Searchlight - Searchlight (2022)

Goldie’s Fallen Tree 1Hundred label is proud to present the debut album from Irish producers Cian McCann (Zero T) and Dominic Purcell (Beta 2), under their joint moniker, Searchlight.

The self-titled album, dropping on September 2nd, wraps up a year-long campaign of launch singles having seen heavy support on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio1 from the likes of Mary Anne Hobbs, Gilles Peterson, Benji B and Goldie. The band’s releases to date have also picked up wide press coverage and over 200 plays across UK radio.

All roads have led to this album, a collection of songs featuring a diverse and inspired range of guest singers, rappers and musicians from Searchlight’s satellite network – all like-minded souls and friends on their own journeys, you might say…

Manchester’s soul sensation and Children of Zeus collaborator [ K S R ] delivers late-night, neo-soul textures on the aptly titled ‘Journey’ alongside the soul-soaked gem ‘We Could Be More’. Other highlights include fast-rising Irish star Tolü Makay bringing her unique and dynamic vocal performances to ‘Can We Go Back’ and the seminal ‘Breathe’ - the band’s debut single from 2021 co-written by Goldie.

Irish vocalists Steo, Lariman and Illaman join PAV4N, the first rapper of Indian descent to have a UK top ten record, in supplying the spoken word moments on ‘Searchlight’. Their bars always conscious and steeped in personal history, it beautifully blended across the record with McCann and Purcell’s vibey, downtempo production.

Future Vintage is Searchlight’s simple ethos… reflecting the pairs’ chronologically wide-ranging influences. From the classic neo-soul of Dwele and Maxwell, to a distinct spirit of Baduizm that permeates throughout, to the jazz-soul of Roy Ayers and futurism of broken beat. It’s all there, confident and unmistakable.

Cian and Dominic will spend the remainder of the year expanding from successful studio producers to members of a full, live Searchlight band, all under Goldie and Fallen Tree 1Hundred’s watchful eye and while the Searchlight story may be nascent, its authentic, well-informed, and hugely promising. This debut album a true sum of its parts, it all points this group of friends and performers in the direction of the stage for 2023… we excitedly await them.