Blue States

Как это часто бывает, братья Джейкоб основали лейбл "Memphis Industries", чтобы издавать собственную музыку — проект La Mouche. Однако время показало, что им лучше удается выпускать чужую. Первой большой удачей лейбла стала пластинка «Nothing Changes Under the Sun» даунтемпо-проекта Blue States, основанного Энди Драгазисом, другом и соучастником музыкальных экспериментов Олли Джейкоба. Даунтемпо тогда было на пике потребительского спроса — это было время популярности разнообразных диванно-кофейных компиляций с легкой электроникой, звездный коммерческий час проектов Kruder & Dorfmeister, Thievery Corporation и других. Дебютная работа Blue States, впрочем, сделана на совесть, а не просто для удовлетворения спроса. Есть мнение, что она — одна из лучших даунтемпо-пластинок 2000-х. Альбом «Nothing Changes Under the Sun» получил очень хорошие рецензии и привлек к молодому лейблу необходимое внимание.

Blue States accidentally established themselves at the forefront of the burgeoning wave of downtempo acts way back in 1998. Using his multi-instrumental talents, Andy Dragazis blended Guitars, Bass, Drums, Fender Rhodes, Bouzuki, the Hammond Organ and anything that sounded good when it was hit. And the 12"s kept coming, including the classics 'Your Girl', and 'Walkabout', all becoming rare and sought after collectors items. But none of the Blue States EPs quite prepared you for the grand melancholia of the debut album 'Nothing Changes Under the Sun', released on Memphis Industries in September 2000. Taking in influences as disparate as Vangelis and The Shadows, "Nothing Changes." drew favourable comparisons with anybody from Air to Tortoise to, bizarrely, The Cure, stunning critics and punters alike with its glorious retro-futurism. 2002 saw the release of second album "Man Mountain" which saw Blue States up the anti somewhat with the addition of vocalist Ty Bulmer. Including a string quartet, horn section and a kids choir "Man Mountain" was an all together grander affair, the standout track being 'Season Song' which ended up on the 28 Days Later soundtrack. Also highly sought after for remixes, Blue States worked on tracks including Badly Drawn Boy's 'Disillusion', Layo and Bushwacka!'s 'Love Story' and Future Sound of London's 'Papua New Guinea'. Never one to try and replicate his past endeavours, Andy D enlists Chris Carr (Vocals/Guitar) and Jon Chandler from the live band to become fully paid up members of the Blue States clan. The outcome of this was the third album "The Soundings" released in 2004. With Chris taking on lyrical and vocal duties The Soundings saw Blue States once again morph into something new. The layers of strings and brass are stripped back to reveal something darker and more personal. Late summer 2007 sees the release of the fourth album, "First Steps Into…" Andy has once again returned to whence he came, being a one man band. More news to follow soon…