Paul Roland

“Paul Roland writes nice melodies and has a very particular personality, but he is too intellectual for me!" (Frank Zappa, 1988) “Roland’s songs are like short stories set to music.” (Greg Lake) Since the appearance of his first album ‘The Werewolf of London’ in 1980 (a John Peel favourite and a regular featured album at the legendary Bat Cave) Roland has written and recorded 20 albums including ‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’ which ‘Rolling Stone’ named “one of the best albums you’ve probably never heard”, the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired ‘Reanimator’ and ‘Bates Motel’ with songs written for surviving members of the Velvet Underground. For four decades Roland has been spinning twisted tales of Victorian villains, eccentric Edwardian inventors and the supernatural against a backdrop of gothic-psych-baroque pop, earning him the title “the male Kate Bush” (a comparison attributed to former label mate Robyn Hitchcock) and, more recently, “the Godfather of Steampunk”. His highly literate lyrics, often macabre themes and strong melodic gift has attracted an increasingly large and loyal cult following while his proudly independent ethos has ensured he has remained a cherished niche artist. Paul’s first album for Dark Companion, ‘White Zombie’ (2016), was acclaimed ‘a masterpiece’ by RAI, Italy’s national TV and radio broadcaster and named ‘Album of the Month’ in ‘Blow Up’ magazine. His next group album ‘Bitter and Twisted’ (2017) was nominated for ‘Album of the Year’ in a French rock magazine and ‘Album of the Month’ in several German rock magazines, while his most recent offering, the 60s psych-pop neo folk flavoured ‘Wyrd Tales of an Antiquary’ (2023) prompted major features in Spanish and Russian rock magazines as well as airplay on RAI3, Italy's national radio. “Roland has a unique gift for song writing unlike anyone else and the imagination on display is formidable…we clearly are in the presence of a master story-teller.” Louder Than War, UK “Gothic-psych-baroque-rocker waxing demented in a way only an Englishman can…impeccable.” Goldmine, USA. “If pop music had existed in the 19th century Roland would have been a star.” Music Week, UK “Roland endures as a purveyor of a unique type of English art-rock who should be celebrated.” 8/10 Vive Le Rock, UK ‘A darkly psychedelic troubadour’ Shindig magazine, UK “Genius at play! If Shakespeare, Poe and Conan Doyle were alive today, they would surely have some Roland in their record collections. Unfortunately, they’re dead… what’s your excuse?” Bucketful of Brains, UK

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https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dwKAyyJIRmSCXh4RJLaGh