London's RODNEY CROMWELL channels New Order and Pulp on latest 'Exercise Class' EP, a healthy dose of magical-realist synthpop
FOR FANS OF: Blur, Pulp, LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy, Baxter Drury, Ladytron, New Order
FOCUS TRACKS: Exercise Class (Radio Mix), Madeline Trip
GENRES: electronica, synth pop, dance, indie pop, instrumental
FCC warning for 'Exercise Class', but the Radio Mix is clean
'Exercise Class' video https://youtu.be/dcUEIRCde9c
'Madeline Trip' https://youtu.be/pGRTjz5vS9U
'Exercise Class' EP https://rodneycromwell.bandcamp.com/album/exercise-class
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/2V2yEhD7jH1jUKSHCf8XOQ
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/rodney-cromwell/41638392
PREVIOUS RELEASE
'The Winter Palace Remixes' EP https://rodneycromwell.bandcamp.com/album/the-winter-palace
'The Winter Palace' https://youtu.be/HiM0QhKDHcQ
'Rod, Jane & Freddy' https://youtu.be/VuGzuBW_eB0
'Cold Christmas' https://youtu.be/HjS3I82-d-w
"A magical-realist synthpop collage" ~ Bandcamp Daily
“Rodney Cromwell's music belongs to the future” ~ NME
"Like the Dr. Who of indie pop... This brand of retro-futurism sounds so good, likely made to order as the good-time Gods would have it themselves" ~ The Spill Magazine
“His new lo-fi disco laments are joyfully simple & painfully funny” ~ The Huffington Post
"Motorik mechanisation within a hypnotic electronic backdrop...Glorious" ~ Electricity Club.co.uk
"Delicious Melodies that are both simple and direct" ~ HI-FI World
"Buoyant" 4/5 ~ Shindig! Magazine
"Glorious pure synthpop... one of the most innovative, enjoyable electronic acts around" ~ XS Noise
London-based indie electronic artist Rodney Cromwell presents his new 'Exercise Class' EP, released on June 14 via Happy Robots Records. As with all output from this retro-futuristic songsmith, Cromwell's new output is just as fitting for the indie-disco dancefloor as a sweaty exercise studio. The title track is a case in point, with its fun video, animated and directed by Martin J Langthorne.
Arriving just a year after his 2023 EP 'The Winter Palace Remixes', the 'Exercise Class' EP arrives just in time for summer. With its dead-pan spoken-word lyrics, melodic chorus and Cromwell’s signature classic synth sound, the title track draws influences from LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy and New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, as well as the iconic soundtracks of Jane Fonda workouts videos.
The four-track offering was previewed by 'Madeline Trip'. The shortest track on this EP, this 55-second electronic hauntological trip was inspired by Marcel Proust’s seven-volume novel ‘In Search of Lost Time’. It's also the first song introduced to Cromwell's live audience when his band enters onto stage.
Rodney Cromwell is the solo moniker of Adam Cresswell of 2000s electronic duo Arthur and Martha and, before that, 90s indie folk band Saloon (John Peel faves), who appeared on Peel's legendary eclectic radio show, had four entries in John Peel’s Festive 50 & three Peel Sessions. Now, under his solo moniker, Rodney Cromwell's music was voted into the Official Festive 50 as compiled by Dandelion Radio, carrying on the tradition Peel had established.
Since debuting with the 'Age of Anxiety' album, Cromwell has been featured in NME, Electronic Sound, Huffington Post, Paste, Shindig!, Louder Than War, The Big Takeover, Magic RPM, Post-Punk.com and Bandcamp Daily. National radio play includes BBC 6 Music in the UK, RTE in Ireland, airplay in Tokyo, and RNE3 in Spain, for whom he also recorded a live session.
Live, Rodney Cromwell is a joyful mixed-media extravaganza, incorporating analogue synths, video visuals and live instrumentation, interjected by Rodney’s 'offbeat wit'' (NME). Described 'like a spiritual experience", he has shared the stage with icons such as A Flock of Seagulls, Damo Suzuki, Pram, Death & Vanilla, Rowetta, M!R!M and Steve Davis. In 2022, he recorded a live session for Electronic Sound and supported Blancmange on a number of dates, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the electronic music scene.
The 'Exercise Class' EP is out now and available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Written & performed by Adam Cresswell
‘Exercise Class’ produced by Adam Cresswell & Richard Bennett
‘Madeline Trip’ produced by Adam Cresswell
Recorded & mixed by Adam Cresswell
Mastered by Toby Campen Mastering
Catalogue Number Bot41
Released by Happy Robots Records
Distributed by Cargo Records UK
Publishing by Songtrust
© ℗ 2024 Happy Robots Records
Videos animated & directed by Martin J Langthorne
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
TRACK LIST
1. Exercise Class
2. Madeline Trip
3. Exercise Class (Ant People Remix)
4. Exercise Class (Radio Version)
Keep up with Rodney Cromwell
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazing Radio
Keep up with Happy Robots Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube
