The Acts: CHILI PALMER x GIA FORD

The Release: 'COCKTAIL NIGHTS'

The Format: DIGITAL SINGLE

The Release Date: AUGUST 13TH 2021

The Digital Link: orcd.co/chilipalmer_cocktailnights

The Truth: "‘Cocktail Nights’ was written in lockdown 1 and I suppose is a look back at how life used to be and perhaps could be again. It’s about those spontaneous nights where we make new friends and feel like anything is possible. It’s a yearning for pre-covid times of hedonistic adventures..."

So say CHILI PALMER, the soul-popping duo who are as mysterious as Daft Punk at a dimly lit fancy dress ball and who snuck out of the covid shadows with the excellently sumptuous 'Chili Palmer' EP last year. Not so much a band as "a collective of similar thinking creative minds", that communal vibe reaches a perky peak with new single 'Cocktail Nights', which sees Homerton soulboy Albert Gold and Sheffield singer Gia Ford take the mics for some exuberant harmonic duelling fun.

Albert Gold has released a slew of terrifically chewy old school singles from his East London base and starred on Bakermat's 'Trouble' single. Gia Ford, aka Molly McCormick, used to dream up songs whilst working in cafes and she released her first two EPs in 2019 and 2020. Now returing to her teenage influences such as Nick Cave, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac and Lana Del Ray she finds her feet as the stylish narrator of a world of dark longings, of complex feelings, of the profound, bittersweet twang of life - all in a classic velvet voice.

Musically, 'Cocktail Nights' is very much inspired by Massive Attack, old skool break beats and Eno-esque ambient soundscapes. And that's just one piece of the CHILI PALMER jigsaw, whose 'I Love E9' album is heading our way on August 27th and careers from pure Northern Soul to battered powerballads; from slinky '70s Philly soul to sadfaced disco bliss, as you may or may not expect from an outfit who say thusly:

"Musically and production wise, the main influences for the record come from The Blackbyrds, Phil Spector, Prince, Glen Campbell and Frank Ocean. With regards to the album, we think it’s essentially a celebration of soul and pop music with an emphasis on hanging in Hackney - lyrically, Albert is laying bare the modern day minefield of online dating and the search for real love."

Welcome back to the free world...

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