

A full five years after their acclaimed debut album, London-based band The Understudies are pleased to announce their next full-length release, If Destroyed True, on 25th October, released by the newly-created label Carbide & Carbon Records.

Formed in 2008, The Understudies spent their first years touring the UK and Europe, releasing numerous singles and eventually launching debut album Let Desire Guide Your Hand in 2014. Since then, The Understudies have not been idle; further international touring, numerous festival slots, and more recently a prestigious turn as backing band for former Jack frontman Anthony Reynolds all followed. The band began creating new material from 2017 after Brian Bryden moved to explore songwriting on piano. As new songs emerged they were tested live at a handful of intimate gigs and have gone on to form If Destroyed True.

Running at 11 tracks over 45 minutes, the album reflects a change in tone from previous works, with greater attention to arrangements and sonic texture, shifting between sparse piano-led ballads, ominous minor-key synth drones and melodic, yet melancholic, pop songs. There is a greater sense of atmosphere and sophistication in their instrumentation allowing them to explore new themes. The band have all expanded their remit beyond their primary live functions, adding new instrumentation and switching roles, allowing for a diversity of ideas and more inventive arrangements, taking influence from Scott Walker, and the later works of Talk Talk, along with the ever-present admiration of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Jack, and The Auteurs.

Ensuring that the album’s production served the songs in the best way possible, the album was recorded at RMS (Saint Etienne, Kirsty MacColl, Roisin Murphy) and Strongroom studios, and mixed at RAK (Pink Floyd, Pet Shop Boys, Blur). Mastering was done by Jason Mitchell at Loud (XTC, Tindersticks PJ Harvey).

If Destroyed True is available to pre-order as a digital download or vinyl from BandCamp and other distributors. A limited-edition blue and white split-colour vinyl will be available at the album’s launch gig at St Pancras Old Church on 6th November.

Contact (Management, PR, Bookings): carbideandcarbonrecords@gmail.com

credits

released October 25, 2019

Songs by B. Bryden, music by The Understudies
Except ‘Past Addresses’, ‘Wolves’ and ‘Slow Train’ - by T. Allott, music by The Understudies

The Understudies:
Brian Bryden: Vocals, Piano, Organ
Bree Wright: Keyboard, Vocals, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Organ
Kris Schoolcraft: Drums, Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion
Ian Cowen: Guitar, Backing Vocal
Thom Allott: Bass Guitar, Organ, Additional Guitar, Keyboard, Drums, Percussion, Mandolin, Backing Vocal

Becky Dixon: Cello
Dan Mayfield: Violin

(see individual songs for specific credits)

Recorded by Andy Le Vien at RMS Studios
Mixed by Ross Fortune with The Understudies at RAK Studios
Additional recording and mixing by Ross Fortune at Strongroom Studios
Mastered by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering
Front Cover Artwork by Debbie Loane (www.lundstudios.co.uk)
Design by Dawn Tessman Visser

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The Understudies UK

The Understudies came together in 2008. After debut album 'Let Desire Guide Your Hand' came out in 2014, second album 'If Destroyed True' was released in 2019.

"Fragile and robust in equal measures in the grand tradition of British guitar bands like The Smiths they stand out as unique in London's indiepop music scene."
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