Contributor

Sweet Billy Pilgrim

White goods abusers, Mercury nominated artpopsters

Sweet Billy Pilgrim, led by their singer songwriter Tim Elsenburg, are critically acclaimed purveyors of atmospheric artpop. They are about release 'Crown & Treaty' via EMI Records, the follow-up to 2009’s Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize nominated, ‘Twice Born Men’, possibly the greatest record ever to feature a tuned dishwasher and to have been recorded in a garden shed.

Often compared to Radiohead, Sigur Rós, Talk Talk or Elbow, Sweet Billy Pilgrim try to achieve a sublime balance between their hooks and their moods, their ambitions and their humility. Failing that, they lose themselves in the details until something beautiful happens.

David Sylvian (who owns the label they released their last album on) said of the band: “Musicians these days are like rogue molecular scientists tinkering away in a shed at the bottom of the garden but whereas most tend to emerge with endearingly unstable little monsters, Sweet Billy Pilgrim manage to produce an entire universe.”

Their new album features another dishwasher, a choir of Pilgrims (fans), a a drunken Austrian tramp berating a Christian singing group, and the violation of an old leather armchair. Already Mojo Magazine have awarded it 'Instant Classic' status and 5 stars, saying 'A richer feast from more humble ingredients could scarcely be imagined'.

Singer Tim has also written music articles for Drowned in Sound and The Sunday Times, and would very much like to be published in Metal Hammer before he dies.