Experimental Newcomers POTATO Announce Debut EP 'Stew' Released 26th July 2024 via Mookin Records

Experimental Newcomers POTATO Announce Debut EP Stew Released 26th July 2024 via Mookin Records

Preorder/presave link: https://push.fm/ps/stew-ps

Stream Lead Single ‘Almost Gone’ Released 1st May 2024

Watch the video - HERE
Listen here: https://push.fm/fl/almost-gone

Four-piece experimental band Potato are delighted to announce that their debut EP, Stew, will be released on 26th July 2024 via East London independent label Mookin Records.

Such is the golden glow and calming atmosphere instilled across the debut EP from south London four-piece Potato, that the hazy bliss its five tracks evoke will immediately have listeners luxuriating in its warming rays. Yet just beneath this shimmering surface lies an array of strong emotions, musical dexterity and—in the case of the lyrics of one song—rapidly escaping bodily fluids, that reveal the depth and compassion underpinning this unique debut.

Recorded in several sessions at Big Jelly in Ramsgate, Press Play in Bermondsey, Lightship 95 at Trinity Buoy Wharf, and producer Michael Collins’ (Seazoo, Johanna Warren) attic/bathroom, the EP was co-produced by Michael Collins and Bob Corduroy, engineered and mixed by Michael Collins at Press Play, Bermondsey, and mastered by Erik Wofford (Explosions In The Sky, White Denim) at Cacophony Recorders in Austin, Texas.

To celebrate, the trio have today revealed the video for lead single ‘Almost Gone’ which is set for release on 1st May 2024 via all good digital service providers.

Lead singer and guitarist Bob Corduroy says: “The first part of this song was written in 2020 as ‘Sklep II’ and was later performed in an end-of-year video ‘2k21’—originally to see how many polyrhythms I could fit into one loop before it sounded too busy; in this sense, it straddles the fine line between clarity and chaos on which the lyrics are built. Within the words there’s a feeling of frustration and a plea for open conversation during a dark and challenging time.”

“I recorded most of the instruments at Mike Collins’ attic and laid down about 10 guitar parts, 3 keyboard parts, percussive elements and a clarinet part before Matt joined the Potato gang. The piano was recorded at Big Jelly, Ramsgate, whilst we were recording ‘Hands Fold Act II’ using a great upright piano mic’d to the nines. I used a voice note of the underground which I’d edited and helps to emphasise the feeling of peace and grief in the presence and absence of brake screeches and tube noise.”

The track is the first look at new material from the band since the release of 2023 single ‘Irène’s Night In’, taken from Mookin Records’ concept compilation album, Irène.

Thriving in the vibrant UK musical landscape spanning London and Margate, Potato consists of Bob Corduroy (vocals, guitar, keys, clarinet), Matt Wildman (bass, guitar, synth) and Sam Zissou (drums) and most recent addition Sam Honey (guitar). Collectively, they craft a distinctive musical style that blurs the lines between genres.

Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of sources, Potato weaves together elements of post-rock and jazz, resulting in a captivating fusion that defies categorisation. Their musical influences, ranging from Good Morning and Happiness to legendary acts like King Crimson and Philip Glass, imbue their sound with a fascinating depth and complexity.

The band's artistic expression resonates with listeners on a profound level, delving into themes of introspection and vulnerability. Their lyrics explore the intricacies of human emotions, addressing topics of insecurity, self-doubt, and the inevitable encounters with failure—but amidst the introspective musings also lies joy, a reserved euphoria rooted in the simplest things. 

Formed in 2020, Potato emerged as a response to tumultuous times, harnessing the power of music as both a cathartic outlet and a means of connection. Their synergy as a band is evident not only in their complex compositions but also in their stage presence, captivating audiences with their melodic noise and intricate time signatures. 

They quickly made their mark within the London indie scene, playing in renowned venues like Windmill Brixton, The Shacklewell Arms, Paper Dress Vintage. The George Tavern and Sebright Arms. In doing so, they’ve successfully cultivated a fervent fan base to their one-of-a-kind sound, recently supporting The Wave Pictures, Lunch, Personal Trainer, Sunday League and KIEFF.

The band will be revealing further new music and live dates over the coming weeks.


Debut EP Stew is released 26th July 2024 via Mookin Records

Stew EP tracklist:
1. Roll
2. TS_1
3. Alright
4. Post-Potato Reprise
5. Almost Gone
6. TS_2
7. 2K22

Potato are:
Bob Corduroy - Vocals, Guitars, Keys, Piano, Clarinet and Percussion
Sam Zissou - Drums and Percussion
Matt Wildman - Bass, Guitars and Percussion
Sam Honey - Guitar

Follow Potato online:
Instagram | Youtube | Spotify

Follow Mookin online:
Instagram | Youtube | Facebook | Bandcamp

More about Stew:

Such is the golden glow and calming atmosphere instilled across the debut EP Stew from south London four-piece Potato, that the hazy bliss its five tracks evoke will immediately have listeners luxuriating in its warming rays. Yet just beneath this shimmering surface lies an array of strong emotions, musical dexterity and – in the case of the lyrics of one song – rapidly escaping bodily fluids, that reveal the depth and compassion underpinning this unique debut.

Formed by frontman and multi-instrumentalist Bob Corduroy, initial loops and voice notes recorded in his Nunhead bedroom provided the first sketches for Potato’s musical endeavours back in 2017, before the band began to find form in the last few years as drummer and one of the original members Sam ‘Media Guy’ Zissou, bassist Matt ‘Gill’ Wildman, and guitarist Sam ’Uh Huh Honey’ Honey (“I refer to everyone through different nicknames,” grins Corduroy of the group’s array of idiosyncratic sobriquets) all joined.
  
Finally ready to make their recorded debut via east London label Mookin, while the journey from Corduroy’s phone-captured first thoughts has progressed steadily, it has been time well spent. “The intention was to be truly intimate, real and raw. The songs are pretty much all weaved around relationships to some extent, mostly mine, though not entirely,” explains Corduroy of the five tracks and two interludes on the EP, many of which began life as hummed voice memos and loops before spinning out the intricate and engaging avenues that run through the band’s calming yet emotionally turbulent songs.

Opening with ‘Roll’, its shuffling rhythms, circular riff and deep vocals more than reflect the title, allowing the fluttering paranoia induced by dating apps to be considered with sage-like reflection. “I’ve always liked the idea of creating soundscapes with the occasional catchy beat that’s familiar but then slowly subverting it to intrigue the listener,” explains the frontman of the inherent juxtapositions at the heart of these beautiful songs – an outlook underlined by the EP’s languid second track ‘Alright’, which details the fraying ends of a doomed relationship through a series of acute details. “That was probably inspired by black midi's Cavalcade,” he adds. “The way they start with something really heavy but can drop into something very soft and you wonder where the hell it’s going. We didn’t do it to the same musical extent, but the approach guided us.” 

Possibly an instinctive reflex inspired by Corduroy’s work away from music as a visual artist specialising in collages, ‘Post-Potato Reprise’ continues the EP’s playful unpredictability as it cuts out from the songwriter’s memory the vivid recollection of a hen-do attendee rushing out from a Shoreditch bar to projectile vomit in the street. Yet he has pasted this visceral recollection into such a lush, romantic musical setting that this sonic merry-go-round soon sweeps listeners away from the grimy origins. “I just remember being really impressed, it was quite a spectacle,” grins Corduroy of the memory. “And it just seemed like something fun and different to write about as most of the other songs are quite vulnerable.”

Vulnerability, but with assured peace, infuses the meditatively playful lead single ‘Almost Gone’ as it manages to beguile with a polyrhythmic groove and gentle clarinets, all the while attempting to find a footing somewhere between the grief and acceptance that sprouts in the scorched earth following a relationship’s demise.

With sparse instrumental interludes ‘TS 1 & 2’ adding to the EP’s sense of space thanks to a Philip Glass-inspired atmospheric minimalism, Potato’s debut works towards a fitting conclusion on ‘2K22’ as a swathe of tear-stained memories spin around a tense loop that eventually… mercifully… finds a melodious release, swapping self-torture for euphoric acceptance. Rarely has a stroll through the heart’s dark, twisted alleyways been accompanied by such a joyously redemptive musical atmosphere, but with this approach a fuller vision of life’s spectrum is glimpsed.

In many ways, the creation of Stew resonates with the mix of emotion and hopefulness found within it. The first recordings for the project were made in something of a panic when a previous band member suddenly quit. With Corduroy fearing the whole thing might just wash away, he quickly recorded the batch of songs he had to hand to create something tangible. Working with co-producer and collaborator ‘DJ’ Mike Collins (Seazoo, Johanna Warren) these tracks became the basis of the Potato’s debut EP, although as the band evolved, so too did the recordings. Over an extended period, those early recordings have been enhanced and transformed with Collins’ assistance at various additional sessions that led Potato from bedrooms to studios including Big Jelly in Ramsgate, Press Play in Bermondsey and the iconic Lightship 95 – a converted lightship afloat in London’s Docklands.

“I always wanted it to be a band,” explains Corduroy of the growing communal atmosphere forming around his songs. “In the early days, we had a bass player who hated jamming so much that my songs had to lead the way, whereas we’re definitely moving more towards an exchange of ideas. ‘Media Guy’ and ‘Gill’ had a big role to play in theirs parts on the EP and ‘Honey’ has added his own flair and harmonies live to live shows.”

Similar to how intricate ideas grew out of the seemingly simple original loops, Potato themselves are already exploring fresh possibilities, particularly since the full line-up has started playing live together, including frequent gigs at that renowned South London hub of creativity, The Windmill in Brixton. Yet while Potato’s potential seems to be expanding, the band agree that the atmosphere and emotions of their debut EP has formed the crucible from which subsequent efforts can emerge.

“Coming in and hearing the intimacy of these tracks really hit home in quite an emotional way,” confirms Sam Honey, who as last man in has enjoyed the unique perspective of being able to experience Potato inside and out, starting as a listener of the work-in-progress EP before making his contribution as the band have brought the songs to the stage. “I felt I really connected to the tracks. I really loved the minimalist feel of the lyrics, they don’t try to say too much and that really allows for the music to shine. The vagueness and ambiguity really allowed me to put myself and my own stories into the songs.”

While the guitarist will truly add his stories on future records, his perspective illuminates the indefinable yet relatable essence behind Stew.  With blissful atmospheres scored by emotional torrents and beguiling, looping melodies swayed by deep undertows, this truly is a collection of music for listeners to inhabit and enjoy traces of their own emotional life echoed back. This is a feel-good record but with all the feels…