Storm the Charts

If you haven't seen the news lately there's a new campaign (from the guys that brought you Rage Against the Machine for #1) to help get unsigned artists in the charts called 'Storm the Charts'. It's a great campaign with some fantastic artists, including us! If you're a member of Facebook please help us by joining the group and voting for us here, it would be a fantastic opportunity for us! We're entry 179:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=231943888357

You can also listen to us and all the other entries at:

http://stormthecharts.livejournal.com/

Anna x

Josaka Review

Another review form Berkshire's Josaka:

"Touch" the triumphant new album from captivating singer/songwriter Anna Neale.
Often when an artist revisits material that's been gathering dust for many a long year it's a futile attempt to bottle the lightening of past successes once more. Many a burning of the reputation and ego has resulted.

Fortunately for Anna Neale and the music-appreciating public the revisitation of unfinished home-recorded material from the last 6 years has proved to be the genesis for her triumphant new album "Touch". Each of the twelve tracks is a highly-polished production resplendently layered at various points with multiple and varied backing instrumentation, including cajón, guitar, violin and double bass.

Anna's strong and captivating voice entrances you with the more ballad-like tales of St Peter's tomb in Rome in "St Peter", strolling along London's South Bank near "Waterloo Bridge", and the dawning of a new year of promise with "January". Faster tunes to get the blood, feet and fingers moving aren't neglected, with "Control" (the first single from the album) and the title track "Touch" leading the way in this respect.

Granted not all the tracks are up to the grade of their fellows on the album with "Keep Coming Again" and "Emotional Baggage" failing to entice me into their aural realm in the same manner as the rest of the album. But what I perceive as misses are likely to be classed as the opposite by other reviewers and the buying public. It's all about perception and the best way to decide is to check out the album yourself.

Overall we should be extremely grateful that Anna Neale decided to review what being an artist in this day and age means and went into the past to extract the 12 songs that now comprise "Touch". If you enjoy material of varying paces with quality production values and performances to match investing in this album will not be a disappointment.

We gave this album 8/10.

© Ian Sadler 2010

http://www.josaka.com/news/252/52/Touch-from-Anna-Neale/

The Musician Review

Here's the latest review from 'The Musician', the national magazine of the Musicians Union in the UK.
Many Thanks to Keith Aimes for this:

The Musician - Spring 2010

Anna Neale - Touch

"Words of wisdom from the impassioned singer-songwriter.

Anna enjoys a deservedly high reputation for her strong vocals and vibrant material. Her latest release, 'Touch', features 12 tracks of moving folk/pop that builds upon this standing by featuring her best recordings to date. The stand out track, 'Emotional Baggage', shows why it won't be long before she steps into the mainstream."

Keith Aimes

Album Thanks

I just wanted to thank all those who came down to and were involved with the launch! A great night was had by all and when we premiered the video for 'Touch', you could (under the music) hear a pin drop!
There are press clippings from some of the recent coverage for 'Touch' available online on the My Space and Facebook Music pages.
For all those who digitally downloaded the album, below is a list of those who were involved with the making of the album. I'll soon be writing a little note on each song so keep an eye on the blog for more:

The Musicians:

Anna Neale - Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Djemebe & Bass
Pete Robbins - Cajon & Percussion
Russell Carr - Double Bass & Bass
Katherine Clarke - Viola
Ed Clarke - Violin (& string arrangements)
Phil 'the beard' Lockeheart - Morcoon Bongos & Tribal drum.
Jason Marshall - Ebow

Jez Larder @ Skyline Studios - Co-Producer and Keys

Neil Reed @ Shameless Talent - Mastering

John Milton - Photography & Design (and co-label)

Henry Coleman @ Flickerhead Films - Music video for 'Control'.

More great stuff.....it's all going on!

Hi everyone,

We've all had a very busy month including our fabulous launch at the BED Bar, thank you to all who came down, here's the latest!

'Touch':

If didn't know already, the new album 'Touch' is now availible from various digital music stores for the around the bargin price of £5! You can download it from iTunes here:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/touch/id352484166

or Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Touch/dp/B0036AI0NK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1267697408&sr=8-1

You can also find it on Spotify, Nokia for Music and eMusic. It'll also soon be up on 7Digital and Music Glue.

For anyone who would like one of the special edition CD's available at £8 including p/p or one of the limited edition CD/DVD's at £10 including p/p then drop me a line. I've only got a few left now!

Recharged Radio:

If you missed the interview and live performance I did for the wonderful Recharged Radio.com you can now download it here for free!

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/night-the-artisans-radio-hour/id355166274

There's lots of radio promo coming up, we've been playlisted on a few student stations so keep your eyes/ears open, you never know!

Shows Coming up!:

Only a couple this month. One solo show tomorrow, 5th March, for Bed Springs at the Zenith Bar in Islington at 9pm and one local show with Russ at the lovely Fahrenheit 55 in Guildford on the 10th March. See the website for more details: www.annaneale.net