DC Fontana

British alternative band formed by songwriter Mark Mortimer in the mid 1990s who only rose to prominence with their critically-acclaimed debut album 'Six Against Eight' on the DCTone Records in 2010. The group hails from central England and is known for having a continuously evolving line up while featuring a number of different vocalists. 'Six Against Eight' had followed hot on the heels of a limited edition 7" vinyl featuring the group's off-kilter Hammond organ instrumental 'The Contessa' which was paired by 'Snake Charmer,' the latter written by Donald Ross Skinner and Paul Kennedy. Skinner, the long-time producer and guitarist with Julian Cope, has produced all the group's releases and occasionally appears with the group on stage. Since 2013 Skinner has taken a more active role within the band. Kennedy was once with the alternative rock band Salad. The debut album was recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, England at the suggestion of Echo & The Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant who then supported the band by acting as a DJ at a record release party on Merseyside. 'Six Against Eight' featured compositions by Mortimer and keys player Scott Riley who had previously performed with Spectrum, the occasional solo project by Pete Kember of Spacemen 3. Original DC Fontana guitarist Neil Jones contributed two songs on the 14-tracks strong album which prominently featured horns and Hammond organ together with more experimental material including a collaboration with the internationally renowned Indian sarangi maestro Surinder Sandhu. German classical composer Christian Badzura of Deutsche Gramophon scored the strings which were played by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Lead vocal duties were shared by Karla Milton and Riley. The record was accompanied by an ambitious short film shot at the Italianate village of Portmeirion in North Wales by London boutique film company Anotherschmuck. Another limited edition single followed in the shape of 'Meshkalina,' a cover of the Peruvian psychedelic rock classic by Traffic Sound and also featuring remixes of 'The Contessa' by Lack of Afro and of the title track by G. Corp. Also featured on the release was another Skinner/Kennedy composition, 'It Don't Worry Me.' Released in 2011, DC Fontana's next release was 'La Contessa' which was sung mostly in French and Italian by acclaimed jazz singer Kicca Ancdriollo. The CD and digital release came out on DCTone with a 12" vinyl edition from Teen Beat Records in Rome, Italy. Some of the songs were alternative versions of songs which first appeared on 'Six Against Eight' with the addition of new material and two cover versions ('Se Telefonando' written by Ennio Morricone, Maurizio Costanzo and Ghigo De Chiara plus Eddie Harris' 'Listen Here'). The group toured incessantly and returned to the studio to produce 'The Pentagram Man EP' in 2013 with a guest appearance by 60s & 70s star Don Fardon (ex The Sorrows) who also joined the band live on stage in front of a huge audience outdoors in León, northern Spain during August of that year. The EP was supported by another short film and came out on DCTone (CD & digital) and Heavy Soul (7"). As well as two version of the Mortimer-penned 'Pentagram Man' (one sung by Fardon, the other by Louise Turner), the record featured another Mortimer composition, 'DevilAngel' together with Riley's 'Satisfied (Part One)', the folky 'What Would It take?' written by guitarist Tony Russell and a trippy collaboration between Mortimer and Skinner called 'Sighed D.C.' After the release of 'Pentagram Man' Mortimer was asked to join the reformed Sorrows by Fardon and featured on their 2014 release 'Gonna Find A Cave' on Rise Above Records. Since 'Pentagram Man,' DC Fontana took an enforced sabbatical due to the ill health of Mortimer but began recording again 2015. Mortimer and Skinner have been working hard in London on a large number of tunes towards what will be the group's next release .