We Speak Music
Loic J. Tuckey Delivers Masterful Debut Album
Loic J. Tuckey’s artistic odyssey is resonating with new fervour as his debut album, Beyond The Sun Road, and his novella, Cowboy Butchers, capture the rugged, untamed essence of the American West. This multi-talented artist melds diverse genres—including Americana, alternative rock, blues, folk, and ambient lounge jazz—into a mesmerizing 12-track album that harks back to the golden age of American road trips. Tuckey’s evocative guitar work and versatile vocals, ranging from bluesy grit to gentle melodies, create a rich auditory landscape that bridges mid-20th century rock, surf, swampy blues, and psychedelia.
The album’s creation was a deeply immersive experience for Tuckey, who crafted much of the music and lyrics during real-life road trips across America. The titular track, “Beyond The Sun Road,” embodies this journey with its driving drums and gritty guitar lines, mirroring the endless road and the fleeting moments captured in Tuckey’s lyrics. His songwriting reflects vivid scenes and emotions collected from the open highways, diners, and motels, making the album not just a musical work but a true testament to the spirit of American exploration.
Recorded at Sheffield’s Hatch Studio with contributions from local talents such as Jim Ghedi and Zebedee Budworth, and mastered at Candyland Studios in Kentucky by Mike Montgomery, the album stands as a polished yet authentic reflection of Tuckey’s artistic vision. The collaborative effort has resulted in a cohesive piece that combines technical skill with genuine expression, encapsulating the essence of Tuckey’s journey across America.
In addition to his musical achievements, Tuckey’s debut novella, Cowboy Butchers, further showcases his versatility and depth as an artist. Drawing from classic Italian westerns and the culinary traditions of the Lincolnshire banger, the novella echoes the rich cultural influences present in his music. With over 15 years of experience in Sheffield’s vibrant music scene, Tuckey’s novel and album together present a powerful narrative and sonic experience that deeply connects with the rugged allure of the American West, making Beyond The Sun Road a compelling and innovative debut in both literature and music.
This October, Hip-hop inna yardie style (old school fusion between reggae and hip-hop) collective L’Entourloop are set to rock UK stages, with shows in Liverpool, London & Bristol. Their Bristol date at The Trinity Center and their first London date at Village Underground are already SOLD OUT, leading to a second London date being added to deal with the high demand that L’Entourloop’s unforgettable shows create.
The dates will see L’entourloop hitting higher than ever as they perform tracks from their huge back catalogue, as well as their latest 20 track album “La clarté dans la confusion” (“Clarity in Confusion”).
Produced in their now legendary Bandulu Studio, the new album is a result of a patient production process, carried out with care and passion. Throughout the album, L’Entourloop testifies in its own way via a puzzle of film samples, of this strange period that we have just gone through collectively, using all its savoir faire when it comes to make the people dance.
Since 1964, when the song “My Boy Lollipop” flooded the European radio airwaves, L’Entourloop’s love for reggae and its culture has never stopped growing. With this third album, they wanted to pay tribute to the legendary pioneers of this incredible movement – artists and producers such as Tom Wong, Count Machuki, Prince Buster and Lee “Scratch” Perry. An album which is a true declaration of love for soundsystem culture and its children – reggae, dancehall and hip-hop.
The success of their previous albums “Chickens in Your Town” (2015) and “Le Savoir Faire” (2017), with their famous “Banging Hip-Hop Inna Yardie Style” quickly brought L’Entourloop into the spotlight, along with their hundreds of shows performed all over Europe. The mysterious collective continues to bring together an ever-growing audience around the world, as proved by their hundreds of millions of plays on music platforms.
True lovers of vinyl and old cinema, in their perpetual quest for the ultimate sample, the insatiable diggers kept their fans waiting by first dropping the excellent DJ-Mix “Start From Scratch” in the summer of 2021, followed by a series of 3 official remixes, including the Reunion Island anthem “Li Sem”.
Another striking characteristic of L’Entourloop is the great ability of King James and Sir Johnny to gather incredible guests from around the world. Whether with Skarra Mucci and their now classic “Dreader Than Dread” or their excellent EP “Golden Nuggets” (2019), Capleton for the extravagant remix of “Burn Dem Down”, producer Panda Dub they collaborated with on “Le Bonheur” or French singer Biga Ranx for their hit “Push The Limits”, L’Entourloop has the gift of giving birth to collaborations that mark the spirits.
With no less than 32 guests from all over the world, MCs fling lyrics like guns like in a western movie and the new album is no exception!
On the reggae side, Jamaican legends such as Ken Boothe and Bounty Killer meet new generation stars such as Alborosie, Kabaka Pyramid, Queen Omega and Marcus Gad. On the hip-hop side Chali 2Na from legendary US group Jurassic 5, Swedish MC Promoe from Looptroop Rockers, US rapper Rêverie, the excellent JuJu Rogers, French beatmaker Degiheugi and the irresistible South African female rapper Dope St Jude all make appearances.
The UK vibe can also be felt with features from jungle and dancehall pioneers General Levy and Tippa Irie as well as heavyweights of the grime scene Flowdan, Lady Chann and Killa P. Fellow French artists are also in the spotlight with guests such as Big Red, O.B.F and Manudigital. To complete this amazing cast, L’Entourloop has once again called on the incomparable Troy Berkley from Bermuda and the talented trumpeter N’Zeng, formerly of Le Peuple de l’Herbe, to accompany the collective on the road alongwith a new addition – excellent Dutch rapper BlabberMouf, who has just joined the killer new live show.
L’Entourloop UK Tour 2024
05/10/2024- Liverpool (UK)- Hangar 34
06/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground – SOLD OUT
07/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground
08/10/2024- Bristol (UK)- Trinity Center- SOLD OUT
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