The Belasco story is one of twists and turns but finally delivered what the band deserve with the release of their album โ61โ in 2007.
The band formed in 2000 and after only their second gig they signed to hugely well-respected indie label Splendid/City Slang (Lambchop, Wheat). The debut album โSimplicityโ was produced by Charlie Francis (REM, Turin Breaks) and released to critical acclaim in the UK in 2001. Uncut magazine declared Belasco โhave bigger songs and bigger ambitions than the majority of new guitar acts.โ Watch out Coldplay!
While Coldplay can still rest easy, Belasco have achieved a huge amount over the past five years. In early 2005 this success culminated in the band signing a single deal with Vertigo/Mercury (Razorlight, Thirteen Senses) and recorded two singles โ โSomething Between Usโ and โChloroformโ. On its release, โ Something Between Usโ again received plaudits (The Guardian making it Single Of the Week) and the bandโs โDarker than Darkโ video โ produced by Nick Walters – was playlisted on MTV2 UK. The video is also one of the first music videos added to the iTunes new video purchase store in the US.
Throughout 2006 the band worked on the album โ61โ. By far their most accomplished album to date, itโs the perfect showcase for the Belasco sound โ from gentle introspective acoustics โFinest Thingsโ and โLawman,โ through to driving epic rock โThe Earthโ and โSwallowโ. There are inventive structures and melodies on โButterfliesโ and classic, hard edge rock songs โJoseph Coninโ and โOn A Wireโ. The album was co-produced by up-and-coming young talents Richie Kayvan, who has worked with the likes of Oasis and Supergrass. The effort also included Hugh Jones who has worked with The Damned, The Faints, Echo & The Bunnymen, and Simple Minds. The legendary Tom Baker mastered the album. His credits include Beastie Boys, Marilyn Manson, and Nine Inch Nails.
โYou canโt get this album out of your head. It doesnโt only serve a genre it serves a generationโย โ Synthetics.
โFans of alternative rock music – go out and buy this album! These Londoners play rock music so full of emotion that it is simply breathtakingโ โ Metal Hammer.
Belasco are a Blue Pie Records USA artist and are published by Blue Pie Publishing USA (ASCAP) for selected titles.