Real World

If you can't wait to get your ears around the fantastic new album we have a special download offer for you. If you pre-order the new album on CD by Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara from our online shop before the official release date of May 11th you can automatically download a digital version of the music now!

Portico Quartet are four young musicians from London who sound like nothing you've ever heard before. Their strange, beautiful sound was honed busking at the South Bank in London and playing in unusual spaces; churches, galleries and chill-out zones. The band, who all live together in East London, describe their ethos as like an Indy band that plays post-jazz and their unique, hooky sound has won them fans from Gilles Peterson to Radio 4 as well as catching the ear of Real World Records head honcho Peter Gabriel. Their debut album Knee-Deep In The North Sea (Babel/Vortex records) was named Time Out's Jazz, Folk and World music album of the year for 2007 and was one of the Nationwide Mercury Prize albums of the year for 2008

Portico Quartet signed to Real World Records in February 2009 and will record their eagerly anticipated second album and label debut with producer John Leckie (Doves, Radiohead, The Stone Roses) at the helm at Abbey Road in May followed by mixing at Real World.

"We are delighted to be releasing Portico Quartet on Real World Records. They create environments with their own world of sounds, that are as stimulating as they are soulful " Peter Gabriel

"We are all really delighted to be joining the Real World family and of course excited to be recording at Abbey Road with one of our favourite producers John Leckie". Portico Quartet

The band also tour in May with dates in Penzance, Constantine, Bristol, Plymouth, Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry, Leeds and the Cheltenham and Bath jazz festivals. Full tour dates attached.

Portico Quartet are Jack Wyllie (sax and loops), Milo Fitzpatrick (double bass), Nick Mulvey (Hang) and Duncan Bellamy (drums and Hang), and it's the mix of ethereal saxophone, otherwordly Hang, clattering drums and earthy double-bass that gives their music it's inimitable, beautiful sound. It was the chance purchase of the Hang by Duncan Bellamy, at WOMAD, that inspired the young friends to start a band, and while their largely intuitive music references jazz and African music it's the Hang inspired trance-like repetitive patterns of Duncan and Nick Mulvey that propel the band into stranger pastures.

Portico Quartet recorded a special album for the B&W Society of Sound at Real World Studios in January 2009. They are performing at WOMAD Charlton Park in July.

"Try to imagine the coolest film never made. We mean really cool. Steve McQueen and Samuel L, on 'Easy Rider' choppers, in a French film-noir spy film, infiltrating a Yakuza Samurai cult. Portico Quartet would provide the soundtrack" Channel 4.com

"A phenomenon in the making" The Independent

"Haunting, beautifully austere sound" Metro

The new album by Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara "Tell No Lies" will be released by Real World Records on May 11.

"Tell No Lies" is the place where the deep roots of African music nourish the raw electric groove of rock and roll, where Gnawa spirit rhythms come up against Chicago distortion, West London howl and a Sahel Wail. Following the critically-acclaimed 'Soul Science' (for which they won a BBC World Music Award) this second album takes them deeper into their own special world - no academic experiment but a genuine fusion of musical souls.

To launch this exciting new release, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara will be playing at London Jazz Cafe on Wednesday 13th May.

They will both be touring extensively over the coming months so check our tour dates page for the latest updates.

The latest newsletter from Real World Records is now available to view on-line.

Peter recounts tales of recent travels and tour dates in Mexico and Latin America, music, warmth, human rights campaigning, sickness and happy memories from 18 days on the road. We also hear about Speed Caravan, the current inhabitants of Real World's Big Room, new music from Justin Adams and Juldeh Camera, a great new release by Mamer recorded in Urumqi and Beijing and an animation competition running with Aardman Animations.

It's short notice, but if you or someone you know is floating around Hollywood tonight, this screening of 'Sleepwalking Through The Mekong' at Amoeba's Monday Movies sounds like the place to be. There will be a Q&A after the screening with members of the band who will sign copies of the CD/DVD.

Sleepwalking Through the Mekong follows Los Angeles based band Dengue Fever on their recent journey to Cambodia to perform 60s and 70s Cambodian rock n' roll in the country where it was created and very nearly destroyed. The odyssey is a homecoming for singer Chhom Nimol and a transformation for the rest of the band as they perform with master musicians and record new songs along the way.

Spiro are this month's artists on the Real World curated Bowers and Wilkins Music Club. You can see them here talking about recording the project at Real World Studios, with an introduction from Peter Gabriel. Catch them this month at The Music Club, live at The Bell in Bath on Monday 30th March, at upcoming festivals - Wychwood and WOMAD Charlton Park and in projects coming soon with Real World Records.

"Spiro are at the forefront of the new wave of inspirational English acoustic music - unique arrangements that transport you into gorgeous landscapes. Essentially English, beautifully brilliant with timeless melodies." Karen Tweed

livinginperu.com has a review and photographs of Box's wandering minstrels from the opening concert of their tour.

"Every concert is different depending on the audience, and as Peter Gabriel took his bows, it was clear that the palpable Peruvian energy had once again worked its magic..."

The first artists have been announced today for this summers WOMAD Charlton Park. You can almost feel the buzz of great music in a sunny English meadow...

Daby Touré brought his energetic live show to London's Jazz Cafe on Wednesday night where he was joined by the legendary Skip 'Little Axe' McDonald.

Daby's live dates come highly recommended, as does his recent collaborative project with Skip. If you are in the South West of England you can catch Daby this weekend in Bristol.