Cold Specks Predicts A Graceful Expulsion on Debut

Three months before the release of her debut album 'I Predict A Graceful Expulsion' Cold Specks has released her official video for 'Holland'. The song premiered two months ago on YouTube. Songwriter and vocalist Al Spx describes the sound as 'Doom Soul' which is crafted in the Deep South.

Next month Cold Specks will perform at the annual event SXSW in Austin, Texas. She will start her tour on May 1st in Chicago till June 2nd with help from Great Lake Swimmers.

A year and a half ago she started to work on her record with her manager Jim Anderson. Jim knew a lot of people who could help her out. One of them is Rob Ellis, PJ Harvey's regular collaborator, and Pete Roberts (guitar), Thomas Greene (piano) and Tom Havelock (cello) who also play on the record.

Describing her sound as ‘Doom Soul’, Cold Specks’ music is steeped in the musical traditions of the Deep South. No wonder then that Al cites the Lomax Field Recordings and James Carr as influences along with Bill Callahan and Tom Waits. With a voice that evokes the ‘spirit feel’ of Mahalia Jackson and the visceral tones of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Cold Specks’ sparse arrangements and chain gang rhythms stop you dead in your tracks.

“My little brother, who was spending his summers with our mother in Toronto, had always told me of this girl he was friends with that had this amazing voice,” recalls Cold Specks’ manager, Jim Anderson. “As a producer I’d heard that so often that I didn't take too much notice. Then I came in one night to find him and a few friends drinking in the flat and playing a CD of her demos. I was completely transfixed and just kept pressing repeat. I knew I had to work with her. I eventually persuaded her to come over. At that point she had never played with another musician and was completely self-taught with her own unique tuning and timings, which we had to decipher.”

Watch the official video for the debut single 'Holland':


Cold Specks Tour Dates
March 13th-18th – SXSW – Austin, TX
March 21st – Co-operators Hall at River Run – Guelph, ON
March 22nd - The Music Gallery – Toronto, ON

May 1st – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
May 2nd – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
May 3rd – Cedar Cultural Centre – Minneapolis, MN
May 4th – West End Cultural Centre – Winnipeg, MB
May 6th - McDougall United Church – Edmonton, AB
May 7th - Central United Church – Calgary, AB
May 8th - Southminster United Church – Lethbridge, AB
May 9th – The Royal – Nelson, BC
May 11th - The Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
May 12th – Alix Goolden Hall – Victoria, BC
May 13th - Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
May 14th - Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
May 16th - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
May 18th – Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
May 19th - The Compound Grilll – Phoenix, AZ
May 20th - Club Congress – Tucson, AZ
May 22nd - The Prophet Bar – Dallas, TX
May 23rd - Stubb's BBQ (Indoor) – Austin, TX
May 24th - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
May 25th - Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
May 26th - Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC
May 27th - Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
May 28th - Johnny Brenda's – Philadelphia, PA
May 30th – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
May 31st – Middle East Downstairs – Cambridge, MA

June 2nd – The Music Hall, Toronto, ON



"I Predict A Graceful Expulsion" by Cold Specks - release date: 05/22/12..