USIC Art°POP R & B PRO ROCK RAP DANCE COUNTRY LATIN CLASSICAL JAll AUDIO U.N. Act Travis Takes Catat oma 's `Blessed' U.S. Venture Hit Welsh Act Hopes For `Equal' Success In States Via Atlantic Aim Stateside Via Epic BY PAUL SEXTON says Shapiro, "except for a very small LONDON -It took Catatonia four `It's stunning to be constituency of people who watch BY LARRY FLICK showcases the band did in early years from its 1992 inception to log global and European music. But we NEW YORK -When Epic issues February as proof. "A good number its first U.K. top 40 hit and another on the cover of a can enjoy the fact that we've been Travis' "The Man Who" on April 14 of people were singing along with two to get its first American release. able to say, `Here is an absolutely in the U.S., the U.K. quartet will the songs. The people who have dis- The upcoming U.S. unveiling of its well- known stunning international sensation that have already enjoyed a year of covered Travis have an incredible third album, "Equally Cursed & America needs to enjoy." international success -an accom- passion for the music and the band. Blessed," comes a year after the set national American Matthews, who professes herself a plishment that the label believes will It was clearly contagious-and it raced straight to No. 1 in Britain, but great fan of all kinds of music from be key to breaking the band here. made an excellent impression on the the band's new U.S. label, Atlantic, is magazine without Dolly Parton to Bob Marley, says that Released worldwide on May 14, radio and retail representatives who hoping it's a case of slow but sure for having sold a after earlier disappointments, the 1999, the set has sold 2 million were in attendance." the Welsh quintet, signed at home to idea of doing well in the U.S. has copies in the U.K. and more than Jen Landry, owner of World blanco y negro/WEA and led by the record in the States' grown on her. "If you'd said a year 2.5 million throughout continental Discs, an indie retailer with outlets charismatic Cerys Matthews. ago, `Do you want to break America?' Europe, according to the label. To in both San Francisco and Los With "Blessed" due in U.S. stores - RON SHAPIRO - I would have said it was the last place date, Travis has scored five U.K. Angeles, was at the L.A. show, and March 28, early signs are that media in the world I was interested in," she top 20 singles, with she says the tastemakers find Matthews as wor- says. "When you start off, everything the latest ( "Turn ") audience thy of their attention as have editors is a bed of roses, the world is becoming the act's reaction to and programmers alike for several promised, then you suddenly realize highest- charting, at Travis was years in Britain. America's massive. But it's much bet- No. 8. "real 1y The singer adorns the cover of the ter now, Atlantic is so much behind The project has inspiring. April issue of Details magazine, with us, and at least they're going to give also rendered the The people upcoming features in Interview, it a go." band, formed and who knew the Nylon, The Associated Press, and Jason Legg, press officer for the based in Glasgow, music were newyorktimes.com among a raft of HMV retail chain in the U.K., be- Scotland, a darling just going coverage, helped by promotional CATATONIA lieves the long delay between the among critics. At the crazy about duties that included showcase -style domestic and American release of end of 1999, "The TRAVIS them. I left gigs in New York and Los Angeles. Rage" was a No. 5 hit in May 1998 in "Blessed" may work to Catatonia's Man Who" scored that gig feel- "It's stunning to be on the cover of the U.K.; it actually appeared not on advantage. "There are possibilities album of the year honors from a ing like I'd just witnessed a band a well -known national American the current album but its predeces- there, because they haven't got any string of tastemaking U.K. publica- that's going to have a big impact on magazine without having sold a rec- sor, "International Velvet," which was other commitments," he says, "rather tions, most notably New Music Ex- music in America." ord in the States," says Atlantic exec- also a domestic chart -topper with than Robbie Williams, trying to do press, Melody Maker, Q Magazine, It's with that intention that Epic utive VP/GM Ron Shapiro. "They've double -platinum status (600,000 everything at the same time. You and Select. chose to wait nearly a year before also got a booking on The Tonight sales) and a 66 -week rim on the chart. have to work so hard to break the Additionally, Travis has earned issuing "The Man Who" in the U.S. Show With Jay Leno' for April 3, "Road Rage" and the break- States, and the pressure's off here. two Brit Award nominations, in the "We wanted to wait until the band again secured and booked based on through U.K. hit that immediately The possibilities are there for them categories of best group and best were available to do extensive tour- our marketing efforts of `She's a star, preceded it, "Mulder & Scully," have to break out big style, [especially] if album. The Brit Awards were to be ing and promotion here," says David and this band is a multi-platinum sen- been added to the U.S. version of they can tailor [the band's image] held March 3. Massey, executive VP of A &R at the sation overseas.' And they're artist of "Equally Cursed & Blessed," as At- around a Blondie -type thing." All of this provides Epic U.S. with label. "We didn't want them to have the month for [America Online] for lantic moves to boost Catatonia's mod- Catatonia formed in the Welsh city ammunition in breaking Travis in a split focus. Given that, the timing March, so we have print, a national est profile there. The band's first of Cardiff in 1992 and was initially the U.S. of this album is perfect." TV booking, and the leading Internet album, 1996's "Way Beyond Blue," signed to local indie Crai, pacting "We're hitting the States with a Fran Healy, lead singer and pri- service in America breaking open the was not released in America, and with blanco y negro after building a tremendous story to tell," says mary songwriter of the band, story. We're very optimistic." "Velvet" appeared on Vapor Records strong following via gigs and several Randy Irwin, VP of worldwide mar- agrees. "In my mind, you start at The lead track, "Road Rage," went in May 1998, three months after its singles, two of which became records keting at the label. "Very often, a one point and you spread out, nice to alternative and triple -A formats on U.K. appearance, with sales of 14,000 of the week in New Musical Express. gap between import and domestic and slow. That's the most natural Feb. 21, and Shapiro reports that it units, according to SoundScan. After a slow start for its first album, releases can hurt a record. Howev- way to work. We've been chipping won an immediate place among the "Surprisingly, people are not the band, published by Sony /ATV er, we believe this is a case where away at the world, one corner at a top five adds at alternative. "Road aware of [Catatonia's U.K. success]," Music, rose rapidly to arena status. it's helping the project." time, for the last year. 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