Blue States

The brainchild of Andy Dragazis, Blue States were the first signing to excellent Essex, England-based off-kilter downtempo label Memphis Industries (see also Broadway Project, Fort Lauderdale, J Xaverre). A contemporary of Air and Zero 7, Dragazis shares an obvious love of 1970s soul, lounge pop and ambient innovators like Brian Eno, although Blue States' cinematic sweep also owes a debt to the likes of John Barry, Roy Budd and Ennio Morricone. After two albums of downbeat perfection, Dragazis decided to recruit a regular band for Soundings, a darker, more introspective affair, although no less affecting.