MUMBAI: Classical group Blake and their label Blake Records have signed a sales and distribution deal with EMI Label Services for the release of their upcoming third album, Together, in October.

Blake Records is a partnership between the band and producer Nick Patrick (Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra) and Adrian Munsey and their MPP production label.

Formed in 2007, quartet Blake released their debut album later that year. Titled Blake, it debuted at number one on the UK classical chart and reached the top 20 of the main pop chart. The following year they won the Album of the Year award at the prestigious Classical Brits. Their second album, And So It Goes, was released in September 2008 and was even more successful, reaching number 12 on the UK pop chart. They have also built up a sizeable following in Australia where both their albums have topped the local classical charts. Worldwide their two albums have sold over 300,000 copies to date in less than two years.

With Patrick and Munsey acting as producers, Blake recorded Together with the City of Prague Philharmonic orchestra and arranger Paul Bateman. Its 13 tracks range from well known standards such as Abide with Me, Nessun Dorma, Ave Maria, La Califfa and Bring Him Home to classic pop hits like With Or Without You and Bridge over Troubled Water. Top songwriter Denise Rich has written Unsung Hero for the band, while internationally successful artist and composer Van Gelis wrote the track Titans especially for Blake.

Patrick and Munsey said, "This partnership with EMI powers the new Blake album Together right to the forefront of this autumn’s new album releases. The arrangement between MPP and Blake is a ‘United Artists’ type of relationship, a first for a classical artist, and with the strength of EMI’s sales and distribution network behind us we’re very excited about what we can achieve together."

EMI Label Services – Europe vice president Mike Roe said, "EMI is very excited to be working with Blake and Nick and Adrian at MPP. Blake have made a fantastic album and we’re looking forward to helping them build on their already impressive track record."

Together will be released in the UK on 12 October followed by an international roll-out.