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Pickled Egg are pleased to announce the release of The Absence of Birds , a four song EP by Oddfellows Casino, combined with a short film by Brighton-based film maker Toby Amies, which features an original soundtrack by the group. The Absence of Birds showcases four new David Bramwell compositions, exuding lush orchestral arrangements with a nod towards late-period Talk Talk, and featuring Oddfellows’ usual eclectic array of guests, including Stereolab's Simon Johns on bass, Giant Leap guitarist and composer Andrew Philips on guitar and percussion, Clearlake's Jason Pegg on organ, and Bevis Frond guitarist Paul Simmons on bass and guitar. The CD comes complete with a twenty minute film The Ballad of Oddfellow, which stars Drako Oho Zarhazar - former Salvador Dali model, a ctor in films by Andy Warhol and Derek Jarman, and the recent subject of a Radio 4 documentary, ‘The Man Whose Mind Exploded.' This sepia-tinted curio follows the demise of legendary Victorian freakshow host, Ambrose Oddfellow, as drink, tragedy and the advent of picture-houses force him to host phoney seances for the gullible aristocracy of Brighton. But who knows what can happen when dabbling with the forces of darkness... The cast also includes Michael Attree (former world moustache championship holder), Dave Mounfield (portly comedian and nice chap) and the legendary Heidi Heels. The film features an original soundtrack of Oddfellows Casino songs, and was directed by filmmaker and MTV/ Lonely Planet host Toby Amies. The Absence of Birds won’t be available in the shops until July 14th, but is available now from Pickled Egg. Click here for details.
Winter Creatures
 Written and recorded in collaboration with Stereolab's Simon Johns, Winter Creatures mixes elements of psychedelia, the dark Folk sounds of the Wickerman, dirty electronica and early Soft Machine, all held together by John's punchy drum and bass playing, Papper and Strachan's melodic horns, and Bramwell's tender voice and accomplished song-writing.
There is often a deeply seductive nostalgic undertow to Bramwell's songs; like bittersweet vignettes that tug at the heart as they casually evoke lost worlds and
lifetimes. This second album easily equals the heights reached by their debut "Yellow Bellied Wonderland" if it doesn't indeed surpass them. Quite marvelous really; certainly one of the loveliest albums of the year, and well worth your time and attention. Like real love, this is guaranteed to break your heart; and well worth it.
George Parsons Dream Magazine ..5 www.dreamgeo.com
As you'd expect from the ever deliciously eclectic Pickled Egg label, the second album from Brighton's Oddfellows Casino is firmly out of sync with current trends, being instead a delicate pastoral exploration of the countryside, coloured with brass and sweet vocals reminiscent of Soft Machine-era Robert Wyatt. Notes linger. Tunes ache. Lyrics tease, like a cornucopia of found sound and jumble sale psychedelia. Stereolab's Simon Johns provides coffee and comfort.
Everett True - Plan B magazine 'A true work of art'
Little Britain's Paul Putner
Yellow Bellied Wonderland 
"A symphony for Moog, Hammond and romantic vocals, the mellow tones of this album will warm your heart."
Les Inrockuptibles
"If you adore subtleties and things out of step with the current consensus, then Yellow Bellied Wonderland will re-affirm your faith that truly classic songwriters exist out there somewhere. In short, the rarest of things."
The Wire
The songs sound like lonely lost ballads, all soft spoken strumming and high gentle vocals, like Robert Wyatt fronting Arco, the most subtle moments of early King Crimson, or America with a brain and a dark side. Careful articulate and eloquent low key, soft spoken pop of the highest order. Jazzy moments mix with folk and ambient chill, dub, and string quartets with antiquated keyboards, but it's all delivered quietly. That great feeling of having enough time and nowhere to go while enjoying every minute. Driving just to go, arriving in time for sunset at the shoreline.
George Parsons, Dream Magazine ..3 www.dreamgeo.com
A craftily-arranged collection of skewed low-key pop songs, 'Yellow Bellied Wonderland' is a tiny, charming discovery. Surrounded by reserved, spacious arrangements provided by keyboards, flutes, clarinets and acoustic guitars, Bramwell's detached sense of remorse and bewilderment is left to roam its own ingenious little path.
Largely melancholic with a wry sense of humour and sly observational skills in-tow, this record has an aching disquiet similar to that found on Broadway Project's 'Compassion' LP yet with large slices of a sedated lyrical playfulness thrown in for good measure. Coming over at times like a one-man Beta Band arming the Red House Painters with references to 70's television shows, Lincolnshire rain and "trains to Doncaster", this is a car-boot sale wonderland of shimmering resonance. As the Oddfellows themselves accurately conclude on 'In This House', these are songs that "won't sting but will stay in your head for hours". Precisely.
Smile Magazine
Aided and abetted by a cast of friends on cornet, flute, cello, clarinet and accordion, this is a beautifully arranged and produced collection, full of unusual twists. Jazz-instrumentation and lovely acoustic folk pop tangents recalling summer's hazy days blends with electronic touches and experimental snippets into a gloriously soft-spoken statement that is beautiful, innovative and catchy at the same time. Other numbers are jazzier while some veer off to something more experimental, but they're all beautifully linked by David Bramwell's crystal clear, god-sent voice and the fragile, floating melodies. Nothing I can put in words accurately describes what's going on here but it goes without saying that I absolutely love this stuff. This is one of the most accessible but also downright magical recordings I've heard from this fine label. I ranked it as ..5 of all the records I heard during 2003.
Mats Gustafsson Broken Face Writers
Giant Redwoods/Put the Bird to Sleep 7" 
Luxurious English pop;panoramic and very romantic. This distinguished group sound like Simon and garfunkel produced by Ennio Morricone.
Benjamin Montour, 'Les Inrockuptibles'
"Every so often a single comes out of the blue by a band I've never heard of that knocks my socks off - the Clientele's debut is the last one that had as big an effect on me as this: gloriously crafted songs beautifully produced and arranged, mid-period Beach Boys wide-eyed melancholy, Felt-esque swirling hammond accompaniment, like the Clientele this has 'classic single' bursting from its grooves'
Gayle Brogan | 
