Following on from recent single “Punching Down” – their first new music in 25 years – new release “Duck and Cover” sees the band slow down from their usual 100 mph, with swampy guitars driven with hypnotic urgency; all while retaining the vocal harmonies and pop hooks that made them popular with John Peel and audiences across the country.
The track was recorded with Grammy winning producer, Hugo Nicolson (Primal Scream, Radiohead, Björk), at Runway Studios and mixed at Fairport Convention’s Woodworm studios in Oxfordshire.
Lyrically, “Duck and Cover” is a pop paean to living in the moment, at a time when the threat of nuclear war is at its highest since the Cold War. The band explain:
“A few years ago, the idea of Armageddon felt quite distant, and the concepts of Nuclear Paranoia and The Political Strongman seemed consigned to the dustbin of the twentieth century. All that has changed over recent years. That makes a pretty depressing subject for a song on its own, so Duck and Cover talks about the importance of enjoying every moment, especially as it may be our last. True to that message, it’s a great song to play live, and audiences really love it like there’s no tomorrow”
Alongside the release, The Samurai Seven announce details of a forthcoming four track EP “Make It Real” due for release on September 11th. It will give fans the chance to hear the band’s varied new body of work before they embark on a tour across the UK supporting The Boo Radleys this November.
Upcoming live dates:
SEPTEMBER
20th – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
NOVEMBER
6th – Night and Day, Manchester*
7th – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds*
8th – Stereo, Glasgow*
13th Con Club, Lewes*
15th – Oslo, London*
19th – The Bullingdon, Oxford
* with The Boo Radleys
The Samurai Seven are: Simon Williams (Vocals and Guitar), his brother Matt Williams (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals), Jimmy Martin (Bass Guitar and Vocals), and Chris Hayward (Drums).
Having formed in 1997 in Oxford, The Samurai Seven toured relentlessly and rose to prominence during that year’s Radio One Oxford Sound City event, where they impressed both John Peel and Steve Lamacq.
The band recorded five sessions at Maida Vale Studios for John Peel, as well as the recording the theme tune to Peel’s Channel Four TV show, “Sound of the Suburbs”. Singles on Shifty Disco, Fierce Panda and Plastic Cowboy were issued, firmly establishing the band’s indie credentials. However, the band’s upward trajectory was halted suddenly and shockingly on Valentine’s Night 1999 when lead singer, Simon, was shot in a drive-by incident in Oxford. Plans were shelved and engagements cancelled as Simon’s sight was saved by the NHS at Oxford Eye Hospital, and he took time out to recover while the band waited patiently.
Thankfully, Simon recovered, and The Samurai Seven continued. However, the music industry had moved on, and the band struggled to regain momentum. An album was belatedly recorded and released on Rotator Records in 2002 and on Boundless Records in Japan the same year. With confidence eroded, the band had lost their sense of purpose and focus. When Chris left the band, the original gang was broken. The remaining members drifted on, gradually moving onto new bands, starting families and studying. The story of The Samurai Seven ended there for the moment…
The band stayed in touch as friends, however, and in 2025 the original band had a rehearsal session, with no other expectation but to play together once more. Having the original four back together reignited the joy of playing together and the guys were reminded of why they started the band in the first place.