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Stiv Cantarelli & The Silent Strangers are back, building
on the success of their critically acclaimed debut Black Music / White Music with more post-punk revolutionary blues.
Having recorded their debut in an abandoned church
amid the isolation of Italy’s Romagna hills, Stiv and the band decided to up sticks
for the city for their next project; specifically the super-trendy environs of
Hackney Wick, East London – on the banks of the River Lea – where they holed up
in the infamous Gizzard studio with producer Peter Bennett (founder of Monkey
Island, The Dublo and Morning Bride) and studio owner/engineer Ed Deegan (Billy
Childish, Mudhoney, The Fall, The Cribs). In a nod towards the stripped down
Thames Delta sound of Dr Feelgood et al, Dave Dulake, landlord of Southend
rock’n’roll boozer The Railway Hotel, was also on hand to lay down some
barrelhouse piano.
The result eschews much of the gentle Americana of
their debut album, the band now immersing themselves fully in the dark and
savage blues that they’d only just begun to hint at on record, but that had
already made their live shows a thrilling and cathartic ride. If you’re
thinking The Gun Club, Thin White Rope, The Scientists or Gallon Drunk, you’re
getting close.
Stiv
Cantarelli initially came to prominence as leader of Italy’s number one alt.country
band Satellite Inn, who were recruited by North Carolina label MoodFood as a
replacement for the ascendant Whiskeytown. Touring the States intensively,
Cantarelli became firm friends with Portland, Oregon roots legends Richmond
Fontaine, which has led to him releasing several records on their El Cortez
label and employing them as his backing band on his solo debut Innerstate. It was this connection that
found him at the wheel of a tiny Fiat beside Bob Mould for an Italian odyssey
during the miserable winter of 2009. In the Silent Strangers, Stiv is joined by
former Satellite Inn rhythm section Fabrizio Gramellini (bass) and Antonio
Perugini (drums) along with new member Roberto Villa (guitar and sax).
The
album release will be followed by a series of UK dates in mid-October.
Praise
for Black Music / White Music….
A
long night’s ramble through the musical fleshpots of the soul… The urge to
listen again is powerful. 4/5 R2
Destined
to be a seminal classic 9/10 Vive Le Rock
An
overwhelming success… 9/10 Americana-UK.com
This
is bluesy country punk for grown-ups Q
An exciting mix of post punk rock and desert blues 4/5 AAAmusic.co.uk
A really fascinating album…. It will reward the time you give
it. Stiv Cantarelli & The Silent Strangers take a no compromise
approach to their recording and long term it definitely pays off. FATEA
Cantarelli has grown into
a bluesman whose songs can break your heart, while also sounding like they
could handle themselves in a barroom brawl. Classic Rock Blues
Fantastic album… Absolute
killer. Pennyblackmusic.co.uk
