Regina Spektor - Us Video

Regina Spektor – UK Debut-LP Proper,
'Mary Ann Meets The Grave Diggers
& Other Short Stories' – January 16th
Single 'Us' out February 6th

The first ever album-release from prestigious / nouveau hit-conjurors Transgressive Records (those behind the sold-out, acclaimed, collectors-item debuts from all of The Subways, Ladyfuzz, Mystery Jets, burningpilot, The Pipettes, The Young Knives, Duels and Battle, let alone their prior ties, Bloc Party and The Rakes) is NYC-via-Russia, piano-hammering, word-of-mouth heroine and subversive super-vixen Regina Spektor and her 'Mary Ann Meets The Grave Diggers & Other Short Stories' compilation on January 16th 2006.
Consider this 12-tracker, which compiles the highlights of her entire recording-output thus far, the definitive introduction to one of the world's most enticingly eclectic and classically confounding artistes to still reside amidst her mid-twenties. For 'Mary Ann...', Regina 'chose songs that are distinct stories; portraits of characters/situations...'
And, as such, it makes for some immersing fare; whether the trauma-laden 'Chemo Limo', drumstool-whacking 'Poor Little Rich Boy', jazz-lite 'Pavlov's Daughter', medieval romp of 'Prisoners', or sumptuous strings-laden 'Us', Spektor's gall is in her misty-eyed gazes into roles beyond her own, weaving tales of intrigue and beauty into character-based paeans that all of us can somehow empathise with. Coupled with a voice that contorts, distorts and engulfs, and words beyond our years and times, hers is a talent which belies fad and soundbite definition; nothing quite resembles this.
Save for the customary gushing asides by several mainstream media-ers and ranting disc-jockeys, here's a synopsis of the first chapters of her own unique story: signed by the legendary Sire in New York during 2004; on tour and recording with city-ite pals The Strokes in '03; revered appearances on 'Jay Leno' and 'David Letterman' along the way; a lo-fi album-deal with Transgressive; and, throughout all, the ability to sell out shows in the US, UK and Europe to sweeping obsessives with just the merest hint of an appearance. All this derived from the material contained herein – either previously self-released by Regi direct to fans at shows, acting as the contents of her rucksack, or by prior limited-edition releases from fledgling set-ups.
Regina embarks upon a headline UK tour throughout January and February, performing at:

JANUARY:
25/01 Glee Club, Birmingham
26/01 Academy 3, Manchester
27/01 Leadmill, Sheffield
29/01 Cockpit, Leeds
30/01 Academy, Liverpool


FEBRUARY:
01/02 Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
04/02 Shepherds Bush, London
07/02 Fleece, Bristol
09/02 Whelans, Dublin
10/02 Limelight, Belfast
11/02 Arts Centre, Norwich
13/02 The Charlotte, Leicester
14/02 Arts Centre, Colchester
16/02 Zodiac, Oxford


The album is to be made available across three formats: download (through the Transgressive Records and Regina Spektor official websites, as well as selected media-partners), limited-edition 12" vinyl/DVD double-pack, and a more fully available CD/DVD Digipack. Her next, brand-new studio-album is currently being worked on.