MELKSHAM-based singer/songwriter and DIY musician, Julian Pugsley, is to release his second album, Kaleidoscope, on independent record label Subjangle on September 24.

Issued under his stage name ‘Blake’, Kaleidoscope is the follow-up to last year’s widely acclaimed release, HMS Blake, which was featured in International Pop Overthrow’s Best Albums of 2020 list.

Recorded on an ex-Abbey Road Studer 24 track two-inch tape machine earlier this year at Radar Sound Studios in London, Kaleidoscope incorporates 60s and early 70s influences in an eclectic mix of musical styles.

Julian said: “I aimed to write songs for the album in contrasting rock and pop genres so that, when recorded, it would feel like a musical kaleidoscope.

"I was inspired by Spirit’s 12 Dreams of Dr Sardonicus, The Beatles’ White Album, The Velvet Underground’s Loaded and Donovan’s Hurdy Gurdy Man LP."

The Kaleidoscope launch concert takes place at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham on Friday, October 1 and copies of the album will be on sale.

Mr Pugsley said: “I’m really looking forward to performing again after so much time not being able to do what I love the most. There’s a magic about live events that I’m sure we’ve all missed.”

Signed to London indie label Ecto Music in the mid-noughties, Julian’s band Karma Truffle shared bills with the Arctic Monkeys and Stephen Fretwell before he followed a solo path.

A series of lo-fi cassette, vinyl and CD releases recorded at his home on a Tascam Portastudio earned him a recording contract with the record label last year.

His song ‘Vinyl Junkie’ gained airplay on BBC 6 Music and was featured in the British crime thriller, 24 Hours to Live or Die.

Julie Fowler, of Subjangle, said: “Julian is a great 'lost' songwriter. His sound is reminiscent of 90s acts such as Belle and Sebastian and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci but also contains a raw edge with a 60s psych vibe.”

Kaleidoscope is available to order on CD from subjangle.bandcamp.com from September 24.

Tickets for the Kaleidoscope launch concert at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham on October 1 are available from the box office on 01249 701628 or via poundarts.org.uk

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