For Immediate Release

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION Release New Album Skyscraper Souls Feat. Guest Appearances By Andy Partridge (XTC), Marc Almond and Kate Pierson (B52s)! OUT NOW!

Front cover artwork is by Roger Dean!

London – Super-duo Geoff Downes & Chris Braide, known as the Downes Braide Association (DBA), release their new album Skyscraper Souls on 17th November through their own label X2X Records via Cherry Red. This is their 3rd collaboration and follows their two previous critically-acclaimed releases Pictures of You (2012) and Suburban Ghosts (2015).

Both members have an immense body of work. Chris Braide is a British singer, songwriter and producer, now based in LA, who has written and produced songs for Beyonce, Lana del Rey, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Sia, Afrojack & Marc Almond… to name a few. Geoff Downes is the prog legend who has played keyboards in The Buggles, Asia & Yes… he co-wrote the hits “Heat of the Moment” and “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

Skyscraper Souls is a more traditional progressive/classic rock/band album than their previous material, but retains a strong pop aesthetic and features many great guest contributions, including Marc Almond, Andy Partridge from XTC and Kate Pierson from the B52s. The front cover artwork is by Roger Dean.

Watch the new DBA video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9tNHEvBquE

The idea for the album started as a series of sketches Geoff had been working on after a break from touring last year. By the time he returned from the road he directed the subsequent pent-up energy into composition and the ideas literally poured out. As a kid, Chris had always loved expansive pieces like “Close To The Edge” and “Tubular Bells.” While he is a huge pop fan and has written multitudes of pop hits for pop stars, his heart has a special place for those big studio epic productions.

On this album, Downes & Braide were joined by drummer Ash Soan (Trevor Horn, Squeeze, Faithless, Del Amitri, Adele, Cee Lo Green, Will Young, Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow and many more) and bassist Andy Hodge. Chris says, “Having such an amazing rhythm section really brought the songs to life. With previous albums we always used drum machines and samples. There is so much warmth and movement in these recordings. They breathe!”

The fact that their ‘association’ has always had to fit around their extensive commitments has never dulled their remarkable musical creativity. This album went a step further and was co-written remotely – at no time were the pair ever in the same room! Chris explains, “Geoff would send me folders full of stuff such as the magnificent piano pieces which turned into ‘Glacier Girl’ and ‘Prelude.’ As soon as I heard the chords I was writing lyrics like a mad man and before long the album started to materialize.” Geoff adds, “The ideas themselves were in a very rough format, but with the melodies & basic harmonies. Chris started playing around with these, and often, they came back with some radical changes, but Chris was always very conscious to retain my original idea.”

The pair feel Skyscraper Souls is their strongest album to date, which is no mean feat! This album contains constant motifs and themes that recur and flow throughout. Keeping strong melodies to the fore they have created a wonderfully interesting soundscape.

Track list as follows: 

1. Prelude (ft Andy Partridge – XTC)
2. Skyscraper Souls (ft Kate Pierson – B52s)
3. Glacier Girl (ft Andy Partridge)
4. Angel On Your Shoulder (ft Matthew Koma)
5. Tomorrow (ft David Longdon – Big Big Train)
6. Lighthouse (ft Tim Bowness)
7. Skin Deep (ft Marc Almond)
8. Darker Times (ft Andy Partridge)

Outside of DBA Downes and Braide remain in high demand.

Geoff has been pretty much flat out touring the world with Yes and Asia for the last few years. Any breaks have been filled up with other projects, including putting together some new Buggles ideas with Trevor (Horn). He is also writing film and library music.

Chris has been writing music for movies in LA, the most recent being a new animation called LEAP. He wrote “UNSTOPPABLE” for the Olympics with the artist SIA and has co-written and produced the new single for DJ Robin Schulz. He also wrote and produced a new Marc Almond album, due out next year as well as Marc’s next single “Embers.” He produced a single for Elle King for a big ad campaign featuring Kendal Jenner, and is currently scoring a movie soundtrack at his studio in LA. He has written a song for Trevor Horn called “Sky Show” for an animation he was working on. With more new ventures, Chris has had no break this year, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

To purchase:
CD: http://geni.us/DBA3
Digital:   http://geni.us/DBA3dig
LP: http://tinyurl.com/DBA3vinyl

For more information:
Official website: http://www.downesbraide.com/
Twitter: @TheRealDBAMusic

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

CHRIS BRAIDE AND GEOFF DOWNES RELEASE THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION ‘SUBURBAN GHOSTS’

London, UK – Three years after their critically acclaimed debut ‘Pictures of You’, creative powerhouse duo Chris Braide and Geoff Downes come together again for the second chapter of their joint venture the Downes Braide Association – DBA in short. The album, entitled Suburban Ghosts, will be released on 6th November through Cherry Red Records.

Singer songwriter and producer Chris Braide has written and produced songs for Beyonce, Lana del Rey, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Sia, Afrojack and Marc Almond’s latest album The Velvet Trail; in his accomplished career he was awarded Ivor Novello, ASCAP and Billboard Awards.

Prog legend Geoff Downes has played keyboards in The Buggles, Asia and Yes. He co-wrote the hits Heat of the Moment and Video Killed The Radio Star. It was at The Buggles’ reunion show in London back in 2010 that Chris and Geoff’s paths crossed for the first time.

From there, with Braide busy working with both Paloma Faith and Lana del Rey and Geoff recording Yes Fly From Here, it took a year of secret ‘moonlighting’ sessions to create ‘Pictures of You’; the stunning result left critics in awe.

Roll on to 2015: once again, the Downes Braide Association doesn’t let a busy schedule deter them. Chris has just released the debut album for This Oceanic Feeling, his new project with Ash Soan and Lee Pomeroy, while Geoff is on the road with Yes. Again, the duo’s creative juices seem to thrive in those stolen sessions, and Suburban Ghosts is born.

Chris Braide explains: “‘Suburban Ghosts’ is an album about isolation and loneliness in small town suburbia.” The story goes back to his and Geoff’s childhood in the small county of Cheshire in the North West of England: its beautiful varied countryside landscapes in contrast with grey industrial wastelands, the feeling of claustrophobia that led them both away looking for a new adventure and those sentiments of nostalgia as they come back to a town populated with the ghosts of their past. “A blank town under a sky full of stars, the same blank town you left behind,” continues Braide – “Now everyone has long gone, you’re haunted by images of those former frost covered school gates and the laughter of children in the park and of the lovers you had once loved. The alternative life you could have lived. You see a photograph that reminds you how fragile we are. Somebody close to you whom you should have been there for. But it’s too late to go back now. It’s time to let them go, those suburban ghosts.”

Geoff Downes says about Chris Braide: “He never ceases to amaze with his application to the finest detail. And as on our previous collaboration ‘Pictures Of You’, I once again provided him with the musical fabric and raw materials, and from that point he has manufactured and polished our latest gem with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker.” Talking more about the creative process and influences behind ‘Suburban Ghosts’, he adds “Of course, the massive history of the thriving 60’s, 70’s of the music scenes of both Liverpool and Manchester can not be ignored and would be indelibly stamped on all of us, right the way from the Beatles to 10cc. But that’s only a small part of the picture… I find it is quite difficult to describe in words as it’s a natural creation that comes from our collective hearts. Sure, some might say: technopop, 80’s, electronica etc, but to us it’s much more than a label. This music is made with love. It is a true joint project.”

Join Chris and Geoff on this journey back to the land of their childhood as they relive the memories and put their suburban ghosts to rest. Immerse yourself in this powerful soundscape, let your own ghosts finally find their peace.

Track list as follows:

1. MACHINERY OF FATE
2. SUBURBAN GHOSTS – PARTS 1 AND 2
3. SUBURBAN GHOSTS – PART 3
4. VANITY
5. NUMBER ONE
6. INTERLUDE
7. NORTH SEA
8. ONE OF THE FEW
9. TIME GOES FAST
10. LIVE TWICE
11. DREAMING OF ENGLAND
12. FINALE

Pre-order link http://geni.us/19bE

Catalogue number: X2XCD – 002

Twitter: @TheRealDBAMusic

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com