The Sleeping Years is the new project for singer-songwriter Dale Grundle.
Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland to an Irish father and a Scottish mother, Dale started his first band Catchers while at school. Their first single 'Cotton Dress' came out on Setanta Records and became single of the week in Melody Maker.
Their debut album 'Mute' was recorded with Mike Hedges in France. Dale went on to tour with Pulp, Edwyn Collins, The Divine Comedy, Dr. John and Oasis.
Catchers recorded their second album 'Stooping to Fit' with Nick Drake's arranger Robert Kirby writing string and brass section parts for some of the songs.
Recently signed to Talitres Records in France, The Sleeping Years' music has been featured on Huw Stephens' BBC Radio 1 podcast, on Gideon Coe's BBC 6music show, in the Guardian writers' playlist and on a cd sampler with Rolling Stone magazine. Dale has also been heavily played on French radio with each EP being championed by Bernard Lenoir.
The Sleeping Years have released three EPs so far, 'You and Me Against The World', 'Setting fire to sleepy towns' and 'Clocks and clones'.
As with all the EPs, the five track CD was written, played and recorded by Dale at home. 'You and Me Against The World' even featured dictaphone recordings of his father and of the world outside his house.
'You and Me Against The World' was released in March 2007. 'Setting fire to sleepy towns' EP followed three months later and now the final EP of the trilogy, 'Clocks and Clones' has been released.
The Sleeping Years have just completed their debut album. Aside from Dale, the recordings feature Michelle So on cello and piano, Tom Page on drums. Ben Eshmade guests on French horn. The album is scheduled for a release on Talitres Records on 17th March 2008.
All covers for The Sleeping Years have been designed by Pika Pika.
http://www.sleepingyears.com
The Guardian: 'his voice breaks exquisitely between hope and despair in songs that the acoustic guitar was invented for'
Dazed and Confused: 'a one-man show that owes his lilting metaphysical lyricism to the likes of Nick Drake, Elliot Smith and John Martyn. It's good to know that there are people like him out there'
Stuart Bailie (BBC Radio): 'Just as Sufjan Stevens has been moved to celebrate the quirks and character of the United States, so Dale Grundle is devising his own charts, full of wonder, dread and reverie. Can't wait to see where he takes us next.'
Les Inrockuptibles: 'Un romantisme rêveur; une voix vaste et une guitare faste'
Rolling Stone: 'Un très jolie mini-album... délicieux et acoustique'
Hot Press: 'absolutely gorgeous'
Time Out: 'engagingly mournful, melodic songcraft'
Who needs radio: 'indie folk artisan Grundle is a lyrical force to be reckoned with'
Sixeyes: 'a definite talent musically, vocally, and lyrically'
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Michelle So - Cello, piano
Tom Page - Drums, percussion
Dale Grundle - Songs, vocals, guitar, piano, bass, harmonica, ebow, programming...
jkane says:
Glad to see you on this site Dale. Got the e.p. in the post today. Thanks (that was fast!). Sounds sublime. I'm spreading the word. All the best, jkane.
posted May 22