Strike The Colours

An artful and atmospheric pop group from Scotland, Strike the Colours were the brainchild of vocalist, violinist, and songwriter Jenny Reeve, a former member of the group Eva who has also worked with Snow Patrol, Idlewild, and Arab Strap, among others. In 2005, Reeve was growing frustrated with her position in Eva, particularly since the group didn't have room for more of her songs, so she began demoing her material with the help of close friend, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist David McAulay. As McAulay began adding instrumental elements to the demos, the process became a collaboration, and in 2006 Reeve and McAulay decided to form a band, and Strike the Colours were born with the addition of Gareth Russell (ex-the Reindeer Section and Astrid) on bass and Denis Sheridan on drums. The group's first recordings were released in 2007 on the EP The Face That Sunk a Thousand Ships, and the debut earned enthusiastic reviews and U.K. radio play, while the group began touring regularly, both as a headliner and opening for Malcolm Middleton and Angus & Julia Stone. In 2008, Jonny Scott (a veteran of the Phantom Band and Emma Pollock) became Strike the Colours' new drummer after Denis Sheridan relocated to Australia; Scott played on the sessions for the group's first full-length album, Seven Roads, which appeared in 2009. Once again, the album was hailed by the press, and tunes from Seven Roads appeared on the TV series Lip Service as well as the motion picture You Instead. In 2010, Gareth Russell left Strike the Colours due to schedule conflicts (he was also playing on tour with the Vaselines and Idlewild), and Graeme Smillie (who worked with Scott backing Emma Pollock, as well as performing with Unwinding Hours and Sons and Daughters) became the band's next bassist. The new edition of Strike the Colours then began work on their next album, with the band choosing to record all the material live in the studio. In March 2014, the group announced on its Facebook page that the album was mixed and mastered, and would be released later that year.
© Mark Deming /TiVo