One man, a guitar and a Tascam DP01-FX...
Bio
Blake recorded his first album, 'Solomon's Tump' in 2003, in a Cheltenham bedsit playing all the parts himself, following the break-up of his relationship with his fiance. (NB A good four years before those catalogue model choristers nicked his name! There's 4 of them anyway - what's going on?) In 2004, inspired by The Bevis Frond, Blake formed retro-rock band Karmatruffle with his mates Magda McCaffrey, Paul Kench and Jamie Jordan. The same year, having received a copy of 'Solomon's Tump', Pacale Giovetto (Oasis, My Bloody Valentine, Dave Stewart) asked Blake to sign to her newly formed London based record label Ectomusic. Blake persuaded the label to sign Karmatruffle as a band instead and they set about recording three of Blake's songs for a debut EP. Karmatruffle achieved success with this release, 'She's Not All That', and embarked on their first UK tour, receiving some rave reviews for their performances at London 's 100 Club and Hope & Anchor and at The Cavern Club, Liverpool. The band decided to self-finance the follow-up album 'What You Do Comes Back To You' to give themselves more artistic control and Blake created his own record label, 'Rockhopper Records', to facilitate this. Another successful nationwide tour supporting Stephen Fretwell to promote the record followed.
Feeling constrained by the indie-rock format, however, Blake embarked on a solo career in 2006 in order to embrace a more eclectic range of songwriting styles, releasing 'Final Whistle' - again playing all the instruments himself - and a remastered version of 'Solomon's Tump'. 2007 saw the release of another two albums recorded at his home studio and released via Rockhopper Records: 'Carruthers Gets Bashed' and 'By The Banks of the A350'. The following year Blake's frenetic recording schedule was scaled down following the birth of his first child, and a compilation of demos and outtakes, 'Antheology', appeared on the EmuBands imprint - Blake's first download only release. Between May and October of 2009 Blake recorded his new album with, for the first time since Karmatruffle, the assistance of other musicians on a number of tracks: Paul Kench on lead guitar, Chris Scrivens on drums and Joe Brown on organ. 'The Latest Pop Sounds from Blake' was released on 11th January on Eden Records and is available for download from iTunes and Amazon. The CD is available to buy from the Store page.
Blake's new EP, When The Angels Fall From The Sky, is due for release in digital format in March 2010.
To order Blake's new single 'Ordinary Person' straight from your mobile, text 'Track BLAKE' to 83262 in the UK (cost £1) or 'Music BLAKE' to 57501 for Republic of Ireland (cost 99c). To download straight to your phone text 'Track BLAKE M' to 83262 (UK only).
