Last week, I had the good fortune to visit the Black Country Living Museum - because that’s how rock and roll I am. I would recommend it, if you’re in the midlands - I love a good working museum. Below you can see a movable type printing press in action:

The disc on the top of the machine is covered in ink; each printing cycle, it rotates slightly, so the ink remains homogenously applied across the disc. On the upward stroke, the rollers pass over the disc and are covered in ink; on the downward stroke, they roll over the type, which is mounted vertically. On the upward stroke, the piece of paper held in the front plate is pressed against the type; then the plate tilts back and the paper can be replaced, while the type is being re-inked.

The design is slightly different - the printing press in the video uses some kind of a flywheel and a footpedal for continuous operation, but otherwise this is identical to the device Nick uses. I love the fact that a design unchanged for 150 years is being used to press the new Monroe Transfer and Fireworks Night releases. That’s all really - enjoy the majesty of letterpress printing via the medium of youtube…

Also, a plucky listener pointed out that I’ve bummed all the ID3 tags on “Scrape the paint”. By the time you read this, it should be fixed, hopefully. If you still have problems, give me a shout.

I’ve completed the new EP, Scrape The Paint, and for a limited period you can download it here for free. All I ask is that if you like it, copy it and pass it on to a few friends who you think might like it too, with a request for them to do the same. If you like what you hear, I also have more songs you can download for free and EPs you can buy on the music page.

I promise that the next blog post will be more like a blog and less like a used-car salesman.

here

or I would recommend subscribing via iTunes

so it pops into your iBox every frikkin’ month!

If you have any suggestions about what you’d like to hear in the podcast, mail me at thesoundoftheladies@gmail.com, and I will 100% read your email!

The sound of the ladies will shortly have a podcast available via iTunes - more news soon, but until then, here is a snippet of the trailer…

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/

have given Rosebud a really lovely review. They say

“Becoming somewhat of a superhero in the underground acoustic scene… The Sound of the Ladies has been the object of many an affection since the release of his fabulous “Tissue of Lies” EP. And now on the verge of releasing his latest slab of melancholic genius, [they] will no doubt be putting smiles on faces faster than an abolition of government.

“…there is a sense of broken innocence haunting the tracks; their smooth, sweeping melodies and unfolding drama a perfect elixir…”

“..truly…a brilliant voice… the vocal lines soar above the tenebrous melancholy…tracks like the apologetic “How You Could Have Been in Love with Me” and the seriously uncluttered effortlessness of “One of Those Girls” leave a distinct impression; taking you through the emotions of a man with so much pain to share, and certainly enough to go around.”

Anyone calling me an underground superhero (MoleMan?) and a melancholic genius is cool in my book. Off to swim in Lake Me…

During the course of a normal working day, Martin Austwick was visited by an fly in his office.

“It was in the insect family, and it moved fast. I was almost asleep and I saw a mark on the wall that I didn’t think was there before, and I just was staring at it for like a minute,” the guitarist told his friends.

“And then it ran around the room. You know, it just took off. These flies are quick. And I couldn’t deal with that, so I left and got a coffee for half an hour.”

The band are set to release their new EP ‘Rosebud’ on May 1st.

As previously reported by thesoundoftheladies.co.uk, the band are working on new video ‘The clouds at the top of the sky’ with acclaimed director Nathan Snyder.

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Now, if you think that sounds like a non-story, read this.