Late last year we began working on a collection of new songs that we felt differed enough in style and production value to warrant a shiny new name. We decided to begin recording the new material as a side project to Sound Sanctuary and began working with producer/engineer Joe Hirst (Bloc Party, Ian Brown, Razorlight) in a make shift studio/barn in Kent. In early 2009 after throwing hundreds of newly dreamt up names for the project into a proverbial hat we finally settled on one. Thus Burning Shapes has become Sound Sanctuary’s alter ego and we are finally ready to share some of the music with you.

Firstly we have created new social network pages for the project that we’d love you to check out, where you can become a fan, listen to some of the new recordings and leave your comments.

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/burningshapes

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burning-Shapes/124226650900

A free track is also now available to download (if you have a special flyer code that you can get hold of at future gigs) from the official Burning Shapes website http://www.burningshapes.com

So while Sound Sanctuary put their feet up for a little while longer, we hope you’ll enjoy the new Burning Shapes music and as always, if you do, please spread the word… there’s more to come!!!

THE BEAT
Reviewing Dust (LP)
"I was quite taken with the Kent quartet’s Contact EP of three years back, likening them to an electronica Simon & Garfunkel. Now comes the full album, which may take a while to seep inside the head but proves worth the patience to let its charms reveal themselves. A burnished cocktail of folk, trip hop, 60s West Coast pop and blissed out art rock… They magic chilled summer night moods out of Mexico and Kamikaze Dreamer, do the soft funk hump with Got The Feeling, surf the skies on the psychedelic 60s inspired title track, and explore George Michael soul alleyways with Enemy. The lurched narcotic noir of Blonde Prey and the spaced vibes and guitar explorations of Under The Radar also suggest those Folktronica Trip Hop Radiohead labels aren’t wide of the mark." - Mike Davies

FAIR HEARING (www.fairhearing.co.uk)
Reviewing Dust (LP)
"This album is an absolute favourite. I keep playing it, I never tire of it. The most beautiful and harmonic singing you could ever imagine. It’s warm, honeyed and addictive – obviously influenced by Crosby & co/Buffalo Springfield but not Americana’d by any means. Neither is it Anglo-folk corny and overwrought! This music connects by its rooting in organic and heartfelt elements… and I have long since surrendered to the insistent ‘Enemy’, the introspective pumping groove of ‘Broken Signs’ and the twinkling handclapped spaced-out, lament ‘Got The Feeling’. Sound Sanctuary are in a part of the music world that they have created themselves avoiding the clichés most other acts pile on with no shame. Truly deserving of a fair hearing if any act ever was!" - Pete Sargeant
- read full review -

Please check the rest of our reviews on the PRESS/Reviews page.

Below: Steve holding up the world!

Above: Playing Lanchashires No. 1 commercial radio station The Bee.
Below: Saying good bye to Janice at The Royal Hotel.

The piece de la resistance was the live studio audience who I’m sure all arrived using their free bus pass.

Below: Steve and Toby get ready to play to 52 old ladies at BBC Radio Lancashire.

Our tracks went down a storm and we sold tons of CDs. Seriously, we have found our demographic. The presenters and sound guys also really like our stuff and have invited us back later in the year for a full evening concert at their studios to be filmed and played out on air. Next we’re off to play the local rival commercial station The Bee!

Security were watching us on the CCTV but what the heck! The session was fantastic and we were either extremely euphoric or tired afterwards (as you can tell from the photo) but either way we were buzzing. We played exceptional live acoustic versions of Dust, Lonely Fishes and Enemy and the DJ played Broken Signs out off Dust to finish the session. Lets hope there were some late night stoners up listening.

We’ve had a really busy day so far today. Found a brilliant little hidden gem of a Cafe in the Northern Quarter of Manchester called Pop where we had breakfast. It’s downstairs from a retro fashion boutique and is sort of half shop, have cafe. Definitely will go back.

Below: Breakfast in the Pop Cafe Manchester.

We then drove to Halifax where we did a radio session on a community station called Phoenix. They were a friendly bunch who seemed to very much appreciate having us on the show. (They told us afterwards they’d been expecting a crap indie band but were blown away when we played).

Below: Toby playing a session at Radio Phoenix in Halifax.

Then headed to Leeds for a gig at an arty venue called Seven which is where we are now awaiting some grub.

Above: Sound Check at Seven in Leeds.
Below: Toby filming the Tour Diary.

After this gig we’ve got a very quick load out as we’ve got to race to Manchester for a session and interview on BBC Radio Manchester at 12.30am. Then after that we’ve got a further hours drive to get to our beds which are at tomorrow nights venue ‘The Royal Hotel’ in Lancashire. Full on day!

Tonight we play the Night & Day Cafe in Manchesters’ Northern Quarter. Andy and Dave went for a drink there this afternoon and have brought back good reports.

Below: Steve and Andy having it large (sound sanctuary style) in Manchester.

Above: Manchester have their own ‘London Eye’ which is rubbish.
Below: But after several pints we were so happy it went round more than once, all was immediately forgiven.