After calling what was intended to be a temporary halt to The Wedding Present in 1997, David Gedge embarked on a melodic strings and keyboard-driven project under the name Cinerama, as a duo with his then girlfriend Sally Murrell. Cinerama released their debut album, VA VA VOOM, in 1998 and swiftly became the sole creative output for Gedge's writing, recording and performing - but, by 2002's third album, TORINO, the sound was becoming darker in tone and more guitar driven and Cinerama had also taken to mixing the odd Wedding Present song into the live shows, further blurring the distinction between the bands. Around the same time, following the break up with his long-term girlfriend and musical partner, Sally, Gedge's personal life also entered a darker place, and he moved to Seattle and began writing a series of songs that were clearly influenced by his despair over the split. The resultant material was recorded in Chicago and Seattle by Steve Fisk, producer of The Wedding Present's 1994 LP, WATUSI, and will see Gedge revive The Wedding Present name for the first album since 1996's SATURNALIA.
A new album, TAKE FOUNTAIN, is scheduled for release in February 2005. It will be preceded by a single, INTERSTATE 5, on 8th November. TAKE FOUNTAIN is a body of songs so heartfelt it's impossible not to be moved by them, and an album that probably surpasses anything The Wedding Present has previously released.
INTERSTATE 5 is a tough guitar-driven monster of a song of yearning and loss - she wanted a one-night stand, he wanted more; from the title onwards it has a very American feel and could never have worked under the Cinerama name. It is backed by BAD THING, all booze-fuelled disappointing sex, and the incredibly sad SNAPSHOTS, with its soaring anthemic chorus.
After an eight-year hiatus, The Wedding Present will be touring the UK, Europe and North America in Spring 2004 with the line up of: David Gedge (guitar & vocals), Terry de Castro (bass), Kari Paavola (drums) and Simon Cleave (guitar); Simon was a member of the previous Wedding Present line up in the mid-late nineties, and has played with Cinerama since their inception. The Wedding Present was one of the UK's most influential and successful indie bands for a decade onwards from the mid eighties, and one of the few to have remained true to itself. For Gedge it will be full circle, promoting a new Wedding Present album almost 20 years after he started out.
Record shop release date: 15:11:04
Mail-order release date: 13:12:04
Label: Scopitones
Format: CD Single
Catalogue Number: TONE CD 018
Film-maker Tim Middlewick has made a promotional video for Interstate 5. If anybody out there knows anywhere we can get this shown, please email us at: ScopitonesUK@aol.com
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