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Goldheart Assembly are an British alternative pop/rock based in London, England. Championed by radio DJs Steve Lamacq and Marc Riley, they released their debut record in 2010 and have since to toured with acts such as Band of Horses, Civil Wars, We are Scientists and The Low Anthem and made apperances at Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds and Latitude festivals.

History
Named after a Guided by Voices song, Goldheart Assembly’s music is known for it’s pastoral soundscapes and rich harmony led songs, inspired by a wide array of artists from 60’s girl groups to krautrock pioneers NEU!.

Formed in 2007 by singers and primary songwriters James Dale and John Herbert the band line up is currently completed by multi-instrumentalists Jake Bowser and Nicky Francis and guitarist Kyle Hall.

Goldheart Assembly’s debut single, a double A-side featuring the tracks So Long St. Christopher and Oh Really, was released in June 2009 on the independent label Heron Recordings. Later in the year the band embarked on a first nationwide tour, including a number of festival appearances and high profile radio sessions for DJs Steve Lamacq and Mark Riley.

Wolves and Thieves
In the Autumn of 2009, Goldheart Assembly recorded their debut album in Forncett Industrial Steam Museum, Norfolk, owned and curated by drummer Nicky Francis’ father. Recording included the use of many of the working steam engines as backing tracks and textural devices, whilst the songs themselves were dominated by layers of harmonies and the melodic sensibilities of then guitarist Dominic Kezerharz.

Signing to British Indie label Fierce Panda, the album was released in March 2010 to critical approval, receiving a number of positive reviews(*), but sold in modest numbers.

Having spent much of 2010 touring as a headline act and in support of American acts Band of Horses, We are Scientists and The Low Anthem and made apperances at Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds and Latitude fesivals.

In the Autumn of 2010 the band embarked on their first European tour. It was whilst on tour in Europe that the band met Swiss musician and producer Tobi Gmur after playing in Luzern, Switzerland. Having visited Gmur’s studio on a day off on tour, Dale and Herbert decided to travel back and forth throughout the following year, writing and demoing extensively. In late 2011 the band moved to Luzern to record the follow up to Wolves and Thieves.

Early in 2012 Goldheart Assembly were asked, along with the likes of King Creosote, White Lies and Jason Lytle, to participate in a tribute album for the seminal 80’s band Talk Talk. Entitled the ‘Spirit of Talk Talk’, the band contributed a version of the song ‘Chameleon Day' from the 1986 album ‘The Colour of Spring’.

Press
The band has recently picked up much favourable press, including a double-page article in NME magazine on 3 April 2010, and a feature in The Guardian's First Sight column. Since its release, Wolves and Thieves has received universal acclaim from the music and UK national press, with positive reviews in publications including Mojo, Uncut and NME magazines as well as The Sun and The Independent newspapers.

Style
Goldheart Assembly's sound has been described as organic and characterised by pastoral west-coast style vocal harmonies. Taking an experimental approach to recording and songwriting, the band has been known to make use of unusual objects as musical instruments, such as metal radiator guards, doors and steam engines.

Members
Goldheart Assembly are:


 * Jake Bowser: Piano, keyboards, clarinet, guitar, vocals.


 * James Dale: Lead vocals, bass, guitar, piano.


 * Nicky Francis: Drums, percussion, harp, cello, vocals.


 * Kyle Hall: Guitar.


 * John Herbert: Lead vocals, guitar, piano.

Discography

 * Albums
 * Wolves and Thieves (March 2010) Fierce Panda Records


 * Singles
 * So Long St. Christopher / Oh Really (June 2009) Heron Recordings
 * King of Rome (March 2010) Fierce Panda Records
 * Under The Waterway (May 2010) Fierce Panda Records
 * Last Decade /Going Down Well (November 2010) Fierce Panda Records
 * Harvest in the Snow (free download) (March 2011) Fierce Panda Records