Old Master by Publicity Department
Publicity Department is the solo project of Sean Brook, singer and primary songwriter from London's alt-rock triers Brunch (“the lost middle ground of Los Campesinos! and Fugazi I didn’t know I’d always wanted”– For The Rabbits). Taking influence from his songwriting heroes David Gedge, Brian Wilson, John Cale and John Shuttleworth; Publicity Department was intended as an outlet for Brook's pop sensibilities whilst retaining the fuzzed-out feel of 90s alt-rock.
After making 2023's 'Big Understander' in a studio with a full band, the third Publicity Department album, 'Old Master', sees the project return to the set up of the first record, with Sean Brook handling all the writing, performing and mixing duties. It captures a time where, having moved into a new house, Brook discovered a shed in the garden that had not been mentioned in the listing. This was quickly set up as a makeshift studio and the album was made over a few months in late 2023. It is consequently a move back into more lo-fi, homespun territory, and features a collection of songs variously from the perspective of old men raging at a world they have all but destroyed but no longer understand, and the young people trying to make sense of what’s left.
Released by Safe Suburban Home
Tracklist
| 1. | Prelude | 0:57 |
| 2. | (There's No Stopping Me And My Friends From Achieving) Happiness Again | 3:37 |
| 3. | Prime | 3:47 |
| 4. | Don't Try | 3:43 |
| 5. | Sheltered Life | 3:21 |
| 6. | Two Little Birds | 3:48 |
| 7. | Get Found Out | 4:31 |
| 8. | It's A Pain | 1:47 |
| 9. | Haircut, Hippie | 4:33 |
| 10. | No Clown | 3:20 |
Credits
This album was written, performed, recorded and mixed by Sean Brook, except the drums on track 9 which were played by Joshua Belcher, and the chorus melody on track 8 which was written with Adrian McCusker in about 2010.
