In the organizer's words:

Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek delights fans today with the deluxe digital release of his critically acclaimed debut album 'Service Station at the End of the Universe'. The expanded edition of the album, which was originally released earlier this year to a wave of five-star reviews, includes fan-favorite singles "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Fallacy," "The Great Pyramid of Stockport," "Yoga Teacher" and "Angie's Wedding," as well as two new tracks, "That Face You Make When It's Raining" and "Girlypops."

"That Face You Make When It's Raining" is a guaranteed floor-filler - a sophisticated UK garage anthem driven by an infectious rhythm and groove. Featuring vocals from new Manchester talent Yves Jones, the producer behind fan favorite "Rafters", the song demonstrates Antony's knack for turning pointed lyrics into profound dancefloor poetry. Antony explains: "A northern English interpretation of UKG. Loose, funny rhymes and punchlines about rain and vimto set against the backdrop of an argument with a partner. The song was written three years ago in the parking lot of ASDA Hulme."

In 'Girlypops', meanwhile, Antony indulges his pop instincts, creating a playful, sing-along track steeped in 90s vibes. He says of the song: "A mix of 90s indie and Fat Boy Slim's vocal chops, a pop song that subverts the gender stereotypes surrounding a 'boys' night out' with its infectious chorus. The song was written in the same session as "Crumb" and "Crashing Up", but lost its place on the album to "Yoga Teacher" because it made the middle section of the album too indie-heavy. I wanted the album to feel almost like a compilation CD or mixtape in places, and I think this song emphasizes that feeling even more."

Service Station At The End Of The Universe is a daring fusion of dancefloor euphoria and introspective storytelling. Co-produced by Szmierek and longtime collaborators Robin Parker, Max Rad, Louie Fulford-Smith and Yves Jones, the album is a perfectly crafted collection of dancefloor poetry with moments of melancholic, somber urgency.

Each of the singles from Service Station At The End Of The Universe was added to the BBC 6 Music playlist and received strong support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and Apple Music1. With the release of the album, Antony appeared on the cover of Dork (and also made it onto their Hype List), was named one of the Observer's 'Ones to Watch' and featured on two pages in the Observer Magazine. He has also been featured multiple times in major publications such as The Guardian, NME, DIY, Clash and Notion.

Antony had a summer of festival appearances, including Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Eurosonic, SXSW and Iceland Airwaves, and toured the UK and Europe supporting Faithless before embarking on his own sold-out headlining tour.

The last few years have been a wild ride for the artist. He first gained experience in Manchester's spoken word scene, gaining notoriety for his seamless flow that pokes fun at everything from the hardships of contemporary British life to finding the unexpected beauty in the mundane. However, it was the release of his single 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Fallacy' in 2023 that heralded his meteoric rise. Against the backdrop of a pounding kick drum and club-ready synthesizers, Szmierek unleashes a stream of consciousness that lays out his vision of musical vulnerability and communal escapism: "Everything's ironic now, post-post-punk. Take me away", he sings in the track.

The catchy tune soon found its way onto BBC 6 Music radio broadcasts and led to Szmierek being named Artist of the Year 2023 by the station. It was followed by appearances on Later... with Jools Holland, a BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session, several triumphant Glastonbury sets and a flood of comparisons: to the street prose of The Streets, the poetry of John Cooper Clarke if he found himself in the Haçienda, or like Jarvis Cocker for the UK garage generation. But with the release of his indie-influenced EP "Poems To Dance To" from 2023 and now his banger-filled, dancefloor-focused debut album "Service Station at the End of the Universe", Szmierek is cementing his sound as one that is distinctly his own.