40 Watt Sun

40 Watt Sun is the musical project of British singer, guitarist and songwriter Patrick Walker, founded in early 2009 following the dissolution of his previous band, Warning.

40 Watt Sun
40 Watt Sun performing in 2022
40 Watt Sun performing in 2022
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresAlternative rock, chamber folk, post-metal, doom metal
Years active2009–present
LabelsSvart Records (current), Metal Blade, Cyclone Empire, Radiance
Spinoff ofWarning
MembersPatrick Walker
Past membersChristian Leitch
William Spong
Website40wattsun.co.uk

Initially formed as a three-piece with drummer Christian Leitch and bassist/producer William Spong,[1] 40 Watt Sun is now the singular project of Patrick Walker as its centre and sole stable member, alongside a group of revolving musicians.[2]

Hank Shteamer of Rolling Stone magazine has described the band's music as "a poetic, gradually unfolding dirge rock."[3]

History
Patrick Walker in 2015

The band recorded its debut album, The Inside Room, in little over twenty-four hours at The Library Studio in London.[4] Produced entirely by the band, and mixed and mastered by bass player William Spong,[5] the album was released in Europe by Cyclone Empire and in North America by Metal Blade Records.[6]

In September 2011, 40 Watt Sun toured North America in support of The Inside Room.[7] The following December The Inside Room was named by Pitchfork as the fourth best metal album of 2011.[8]

In 2015, the band self-produced[9] their second album, Wider than the Sky, at Giant Wafer Studios in Wales.[10] In a 2016 interview with Vice magazine, Walker explained how 40 Watt Sun's new recordings were not well received by their heavily metal-orientated label Cyclone Empire, and he spent the next year-and-a-half trying to bargain the band's way out of its contract.[1] Wider than the Sky was eventually released in October 2016, on both the band's own label, Radiance Records, on digital and CD format and on vinyl by Svart Records. Later that year, Rolling Stone magazine featured it among their "20 Best Metal Albums of 2016"[11]

In October 2021, 40 Watt Sun announced its third album, Perfect Light, the first made without the structure of a full, formal band.[12] This time Walker was joined by a selection of guest musicians, including drummer Andrew Prestidge (Warning/The Osiris Club), bass player Lorraine Rath (Amber Asylum/Worm Ouroboros), and pianist/composer Chris Redman.[13] Perfect Light was released in January 2022, on physical formats by Svart Records and digitally by Cappio Records. The first vinyl pressing would include a bonus 12" single featuring two alternative versions of album tracks, including a version of Reveal recorded with Emma Ruth Rundle.[14] Of Perfect Light, The Quietus wrote that it was "an even more affective and effective experience than its predecessor, and one of Walker's most beautiful and heartfelt records to date",[15] while Bandcamp Daily said "the album reaffirms that Walker is one of our finest living songwriters."[16] In December 2022, Pitchfork included Perfect Light in its "The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022" feature, writing, "Perfect Light is destined to be passed among fans of immersive mood music meant to soundtrack our lowest moments."[17]

Influences

Patrick Walker has cited among his biggest musical influences neo-progressive rock band Marillion,[18] English folk singer June Tabor,[19] and John Brenner (of the band Revelation).[4]

Walker took the band's name from a lyric in the song Emerald Lies by Marillion.[20]

Band members

During live performances, Patrick Walker has most recently been accompanied by:

  • Roland Scriver – guitars (2020–present)
  • Alasdair C. Mitchell – bass guitar (2018–present)
  • Andrew Prestidge – drums (2018–present)

Former members

  • Christian Leitch – drums (2009–2016)
  • William Spong – bass guitar (2009–2016)

Discography
Studio albums
  • The Inside Room (2011)
  • Wider than the Sky (2016)
  • Perfect Light (2022)

References
  1. "A Rare Conversation with 40 Watt Sun's Patrick Walker". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. "40 Watt Sun announce new album 'Perfect Light,' share "The Spaces In Between"". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  3. "Best of 2016". 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. "Machine Music's Albums of the Decade – an Interview with Patrick Walker of 40 Watt Sun". 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. "40 Watt Sun | Metal Blade Records". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. "40 Watt Sun 'The Inside Room' | Metal Blade Records". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. "40 Watt Sun (Ex-Warning) bring us 'The Inside Room', going on tour (Dates & 3 song streams)". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. "The Top 40 Metal Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  9. "40 WATT SUN Return with 'Wider than the Sky'". Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  10. "40 WATT SUN: "Wider Than The Sky" Album Details Revealed For Album Coming October 14th, 2016". Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  11. "20 Best Metal Albums of 2016". Rolling Stone. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  12. "40 Watt Sun announce new album 'Perfect Light,' share "The Spaces in Between"". Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  13. "Review: 40 Watt Sun 'Perfect Light'". 19 January 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  14. "40 Watt Sun: Perfect Light". Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  15. "The Quietus | Features | Columnus Metallicus | Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for January Reviewed by Kez Whelan". Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  16. "The Best Metal on Bandcamp: January 2022". 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  17. "The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022". Pitchfork. 7 December 2022.
  18. Rosenthal, Jon (17 August 2016). "What Lights 40 Watt Sun: A Playlist". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  19. "40 WATT SUN PREVIEW BRAND NEW SONG: "I SPENT ROADBURN DRINKING TEA" – Iron Fist Magazine". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  20. "40 Watt Sun Raise the Emotional Stakes While Turning Down the Volume on New Chamber-Folk Epic". Rolling Stone. 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
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