SOOTHSAYERS RELEASE REGGAE COVER OF 'STREETS OF LONDON'

• Reggae cover of influential UK folk artist Ralph McTell’s track ‘Streets Of London’

• Digital-only single as a pre-cursor to upcoming new album, Human Nature

• Previously released as part of Culture Clash’s recent London’s Calling compilation

• Mixed by Yesking, who also provided two dub versions also included with the single

• Garnered early praise from The Guardian and The Observer as part of London’s Calling

• Already received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC London

London’s Soothsayers are well renowned within the contemporary reggae scene for their infectious blend of reggae, afrobeat, jazz, and afro-dub. As a pre-cursor to their new upcoming album, Human Nature, they’re releasing a very special digital-only single on 1 October!

In April 2012 Soothsayers were presented with a list of classic songs about London and asked to choose one and arrange/record it in their own style for a compilation album called ‘London’s Calling’, featuring bands from the cream of London’s multicultural music scene. They chose The Streets Of London by Ralph McTell because they were familiar with the classic tune and liked the message in the lyrics. They also chose it because they immediately saw the potential to recreate such a track in a reggae context, using the three-part vocal harmony style that is a fundamental facet to their own forthcoming new album.

The result is an unexpected, yet beautiful, heart-warming slice of reggae groove, featuring bubbling guitars and piano, strident horns, and the beautiful vocal harmonies of Idris Rahman, Robin Hopcraft and Julia Biel.

Already marked by many as the stand out track on the London’s Calling compilation (which also featured Krar Collective’s cover of Lily Allen’s track LDN), the band are so happy with it that they have incorporated The Streets Of London into their live set, and included the song in the tracklisting for their new album, Human Nature, which is due to be released at the end of October.

Soothsayers rarely think about recording covers, but this one has got real soul and takes the original to such a different place that it couldn’t be resisted, plus the underlying message in the song is still as relevant today as it was when Ralph McTell first released the song in 1974. Soothsayers recorded this version in their own studio in South London, and it was mixed by Yesking, who have also mixed many of the tracks on the forthcoming Soothsayers album. Included with this digital single release are two superb dub versions by Yesking. The track has already had plays on BBC Radio 2, BBC London and BBC 6Music, plus various live sessions have been planned, including BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends in the near future.

Tracklisting:
01. The Streets Of London (Radio Edit)
02. The Streets Of London (Dubby Vocal Mix)
03. The Streets Of London (Dub Mix)