Sultans

U.S.-based British singer-songwriter Bobby Long explores his love of TheBeatles on his forthcoming Compass Records' album, SULTANS. The two-parttitle track that bookends this, his fourth album, playfully pays homage to Sgt.Pepper's and the music Long heard at home growing up in rural SouthwestEngland, while this taut new 10-song set of original material effectivelytraverses Long's signature themes of love, loss and heartache. A prolificsongwriter who has been compared to his own heroes-Elliott Smith, LeonardCohen and Bob Dylan - Long recorded SULTANS in Brooklyn as a live trio withproducer and frequent collaborator Jack Dawson for a more textured sound.As always, his songs are word pictures that transfix and transport, whethermining the depths of despair and alienation or exploring spirituality, love andpassion. Long headlines his own shows and has supported such major artistsas Steve Winwood and Iron & Wine, as well as playing high profile festivalslike Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, the Dave Matthews Caravan, Bamboozleand England's venerable Glastonbury Festival.