Reviews and Press
"Some very interesting and rather charming stuff here a future shock presented as two galleries, each tune representing a conceptual image. From sunny and bright New-Wave styled pop to jangly indie, all the way through to punky cuts that have long shadows of Blondie trailing after them as they pass through different stratospheres. Unique and otherworldly."
"...a post-punk, new wave and prog-rock band from Manchester, whose individualistic, unique and distinctive sound, reworks the rule book of DIY punk. A force of nature whose music evokes a sense of spontaneity, improvised creativity that is ever evolving, expanding and mutating to create original and compelling music. With the duality of vocals, The Speed Of Sound fuel the fires of authenticity and raw energy that stays true to themselves, that adds a dose of noncomformity..."
"dystopian dreamscape echoes concept albums of the early 70's, such beasts have certainly been missed: The sleeve, the sound, the feel and the bulbous beat which punches through a futuristic neverland in which the listener is invited to wander freely. This illuminating theatrical blast of an album where Jeff Lynne might meet The Ramones, makes for a surprisingly entertaining trip
"Museum Of Tomorrow is a smartly realised collection of songs that also offer up some smartly observed commentary on modern culture. It also suggests that The Speed Of Sound are an outfit that should have enjoyed a much higher profile over the past three decades."
"A vocal begins to snake over the beats, melody without words draws in the mists as the music rises to meet the pattern. Another voice adds yet more momentum to the flux as guitars begin to fall into place. Then, a powerful vibrancy pushes everything forward. A smash of chorus brings a frantic moment before more mysterious and ethereal vibes continue the build. Charlotte ends on an uplifting bash of dream and rock n roll that spirals with ever-moving vapours of a cherished history"
"brilliantly executed & unique, constantly surprising & delighting, a world much like ours seen through a broken kaleidoscope. Both very pretty paths & strange thoroughfares are maped out, a musical psychogeography if you like, yet they always remain very accessible. Never losing sight of a good tune, even when they are in the process of delivering a musical curve ball"
"I’ll give a thumbs up to their lifting of two fingers to pop song convention. It might not fit with the modern modus operandi, but it means the world to me. Allowing a chance to evolve and expand, develop and warp the original song into something artier, freer, odder and wonderfully so. And that is what I hear happening with this odd yet fantastic release. I Like It. Like it a lot"
"What does this sound like? Like a whole lotta fun, actually. Could be The Rzillos if formed a decade earlier by Marianne Faithfull and Jo Callis/CBGB'c/Rubinos/Dickies/ and could soundtrack every groovy club scene in every late 60's Hammer film. This is power pop that embraces the '60s and '70s while somewhere in that former decade this is the band Joe Meek dreamt of meeting."
"Manchester psychnauts The Speed Of Sound released their first record in 1989 & have been continually beavering away below the music radar, recently picking up a string of positive reviews for their 5th album,; Museum Of Tomorrow; Vive Le Rock, described it as ‘unique and other worldly’. Observers have also likened them to The Stranglers meet Jefferson Airplane or Debbie Harry & Lou Reed fronting The Who & Television at the same time!"
"...brazen and quirky Manchester alternative power-pop collective The Speed Of Sound released their latest & perhaps greatest album ‘Museum Of Tomorrow’ & already they are back with fresh tracks modelled on the traditional 12” single. It would be fair to call this music ‘art rock’ as it reflects a challenging or avant-garde approach to rock..."
"a good example of the spirit that punk seemed to have lost in its cultural assimilation"
"...two sets of seamless song suites each take up a side of Museum Of Tomorrow, a retro-futuristic concept album, bursting at the seams with hooks, ace melodies, and lyrical wizardry. It is a soundtrack for a dystopian movie that tries to chase away the darkness with kaleidoscopic gusto, both in pastel and Technicolor."
"...enjoy the buzz as this flies at you like a good amphetamine rush..."
"What sounds like Tom Verlaine in unison with the Au-pairs, vocally the album goes back to spontaneous, idiosyncratic and authentic ethos of DIY Punk. Through the relay of vocals, the album creates a fluidity of feel-good sing-alongs, amongst the raw rumblings & cacophony of chaos. It’s a great album, whose raucous roll of raw riffs & pulsating beats soar, spin & nose-dive in a riotous maelstrom of musical mayhem."
"a characteristically cynical, dystopic, colorfully lyrical mix of jangly psychedelic pop tunes. deadpan sense of humor and shiny melodies. Often concealing a much more troubled and insightful worldview. Lots of levels at work here: this is definitely a record for our time. Gorgeously chiming, dissociatively wary. If smart lyricism and bright tunesmithing vein is your thing, this is your jam."
"The Speed of Sound is both resilient and continually inspired. One other key takedown lesson from this album in particular is that their creative explosion is definitely worth it. Loaded with songs and with style to prove that The Speed of Sound are experts in balancing a raw and edgy sound with a guiding and invigorating sense of melody."
"...pulsates in a loop of space-rock and new-wave, orbiting to the celestial heights of post-punk. Through the relaying vocals and harmonies, it carries the baton of DIY Punk, evoking a sense of authenticity and solidarity. It’s a a great track, which once again reunites the bands skill at making music that time travels through the many destinations of alternative rock, whilst creating a contemporary sound."
" it comes as a pleasant surprise to find an album shot through with warmth and humour, smart wordplay and often open to interpretation. A blend of disparate creative threads but woven together into a cohesive and fantastic design as only The Speed of Sound is capable of.
Come for the groovesome music, stay for the debate about where humanity is headed!"
"an Art Pop creation, quite minimalist, almost stripped down but nevertheless which is carried out with a certain luxury of "arrangements" as if The Speed Of Sound managed to solve the problem. squaring the circle!
The Speed Of Sound puts no limits and goes far above all stylistic barriers to create songs that belong only to them !! an exciting audio experience that will satisfy true music fanatics !!!"
"a stream of space-gazing sensibility, whose unhinged energy creates a delirious spin of musical mayhem. Spiked riffs skitter and slip down the poppy paths of post-punk and soar towards euphoric heights. A spontaneous relay of vocals, that injects art-rock anarchy and a fluidity of neo-folk-punk from its visceral veins along with pulsating beats, invigorates with an influx of sprightly stomps"
"This isn't a punk outfit having learned to play a guitar the day before yesterday. The Speed of Sound knows exactly how it wants to sound and has the songs to stand out. Most of all it isn't an album that is filled with the sound of doom 1980 bands were so good at. The band has the joy of playing and the skills to bring that joy across. A double winner."
"A slice of sprightly psych clocking in at under two minutes, ‘Opium Eyes’ is the second single to be lifted from the band’s new album Museum Of Tomorrow, their fifth, which we described as “unique and otherworldly”."
"...this is the just kind of wry, pointed pop pearl that has been missing presumed dead in the UK charts for some time. That it all comes wrapped up with an enthralling and beguiling charm is another bonus"
"An unplifting wonderful body of work, mixing psychedelia and rock opera. Jangling guitars, thumping bass and solid drumming. Ann-Marie Crowley’s soaring confident vocals and when mixed with John’s distinctive singing the listener is offered a rich sound. Above all The Speed Of Sound have created melodic, catchy songs that will fare well in the museum of all our tomorrows."
"...The broken promise of the future set to a jangly melody."
"...post punk psych-tinged folk cauldron calamity of la la choruses and pure pop. Pure pop that has been bottled shaken and opened with great gusto at an all-night party covering the party poppers in a thick sweetly tasting potion of seduction, melancholy and want... An excellent album."
"the result is a fresh sound that distances itself from everything that is in vogue in the 20s of the 21st century. Having never remained passive spectators of the musical show, but have introduced into the sound what is necessary for the creation of their personal message. And with successful results; the musical passion called The Speed Of Sound."
"...There is zero fat content on Museum of Tomorrow, as the tunes are trim and tight, sloping towards a zoomy feel rippling with new-wave reflexes, aided by flashes of ringing psychedelic Byrdsian guitar figures. Rife with power-packed pop melodies and harmonious instrumentation, making for a record that has a long-lasting effect..."
"...revels in a suitable future-retro sound, one that takes in the euphoric energy of The Byrds at their most upbeat and the power-pop poise of XTC, 60’s innocence mixed with a more contemporary sonic wisdom, and puts it all to a jovial Beatle-esque beat, one which conjures up images of Ringo swinging his head around whilst cranking out percussive grooves that were always more than the sum of their parts..."
"...Musically you can hear garage rock/surf mixed with true British punk/psych, all with a DIY edge. This is The Museum Of Tomorrow – then every exhibit is there to be enjoyed. Blood, sweat, and tears have been put into this album, and it shows. The result is a modern classic of independent music that takes you on a trip to both the impossible past and a future that we will see as Tomorrow’s World."
"...the thoughtfulness that goes into The Speed of Sound’s lyrics and music is precious. With an unmistakable sound and, at times, tandem male-female vocals, the band has found a winning formula."
"...After many years together they are still pushing the boundaries. The sound is rich, warm and strangely hypnotic."
"The Museum of Tomorrow. A record that held my attention like a magnet to a fridge door. The Speed Of Sound channels the spirit of the CBGB club scene in its heyday. There are some textures of the New Wave movement in both the UK and North America. Pieces of punk are stuck on with safety pins. There are some tips of the hat to straight-up pop music anywhere from the ’60s to the ’80s.
"...a cool mix of punk and The Byrds 5th Dimension LP. An uncompromising link from the 1980’s underground to now, always independent thinking with a kiss my ass attitude. Brute .. unique . and wonderful!!! "
"a blaze of punk/new wave/indie pop contagion with a hunger for broader adventure within its futuristically nurtured retro bred landscape. the album left a lingering beckoning which we have yet to resist. The Speed of Sound spins webs of nostalgia and new adventure within a record which like an itch keeps luring attention; a scratch which we suggest you will also welcome."
"...as always, Ann-Marie’ Crowley’s voice shines with upbeat enthusiasm, against the biting sarcasm and sociological references The Speed of Sound is known for"
"...spacey indie-psychedelic folk with the jangle of the early 90s and some mellow shoegaze"
"...The style and sound are quirky and original in that way that is The Speed Of Sound; yet there is something more here. There is that feeling of coasting and freefall within the music trapped inside the lyrics."
"...For a band based in the North West of England, there’s always been a touch of US Punk/New Wave about them. It burst out of the speakers. Cracking stuff"
"...combines the aggression of punk with post-punk drama and angularity, …balances spooky gothic tendencies with off-centre psych-pop, …an inventive slice of dark-edged surreal psychedelia, …a snarly blast of 60s-style garage rock.”
This is future retro modern music, rooted in a definite 60's influence but with an 80's twist. Influenced by The Byrds, Small Faces, The Chords, Siouxsie & The Banshees and XTC, with female and male vocals, The Speed Of Sound merges the power of punk with the floating harmonies of The Byrds.
"...Moody and intense, yet light and floating at the same time. Running with scissors across a sonic landscape"
"New Wave post-punk blood, powered by the heartbeat of 60’s influences"
"...The vocals are dark and melancholy – they have an intense quality that "makes me stop everything I’m doing and just listen. The music surrounding the words pulls me along like a tide, making me drift away from reality without even feeling that I have an option."
"There is an element, perhaps, of the blissful existentialism of ageing. Of moving away from the pulse-beat, of drifting thoughtfully. One thinks, maybe, of Dylan’s ‘Not Dark Yet’, of a fully thirty years of Cohen or, more locally, the ‘End of the Pier’ outpourings of The Distractions. This is the punk reflective. This is a valuable album for that, and more."
"...off-centre psych-pop with a raw, garagey sensibility and a catchy, tuneful chorus - really brilliant stuff"
"...distinctive traces of New York Art Rock and No Wave, often verging on the experimental and psychedelic while never losing its melody or infectious catchiness"
"...Living deep below the ‘music industry radar’ has allowed the evolution of their distinctive voices..."
"...Latent shoegazer touches in the sound give it a very determined feel that languishes over the playing in a rather inspired way. Here there is a volume about it all that demands to be taken seriously."
"...unleashing two tracks which display their love for Science-Fiction and the ability to diversify with a Gothic piece of music that shows a more tender side to them than their fans may be used to."
"...balancing spiky abrasiveness with a strong sense of melody."
"...'Radio Safe' by The Speed of Sound, a slam at mainstream modern and indie rock and mainstream radio playing soulless corporate rock. It's the best song to trash it since Elvis Costello's 'Radio Radio'. All points the way to a punk rock update with a touch of hippie in it, the best kind of punk rock."
"...Radio Safe is another zinger. This one fizzes with punk glam energy and a finely judged guitar line propels things along..."
On Karin-B: "Well-known and well-respected, The Speed of Sound
are working class heroes who won’t give up on their
musical ideals. ‘Karin B’ is a post-punk offering with a
fiercely alternative undercurrent. It has a soaring
quality, almost atmospheric in its performance. That
is the beauty of Karin, superb."
"On hearing the opening line “We were offered Star Trek but they fed us Soylent Green” you know that you are not getting a sugar coated celebration of the 21st Century. With sharp lyrics throughout, spread over Indie Pop sounds with drums high in the mix and 60s stylings in the chorus added to a synth symphony at the end creating a flying saucer landing"
"Tomorrow’s World arrives like a visitor from beyond; intrigue and suggestion dripping from the melodies and chords and in an instant it flees like a departing spaceship leaving ears eagerly satisfied"
"Museum Of Tomorrow, the new album from Manchester's phenomenal pop combo the Speed of Sound, is very, very good. Very good, and get your wallet out. They got the hits. Tomorrow is coming 'atcha at the speed of sound."
"...although there are those who could get a bit brooding if they load the literary side that is in their lyrics, in the musical aspect they will find the perfect soundtrack for a good party. The same can be heard in random order or in a loop that lasts to infinity"
"...each and every track could be a single, indeed the songs across Museum Of Tomorrow are equally tunefull, thought provoking and original..."
"The spirit of the English quintet is neo-futureist-retro, an air that has the same ingenuity as the first rock'n'roll and the nihilistic nature of punk.
All complete a puzzle that reveals new surprises with every listen."
"‘Blood Sweat And Tears’ raises a punk rock fist of anger for the downtrodden at the structural economic forces that simultaneously drive high rents and low wages in the dystopian reality that is the 21st Century, where a living wage is insufficient to live. This song represents a cry for humanity at the inhumanity of corporate indifference."
The Speed Of Sound’s music is optimistic, but with lyrical bite, a punk-inspired DIY ethos and lust for experimentation rooted in psychedelia
"The ‘Virtual Reality 123’ single is an eclectic piece – far from a radio edit, the introduction is quite long and gives the sense that you are in a David Lynch film. While the initial sparse composition takes you through several transitions, at about the 2-minute mark things change up and it launches in, where vocalist Ann-Marie Crowley gives a memorable performance. ‘Charlotte 12″ Version’ is even more impressive. Well done!"
"Throughout their long journey,
The Speed Of Sound have always been idiosyncratic, counter-intuitive and
perpetually looking for something new. After a punchy drums/haunting vocals intro this jagged jam explodes
with fervid firepower and turns into a psychedelic trip driven by feverous
guitars. Midway the roller coaster restarts heading to a sinister finale.
Ace!"
"...evocatively firm in its individuality the double A-sided 12" adventure brings new depths and provocative shades to tracks originally found within the band’s widely acclaimed 2021 album Museum of Tomorrow. The Speed Of Sound has forged a sound which is keenly varied in its character, voice and imagination as proven impressively within Museum Of Tomorrow. It is music and a creative prowess which cannot be firmly or truly tagged..."
"This is an old-fashioned style 12” single made for today, to mark the 1 year anniversary of their album Museum of Tomorrow. These extended remixes make “Virtual Reality 123” sound like a mix of jangle pop and goth, “Charlotte” is 80s style goth. The single sounds a bit more ominous than the original versions. So if you want to remember what 80s 12” single remixes sound like, want to revisit the album in a new way, or both, give these remixes a listen, then check out the album, which is really good too."
"...The Speed of Sound may come at you at the blink of an eye, but what's left behind will resonate long after. Guitars echo with every pluck & riff, and the vocals -- provided by Ann-Marie Crowley and Jon Armstrong -- leave waves that flow through the air. The melody that's created here is one worth flying through on a terrific high..."
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