Press Releases
Marc Almond  

23rd June 2009

MARC ALMOND with ALEXEI FEDOROV

“ORPHEUS IN EXILE”

The Songs of Vadim Kozin

Cat number: SFE001

Marc Almond - a latter day curator of popular song - has rediscovered the songbook of Vadim Kozin. Kozin was the Soviet era's much-loved, exiled then forgotten singer of Gypsy Folk and Russian Torch Song Romances.  Almond will release “Orpheus in Exile” (a collection of Kozin’s songs) on Cherry Red Records on 7th September.

Almond discovered Kozin’s work on his first visit to Russia in 1992 and was immediately taken with the purity and passion of his voice, as well as the beauty and melancholy of his songs, which are enhanced by the hardships Kozin suffered throughout his life.

A fallen idol, Stalin exiled Vadim Kozin at the height of his fame for his insubordinate refusal to write a song for the President, arguably not aided by Kozin’s homosexuality. The incarcerated Kozin became a chanteur of the Gulags, a star-turn in touring prison revues and he remained in self-imposed exile in the Northern Russian Gulag city of Magadan after the end of his prison term right until his death in 1994 at the age of 91.

Marc has joined creative forces with Russian producer and musical arranger Alexei Fedorov who shares both Marc’s love of Kozin and his aim to help bring his repertoire to a new audience. The songs have been specially translated for Marc and have never been sung in English before.

“Oprheus in Exile” was recorded and mixed in Moscow, and features Russia's most famous folk ensemble, Orchestra Rossiya, conducted by renowned arranger/conductor, Anatoly Sobolev. who arranged some of Kozin’s songs for the orchestra.

Kozin may have been forgotten and marginalized, but Almond, with his consummate and intuitive artistry and who identifies so strongly with Kozin’s ‘romance songs’ tradition, gives this work new life. Russia has taken Marc Almond to their hearts and he is often referred to by the Russian media as “Russia’s Adopted Son”.

The flamboyance and despair of Kozin is juxtaposed by the ever-present optimism of a lost genre of song. Marc Almond gives these universal concerns an overdue airing in a unique album that gives the original songs an all-new big, classy and stylized orchestral production, yet stays true to the original feel and roots of the songs.

  Track List

1 Boulevards Of Magadan
(V.Kozin – P. Nefedov)		 7 Brave Boy
(V.Kozin – I.Utkin)
2

Forgotten Tango
(V.Kozin – S.Strizhov)

 8 Day And Night
(V.Kozin – R.Kipling, N.Braun)
3

My Fire
F.Sadovsky – Y.Polonsky)

 9 A Skein Of White Cranes
(V.Kozin)
4 I Love So Much To Look Into Your Eyes
(V.Kozin – Unknown Author)		 10

Beggar
(A.Alyabiev – P.Beranger, D.Lensky)
5 Friendship
(V.Sidorov- A.Shmulyan)		 11 When Youth Becomes A Memory
(V.Kozin – A.Fatyanov)
6 Pearly Night
(M.Shyshkin – M.Yazykov)		 12 Autumn
(V.Kozin – E.Belogorskaya)
    13 Letter From Magadan
(V.Kozin – P.Nefedov)

The first 3,000 copies of the album will be released in a Limited Edition digipak.

 

28th November 2007

 

Marc Almond
UK Tour Dates

 

Following his short UK tour earlier in the year and his triumphant 50th Birthday concert at the Shepherds Bush Empire in July, Marc Almond will play 3 shows in December. He will then return in February 2008 with more UK dates and 2 dates in Ireland.

While this new show contains material from his current album Stardom Road - which features cover versions of songs that have influenced Marc during his life - Almond will also perform a varied selection of classics and fan favourites from his distinguished career.

 

Marc says “I am loving being back on stage performing again, and feel
re-energised having a full band of great musicians. This enables me to perform a diverse selection of songs from my back catalogue, as well as breathing new life into old favourites.”

The band line-up is: Neal Whitmore on guitars and vocals, Martin Watkins on piano, David Ruffy on drums and Carl Holt on bass.

Following his triumphant, sold out dates at Wiltons Theatre in May, Marc Almond announces a short UK tour in June/July. He says “"I never thought I'd be able to get on stage again, so I'm very exhilarated to do some live dates around Britain. Can't wait to see you there!"

His new album Stardom Road is released through Sanctuary Records on 4th June. The album features one new track plus a selection of covers which tell his life story. This is the first release since his near fatal motorbike accident in October 2004, when Marc was in intensive care for 3 weeks.

The tour will be very different from the Wiltons shows and will feature a full band including Neal Whitmore on guitars and vocals and Martin Watkins on piano. Almond will perform songs from the new album.

Full Details are:-


December City Venue Box Office Doors
Date
sat 1st Birmingham Academy 2 (sold out) 0844 477 2000
0870 771 2000 		6pm
Wed 5th Liverpool Academy 0870 477 2000 7pm
Sat 8th London Indigo2 0844 844 0002 7pm

Tickets for Birmingham and Liverpool shows are £20 each and for London £23.50 (all subject to booking fee). 24 hr CC number is 0871 2200 260 or buy online @ www.gigsandtours.com Marc Almond will be onstage at 8pm in Birmingham and 9pm at other venues. Lee Griffiths is supporting.

February City Venue Box Office Tickets Doors
Date
Wed 13th Cardiff St David's Hall 029 2087 8444
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk		 £20 7.pm
Fri 15th Buxton Opera House 0845 127 2190
www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk		 £22/20 7.pm
Thurs 28th Dublin Vicar Street 0818 719 390 Euro 33.60 7.pm
Fri 29th Belfast Mandela Hall   £22.50

Tickets for Cardiff are £20, Buxton £20 and £22, Dublin (Euro 33.60) available from Ticketmaster and Belfast £22.50 (all subject to booking fees)

www.marcalmond.co.uk

25th May 2007

 

Marc Almond
Announces
June Dates

“In the magnificently dilapidated Wiltons, Almond found the perfect setting for an emotion-drenched comeback.”
Mail on Sunday

He had them eating out of his hand. “
The Times

“Almond is in fine voice, powerfully hitting notes that once he would tremble around.”
The Guardian

“With the passing of time Almond is becoming our male Piaf”
Independent on Sunday

Following his triumphant, sold out dates at Wiltons Theatre in May, Marc Almond announces a short UK tour in June/July. He says “"I never thought I'd be able to get on stage again, so I'm very exhilarated to do some live dates around Britain. Can't wait to see you there!"

His new album Stardom Road is released through Sanctuary Records on 4th June. The album features one new track plus a selection of covers which tell his life story. This is the first release since his near fatal motorbike accident in October 2004, when Marc was in intensive care for 3 weeks.

The tour will be very different from the Wiltons shows and will feature a full band including Neal Whitmore on guitars and vocals and Martin Watkins on piano. Almond will perform songs from the new album.

Dates are:-


Date City Venue Box Office
Fri 22nd June Glasgow ABC 1 0141 332 2232
Sun 24th June Manchester Ritz 0161 236 4355
Tue 26th June Bristol Academy 0870 771 2000
Mon 9th July London Shepherds Bush Empire 0870 771 2000

Tickets are on sale now and are £20 for all shows except London where they will be £22.50 (subject to booking fee), 24 hr cc hotline: 0871 220 0260 or buy online www.gigsandtours.com and doors open at all venues at 7pm, mig@abcglasgow.com.

www.marcalmond.co.uk

25th May 2007
 
Marc Almond

 

Has announced his first UK tour since his
near fatal accident In October 2004.

The dates are:

Fri 22nd June – Glasgow
Sun 24th June – Manchester
Tue 26th June – Bristol
Mon 9th July – London

Click here for more details


10th May 2007

 
STARDOM ROAD:

New Album
from
MARC ALMOND

Cat number:
SEQCD011 / 5016 0739 011 25

Marc Almond’s new album “Stardom Road” will be released on 4th June 2007 and is the first album under his new deal with Sanctuary Records.The album is a musical journey of cover songs that have influenced Marc through his life and his significant growth as an artist.

The album also contains one new song, Redeem Me (Beauty Will Redeem The World), which Almond wrote specifically for Stardom Road.

This collection features many of the genres that Marc has been associated with over the years, including Torch Song; the 1950's crooners; the grand orchestral sounds of the1960's; the 'over the top' pop glam of the 70's and the electro-style of the 80's that made him famous as part of Soft Cell.

Stardom Road gives the listener a personal glimpse into Marc Almond’s inspirations, aspirations and conclusions.

It is a tremendously important album, being his first since his near-fatal motorcycle crash in 2004.

The crash proved life changing, as such ordeals often are. Recording this album has formed an important part of the recovery process and represents the turning point as Marc Almond the artist, returns to form.
Marc Almond

Full track listing is:

 
1 I Have Lived
2 I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten (featuring Sarah Cracknell)
3 Bedsitter Images
4 The London Boys
5 Strangers In The Night
6 The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (featuring Antony Hegarty)
7 Stardom Road
8 Kitsch
9 Backstage (I’m Lonely)
10 Dream Lover
11 Happy Heart
12 Redeem Me (Beauty Will Redeem The World)
13  The Curtain Falls

The album has been compiled with the help of Tris Penna, who produced many of the tracks with the acclaimed producer Marius de Vries and arranger Mike Smith. It features guest spots from Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons; Jools Holland, with whom Marc has often toured; and Sarah Cracknell from St Etienne.

Marc is thrilled to be a part of Sanctuary, joining the many cutting-edge artists who already make up the label’s diverse roster.

www.marcalmond.co.uk

24th April 2007
Marc Almond
 

 

Marc Almond releases a new album –
Stardom Road
on 4th June
for more information
click here

13th January 2005

 
Marc Almond
Sin Songs, Torch and Romance - DVD

 Cat number: DEMONMDVD002

"A truly brilliant performance. Almond blossoms as a true great"
-The Evening Standard

"The transformation from Eighties pop star to chanteur truly complete"
-The Independent

Sin Songs, Torch and Romance was recorded on 22nd July 2004 during Marc Almond's sold out and critically acclaimed 6 night residency at London's Almeida Theatre. The theatrical feel of the former Soft Cell frontman's strongly thematic cabaret-style performance is brilliantly captured on this DVD.

The DVD, to be released by demonVISION on 31st January 2005, consists of 120 minutes of live performance, and approximately 60 minutes of bonus features, including a candid interview with Almond, footage of the soundcheck and the very first rehearsal at the venue.

The first act features material from Almond's album of Russian romance songs 'Heart on Snow', which he performs with a backing tape in front of Soviet-era images. Act 2 comprises French Chansons, blues and cabaret, backed by Almond¹s band.

Almond says of the show "The Almeida Theatre is a very special place and this run of shows will alway be one of the great memories of my career."

Full track listing is:

ACT ONE ACT TWO
So Long The Path A Love Spurned
Always And Everywhere Hustler's Tango (Lewis Fury)
Oh My Soul Lotus Blossom (Billy Strayhorn)
Storks I Cover The Waterfront (Eddie Duchin)
The Glance Of Your Dark Eyes In The Dark (Green)
Just One Chance What Makes A Man (Charles Aznavour)
Heart On Snow Go To Hell (Morris Bailey Jr)
Lonely Go Go Dancer Satan's Child
The Flame Bad People Kiss
Tenderness Is A Weakness End In Tears
Rouge And Perfume Suicide Saloon
The Slave (Serge Lama) Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Caroline Says (Lou Reed)  
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (David Bowie) 
ENCORE
Amsterdam (Jacques Brel) Strangers In The Night
Catch A Fallen Star Sheherezade

Voted one of the five best concerts of the year by The Guardian, these performances prompted rave reviews:-

"Still utterly a one-off, Almond should be cherished"
-The Guardian

"Almond could be the new gay Tom Jones. I can offer no higher compliment"
-The Observer

www.marcalmond.co.uk

2nd February 2005
Marc Almond

We hope you caught Marc Almond on:

31st Jan BBC Breakfast TV
1st Feb London Tonight
He will also be on:
Saturday 5th Feb  
11.00am LBC - Interview on Paul Ross Show
12.35pm BBC Radio Two -
Interview on Jonathan Ross Show

26th January 2005

Marc has been featured in the following press:

Daily Mirror (spread)
The Times (spread)
The Observer (full page)

- 15th January 2005
- 22nd January 2005
- 23rd January 2005

Catch Marc
in the coming weeks:
 		 
Saturday 30th January Capital Gold -
David Jensen's show
between 10.00am - 1.00pm
Saturday 5th February Weekend Magazine - feature

Watch this space for more details of interviews......

8th December 2004

Marc Almond

Marc Almond "Live at the Almeida" is to be released on DVD on
31st January 2005. We are thrilled to be working with Marc and wish him a speedy recovery, following his accident.


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