Chamber pop pioneers ‘Beware of Trains’ are steaming forward with the release of their new festive single ‘Forever Home’ ahead of their UK tour, mixed and co-produced with the acclaimed London-based musician and producer Darren Allison, best known for his work with The Divine Comedy and more recently Belle & Sebastian.
‘Beware of Trains’ comprises singer/ songwriter Leighton Jones (“Melancholic piano ballads with a meticulous approach to sound design – The Herald) and soprano Marie Claire Breen (“A soprano of rare fluency” – The Daily Mail), the group describe themselves as “Symphonic chamber pop and Music Hall for hapless romantics, shimmering strings, heavenly harmonies and a dollop of Disney on the side!”.
Leighton Jones said, ‘Our single was mixed by acclaimed producer Darren Allison, who produced The Divine Comedy’s first 3 albums, including ‘Casanova’ (which included the top 20 hits ‘Something For The Weekend’ and ‘Alfie’). Darren also played bass guitar on the record, the very same bass guitar played on The Divine Comedy’s first album ‘Liberation!’ We are big fans of Darren’s work, so getting to finally mix the record with him in Triangle Studios was a real privilege. You can really hear the craft and attention to detail in the mix, that beautiful vintage warmth and symphonic sparkle he has captured in each and every part of our synthesised orchestra.’
Meeting in 2014 while performing in an operatic variety show in the back of an articulated lorry converted into a touring theatre, the duo formed to combine their shared love of performance, musical theatre, Kate Bush and The Divine Comedy. Leighton Jones explains “I’d been a songwriter and performer in Scotland since 2001, touring as a keyboardist for Celtic Fusion act ‘The Peatbog Faeries’, performing in piano bars around Glasgow and playing The Edinburgh Fringe with my folk quartet ‘The Dead Man’s Waltz’. Then all of a sudden I was stunned to land a part in a Scottish Opera show and find myself crammed into the back of a lorry with a cast of pro actors and Opera singers. Then hearing Marie Claire sing ‘Donizetti’ for the first time, I fell in love and didn’t want the show to end…so it didn’t!”
Returning to Yorkshire and releasing their first two singles in 2019, Beware of Trains was invited to perform ‘A Kitmas Concert’ to a packed audience at Bradford Cathedral with members of Leeds Opera North to raise funds for Allerton Cat Rescue. “We were inspired to write a festive song based on the rescue centre’s slogan ‘Helping cats and kittens find their Forever Home for over 40 years’. It stood out as a great title to explore that sense of longing and belonging the phrase conjures, at a time of year that is difficult for many people…” says Leighton.
‘Forever Home’ is a bittersweet symphonic festive tale that transports us into a snow globe and whisks us away through snowy Yorkshire fields and skies, revelling in the spirit of homecoming the festive season brings whilst reflecting on the passing years and sadness of saying goodbye to the people and places we love.
Joined by multi-instrumentalist and lecturer Laura McIntosh on additional keys and bass, their live shows promise a plethora of symphonic chamber pop originals and nod to their inspirational influences, including Kate Bush, Neil Hannon, and Orlando Weeks.
“Maverick, mellifluous music” (Helen Meller, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival Director). “A combination of Opera, The Divine Comedy and John Shuttleworth” (Heptonstall V-fest 2020)
The single and exclusive limited edition artwork is available for purchase – please go to https://leightonjonesmusic.co.uk/
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