Scarlet's Well

New live album w/ Monochrome Set songs

Siesta Records have just released "Unreal" by Bid's band Scarlet's Well. There are 3 (previously unreleased) live versions of Monochrome Set songs included on this album.

You can listen to song samples or purchase the album here:
http://www.siesta.es/pags/novedades.asp

Bid (ex-Monochrome Set) started Scarlet's Well as a studio project in 1998, and has since released four albums with Siesta Records (Spain): "Strange Letters" (1999), "The Isle Of The Blue Flowers" (2000), "Alice In The Underworld" (2002), and "The Dream Spider Of The Laughing Horse" (2004).
In January 2004, Bid conceived of a bizarre concept- the raising of two Live bands, Scarlet's Well and The Unreal Scarlet's Well. The former would consists of UK musicians, to play concerts and record together in the long term, and the latter would consist of any foreign group of musicians who were willing to learn the music and play one or more concerts with Bid. The way this worked was that, after first contact was made, Bid sent the music sheets to the various musicians for them to rehearse without him, a gig was booked, and Bid flew in to rehearse twice beforehand- indeed, this was the first time he met any of them.
From Spring 2004 to Spring 2005, there had been four different US, one Swedish, and one Irish Unreal Scarlet's Wells.
Most of these Unreal performances were recorded, and have been compiled into a live album, Unreal, which includes versions of both Scarlet's Well and Monochrome Set songs.
It is a unique and fascinating collection of performances, some live on stage, some live-in-the-studio, and one, a not-so-straightforward string quartet cover version (the only song not featuring Bid). Many of the musicians involved are themselves heroes/heroines in their own countries, though the performance with the legendary Belfast band, St. Vitus Dance, is sadly not included on this album, as the recording was corrupted.
During this time, the "real" Scarlet's Well also played around Europe and are presently recording their 5th album.
You can download booklet artwork here:
http://www.bid.clara.net/unrealbooklet/booklet.zip

Tracks:
how the cypress made apollo
eine symphonie des grauens
the return of the hesperus
street of a thousand fools
pirate
jacob's ladder
the isle of the blue flowers
walking with the beast
willy whispers
miss twinkle's been on holiday again
sweetmeat
how the cypress made apollo (suite)

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And two live Monochrome Set songs (Sugar Plum & Straits of Malacca) which didn't make this album can be heard here:
http://www.myspace.com/lazerlove5