Today we have the pleasure of introducing you to a band that you will find very familiar. You will think “I’ve heard this band before” or “who is this – I know I’ve heard them somewhere; I can’t put my finger on it”. But chances are, you haven’t heard their music actually… but should have.

We all should have back in the ’80s or even early ’90s when they were at their prime. But the record deal came only just recently… a new generation has come, but the burning flame that has guided them into the musical realm in the first place is still just as strong. What a welcome discovery for the music lover! Beautiful melodic sublime indie pop!

London-based indie pop collective Daniel Takes A Train have released their new album Last Ticket To Tango, their first album in nearly 35 years.

After splitting in a record shop in Greenwich decades ago, the sophisti-pop outfit reformed several years ago and are aback with 10 brand new songs, for which they worked with legendary producer Pat Collier (Katrina and The Waves, Primal Scream, Maximo Park) at Perry Vale Studios.

It’s a mystery why Daniel Takes A Train never hit the big time in the 1980s. After all, their members had recorded with Tom Robinson and The Monochrome Set, had tea and cakes with Slade and T Rex, partied with Paula Yates and The Pet Shop Boys at the 1987 Brits and even stole a set list from The Smiths!

Fate played a hand in the reversal of band’s fortunes when, 30 years after going their separate ways, they were “discovered” via an old YouTube video by Germany’s leading indie pop label, Firestation, and their previously unheard demos formed the basis of their debut album Style, Charm and Commotion.

Reforming to play a series of sell-out shows and to share their incredible story with dozens of media outlets, the now fifty-something musicians decided it was time to play the music game all over again.

All this new-found creativity resulted in the release of their first ‘proper’ studio album – Last Ticket To Tango. While these new offerings fit seamlessly into the musical landscape of 2020, the band also revisit their earliest musical influences: new wave, soul, ska and ’80s synth pop.

Daniel Takes A Train are Paul Baker (lead and backing vocals), Dan Synge (guitars, synths and backing vocals), James Hannington (drums and percussion), Jez Groves (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Paul Davey (saxophones and clarinet).

“Most of the songs on Last Ticket To Tango were written in the months after we got back together for a surprise reunion in 2018. Eighties style music is embedded in the band’s DNA, but this time we’ve plundered some of ourearliest influences – new wave, soul, ska and synth pop – for a turbo-charged pop sound that somehow fits seamlessly into the musical landscape of 2021,” says Dan Synge.

“And with studio production by indie pop hit maker Pat Collier (Katrina and The Waves, Primal Scream), we think Last Ticket to Tango has all the makings of a ‘classic album’.”

This long-play also features contributions by Jem Kelly (The Lotus Eaters), Bert Routledge, Keith Jones, Leanne ‘LeeLoo’ Greenman, Steve Barnes, Luke Hannington, Sam Butcher, and David Vaughan (Ten Centurions)

Last Ticket to Tango is available across leading digital music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify. It can also be obtained both digitally and on CD directly from the band via Bandcamp

CREDITS
Engineered and mastered by Pat Collier, Bill Sherrington and Hamish Rosewarne.
All tracks recorded at Perry Vale Studios, Crown Lane Studios, London and Buckinghamshire New University.
Paul Baker – lead and backing vocals
Dan Synge – guitars, synths and backing vocals
James Hannington -drums and percussion
Jez Groves – bass guitar and backing vocals
Paul Davey – saxophones and clarinet
Also featuring Jem Kelly (The Lotus Eaters), Bert Routledge, Keith Jones, Leanne ‘LeeLoo’ Greenman, Steve Barnes, Luke Hannington, Sam Butcher and David Vaughan (Ten Centurions)

Also check out their individual singles that led to their comeback (via these fun accompanying videos)

And a live lockdown version for you!

Daniel Takes A Train
Website
Bandcamp
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
SoundCloud