Cargo Records

Starless & Bible Black

Starless & Bible Black make beautiful spirited & catchy songs in the grand tradition of classic British folk rockers Pentangle and John & Beverly Martyn straight on up through the halcyon days of early 4AD records.

On their debut self titled outing, the diverse Manchester 3 piece brings to bear much of the lively attitude, passion and rain, rain, rain of the old textile city they've all come to call home for the last several years. The result is a great collection of 11 songs-at once earthen and elevated - that are given added mood & flavor by the charcoal vocals of French chanteuse Hélène Gautier. Hélène Gautier: singing Peter Philipson: guitars, chordophones, singing

Raz Ullah: electronics, keys & drones What's in a name: Starless & Bible Black take their name from british jazz pianist stan tracey's fantastic tune of the same name & culled from the famous Dylan Thomas radio play Under Milkwood. It all started one rainy evening when... Pete puts forward his idea for a new project with Hélène : finger-picked guitars with spooked female vocals backed by double bass, drums, woodwind and electronic interference- Raz immediately agrees and Starless & Bible Black comes into existence.

Starless & Bible Black make their debut in Manchester in March 2005. At the second gig Raz falls backwards off stage in the middle of a song and wins many new fans. The other contributing members are the main rhythm men in the Manchester music scene - Paul Blakesley on bass and Brian Edwards on drums - they have perfected their craft playing with the likes of local heroes such as Aidan Smith, John Stammers and Jane Weaver. Together, all three of the main Starless folks run the Timbreland collective and independent label based in Manchester.