Nel Unlit are a group of songwriters, storytellers and musicians who have their roots in the North-East of England and Northern Ireland. They formed in 2016 from past and present members of Sullivan and Gold, Dressed Like Wolves, Pellethead, General Sherman and Hold Music, and began releasing music through local DIY label Spooker Rekkids. The band released their debut album ‘Wake for the Dreaming’ in Feb 2020, on local record label Butterfly Effect. It was a concept album based on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels. This was followed in 2022 by ‘Ephemera; or, Tosh and the girl’ which was being pressed to vinyl in their hometown and HQ, Middlesbrough at Press On Vinyl through Butterfly Effect records. The album was character study of a family in crisis in the North East; drawing on a mix of overheard stories, painful family memories and overactive imaginations. It presents the story of Tosh, a floundering single father and serial hoarder, and explores his co-dependent paternal partnership with his teenage daughter and his fractured relationship with her estranged mother. The roles of the characters in this fascinating tale are played by both members of the band and various guests including Tim Head (a.k.a Faithful Johannes), and Andrew Smith (of Mt Misery). The album was Recorded and mixed by producer Jamie Lockhart (Mi Mye) at Greenmount Studios in Leeds (The Cribs, Yard Act, Holly Humberstone).
Wow! Like swimming in chocolate. Absolutely right up my street. Music that shakes hands with your ears. Music like you havent heard in the last 60 years. Just blooming wonderful. – Tom Robinson BBC Radio 6
“Delightfully off-kilter, tremendously mesmerising.” – NARC
“A beautiful, ambitious and eventful piece of music.” – With Guitars
Praise for true things video: “atmospheric video features remarkable characters from the hugely creative imagination of artist, illustrator and puppet maker Deborah Snell in collaboration with Newcastle based video makers Multiminded Digital.” – Louder than war
jon@nelunlit.com
Nel Unlit 