Thursday 11 October 2018

HANTERHIR BRING CORNISH PSYCH TO LONDON...



Highly-rated Cornish psychers HANTERHIR have unveiled a brand new video ahead of their dates next week.

Taken from their widely lauded new album The Saving Of Cadan, ‘Hope Comes With Love’ soundtracks live footage filmed at an outdoor show during the summer.  An expansive and diverse concept album sung in Cornish and English and covering five sides of vinyl, The Saving Of Cadan was recorded on a llama farm and in a former Methodist chapel.

Hailing from Redruth, the band have developed their sound in isolation from the mainstream, drawing on a diverse set of influences from psych and space-rock to folk and post-punk, suggesting traces of the Psychedelic Furs, Felt, Espers, Sonic Youth and Hawkwind. 
Hanterhir have spent the summer playing gigs and festivals throughout the South-West, including Boardmasters and Harvest Gathering, and this month move further afield, to include a rare London show at The Victoria in Dalston, where they'll be joined by rejuvenated Cornish psych-punk veterans The Brainiac 5.

You can catch Hanterhir on the following dates….

20 Oct Charlie’s Bar, Redruth

21 Oct The Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells

22 Oct The Victoria, Dalston, London  tickets

23 Oct The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea

The Saving Of Cadan is out now through Easy Action Records.





"Hanterhir have struck their own seam of sound and The Saving of Cadan is their masterwork... This is rock music at its finest and most original." The Arts Desk

"Massive psych-folk masterpiece... quite unlike anything else... Hugely impressive." ***** RNR

"Oozes occult magnificence." **** Shindig!

"A cacophony of Celtic wildness... Magnificent." ***** Record Collector 

"Avant-garde soundbites to post-punk and definitely psychedelic" 8/10 Louder Than War

"The Saving of Cadan is a monumental concept album... nothing short of amazing..."  Exposé Online

"Shimmers with rare beauty... a magical ride" *****  Music News 

"A beautiful, melodic, uplifting experience... Buy the album!" ***** 3 Songs & Out

"A hugely important album from a refreshingly inventive band..." Bliss Aquamarine

"Undoubtedly 'Made in Cornwall' but with universal appeal." Thee Psychedelicatessen

"Another one to add to the Albums of the Year list....excellent groundbreaking music" Analogue Trash Radio





Tuesday 9 October 2018

DREW MORRISON & THE DARKWOOD - ELECTRIC-NOTES WILD


Loneliness as a sentiment seems to be a prevailing theme in my songs. I am always looking for that old lonesome feeling in a chord change or some melody line."                                                                                                                                    
Two years in the making, the debut album by Scottish songwriter Drew Morrison and his band The Darkwood follows their critically well received Tales of Love, Sadness & Rock‘n’Roll EP, described by PennyBlackmusic as “a fine first offering of enormous potential from which promises much for the forthcoming album”.

Electric-Notes Wild, released on the band's own Storm Cloud Agency Records, is a collection of 10 tracks showcasing Drew Morrison and his love of song. A questing musical soul, Morrison has described his music as being for “the lonesome fugitive within us all”.

In The Darkwood he is backed by Phil Carwardine and Martin Murray (guitars), Mike Hughes (bass, backing vocals) and Nick Steyn (drums). Despite line-up changes along the road, the band's central vision of a music touched by influences ranging from alt.country, pop and rock’n’roll, all tinged with 'golden chording', has remained focused and has realised itself into a unique sound.

At the Country Soul Sessions in London’s Soho the band are simply known as 'the house band' and have, over five years, performed with the acts that have played at the club; artists such as Rotifer, Paul McClure and The Local Heroes, Matthew Edwards and The Unfortunates, Morton Valence, Bob Collum and The Welfare Mothers, Lynette Morgan and The Blackwater Valley Boys and many, many others.

The album was recorded at Bonafide, Reservoir and Project-a-Sonic studios with guest musicians including Tim Pearson of the East Lonesome Drifters and Henry Senior from Danny and the Champions of the World.

Electric-Notes Wild is a set of songs born from innocence, experience and ultimately the faith in the powers of music to still entertain and thrill.


"With its beautiful harmonies, exquisitely-crafted arrangements and Morrison’s empathetic and literate lyrics, it is an album of exceptional quality." Pennyblackmusic

“Quality control is something Drew Morrison and The Darkwood excel at and Electric Notes Wild is the perfect example of that." Dancing About Architecture






Friday 3 August 2018

HANTERHIR - THE SAVING OF CADAN


What happens when you put a bunch of musicians together in the country and leave them to their own devices?

Coalescing in the deep Cornish countryside around Redruth, free from the fashions, foibles and fripperies of the mainstream music scene, HANTERHIR grew a sound all their own around freak rock, post-punk and alt-rock woven together with the silken threads of spooky psych folk and trippy electronica and alternating between English and Cornish lyrics.

Peopled throughout this time by an extended family of numerous musicians, facilitators and hangers-on, Hanterhir remains stable at Jason (drums, percussion), Ben (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Peasy (guitar, vocals), Grant (bass, vocals), Mike (saxophone, keyboards, vocal) and Lou (flute, vocals).

“The important thing to me about the band is that we are authentically Cornish,” says Ben. “And having a Cornish name sort of solidifies that idea. Being Cornish to me doesn't mean that we ignore our influences or what we grew up with, but rather than that, we embrace it.

“The songs are all there to try and tell parts of a story,” he says of The Saving Of Cadan. “The story is about a boy, Cadan, who tries to drown himself in a lake on Carn Marth and gets saved by a wicked spirit who was cursed to the lake (The Lady of the Lake or Morwenna).”

Recorded over an extended period in a Methodist chapel, a llama farm, a cricket club and – just to be on the safe side – a conventional studio, the album is the first fruit of a relationship with internationally renowned – and
Cornwall-based – Easy Action Records. Spread over a budget-stretching 5 sides of vinyl or 2 CDs, the album is a mammoth project but, as Freddie Mercury said, "If something's worth doing, it's worth overdoing".

Having already forged a loyal following across the Southwest, Hanterhir are now turning their eyes toward the wider UK.

The Saving Of Cadan is out now on Easy Action through Cargo.

Tour dates....

20 Sept – The Old Bakery, Truro (w/ Dom Duff)  tickets
28 Sept – Harvest Gathering Festival, Newquay   tickets
21 Oct – The Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells
22 Oct – The Victoria, Dalston, London  tickets
23 Oct – The Railway Hotel, Southend on Sea

"Hanterhir have struck their own seam of sound and The Saving of Cadan is their masterwork... This is rock music at its finest and most original." The Arts Desk

"A cacophony of Celtic wildness... Magnificent." ***** Record Collector 

"Avant-garde soundbites to post-punk and definitely psychedelic" 8/10 Louder Than War

"The Saving of Cadan is a monumental concept album... nothing short of amazing..."  Exposé Online

"Shimmers with rare beauty... a magical ride" *****  Music News 

"A beautiful, melodic, uplifting experience... Buy the album!" ***** 3 Songs & Out

"A hugely important album from a refreshingly inventive band..." Bliss Aquamarine

"Undoubtedly 'Made in Cornwall' but with universal appeal." Thee Psychedelicatessen

"Another one to add to the Albums of the Year list....excellent groundbreaking music" Analogue Trash Radio












Thursday 2 August 2018

TONY ROSE - MEDICINE TUNES


Perhaps best known as a member of globe-straddling folk-rock band TWO DOLLAR BASH, Tony Rose now gets around to delivering his first solo album.

Medicine Tunes was recorded in a house in rural France in the spring of 2017, Tony being joined by long-time musical colleagues Geir Voie (mandolin), Sean Condron (banjo, guitar, slide, bass, harmonica, mandola, backing vocals), and Stéphane Doucerain (drums, percussion), and the album’s producer Mark Mulholland (guitar, mandola, bouzouki, backing vocals). The songs for the album were laid down in a single session, with all the basic tracks played live together.

While the songs evidently deal with feelings of loss, confusion and despair, they also explore how these can eventually evolve towards something new and brighter through the healing effects of music, love and friendship.

“I wrote most of the songs on Medicine Tunes when I was going through some very troubled times,” explains Tony. “I found myself alone and falling. It was a case of sink or swim. I needed something to keep me afloat. Writing and singing these songs became my medicine rituals, a kind of spiritual healing and a way to keep breathing. It's difficult to explain. I was in France gigging with Two Dollar Bash and I played the songs for Mark Mulholland. He thought them worth recording and organised a session at his studio with some old friends. The finished album feels like the conclusion of a long journey that started in a very dark place and ended somewhere brighter.”

Born in Scotland in 1969, Tony spent his youth busking on the streets of Glasgow and forming bands with school friends, Brendan O'Hare (Teenage Fanclub, Dark Globes) and Joe Armstrong. Moving to Edinburgh, Tony and Joe hooked up with Mark Mulholland, and the three began a life of travel that continues to this day, criss-crossing Europe, settling sporadically to reconvene in France, Ireland, Berlin or Holland.

Having settled in Prague for much of the 90s, Tony eventually hooked up with Joe and Mark in Berlin where Two Dollar Bash were born. Releasing four albums, the band have toured widely across Europe and North America, playing SXSW in Austin for three consecutive years.

In 2010, Tony returned to Prague, where he continues to play both solo, with The Band of Jakeys, and as a duo with Geir Voie. His songs have been performed by many artists in Europe, America and beyond, and a disc of recordings of cover versions - Roll High & Roll Good - is included with Medicine Tunes.





Wednesday 11 April 2018

LAST GREAT DREAMERS - 13TH FLOOR RENEGADES


The past is a foreign country, or so they say. No doubt Last Great Dreamers would agree with that. Barely 18 months has passed since their last album – their first all new full-length since their 2014 rebirth – and now the UK power-pop rockers step up with a freshness and fire that would put many new bands to shame.

Holed up in Oxfordshire’s Henwood Studios with producer Pete Brown (son of Joe, brother of Sam), original Dreamers Marc Valentine and Slyder, together with drummer Denley Slade and bassist Steve Fielding, have laid down their most complete and accomplished album yet. 13th Floor Renegades comprises eleven infectious punk-pop floorshakers, replete with dynamic shoutalong choruses and more hooks than audition day for a particularly piratical panto season. Power-pop crunch and effortlessly melodic riffing rule the roost, letting up only occasionally for the twinkling mandolin of folky Faces-ness.

“Everything fell into place at the right time,” explains Marc. “We started a Pledge campaign for the album, which had a fantastic response. The fans’ involvement was truly incredible and their generosity never ceases to amaze us. Hopefully with this album we get to repay their faith. It’s really been an organic process from start to finish, with a few twists and turns along the way, but we’re really proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in a short space of time.”

Originally coming together in London during the early 90s, Last Great Dreamers quickly became darlings of the glam-punk scene centred around Soho. Gaining props for debut album Retrosexual, earning a nomination for Best New Band in the prestigious Kerrang! awards, and supporting major US touring bands, they couldn’t face off the juggernaut of Britpop and went on hiatus.

Since their return, they’ve released two albums – the rarities set Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven and the all new Transmissions From Oblivion – and toured widely, both as headliners and support to the likes of Cherie Currie, Bernie Tormé and The Quireboys. 

13th Floor Renegades is out on Friday 13 April through Ray Records. They play the following dates...

 Thu 12 April             LONDON The Black Heart 
Fri 13 April              CANNOCK The Station
Sat 14 April              BRIDGEND Hobos
Sun 15 April             CAMBRIDGE Portland Arms
Wed 18 April            WAKEFIELD Black Mass
Thu 19 April             GRIMSBY Yardbirds
Fri 20 April               CARLISLE Club Rock
Sat 21 April              GLASGOW Nice’n’Sleazy
Sun 22 April           NEWCASTLE Trillians
Fri 25 May               DERBY Bearded Theory Festival
Sat 26 May              BROMSGROVE Breaking Bands Festival




"They belong in the Rock'n'Roll Premier League...” Maximum Volume Music
“It’s a triumph of an album…4.5” Pure Rawk
“Every (and I mean EVERY) song is an absolute cracker…” Louderthanwar
"This album is truly a sign of a totally rejuvenated band.” The Soul Of A Clown
“Their finest, most accomplished album to date." Uber Rock




Thursday 1 March 2018

TRENT MILLER - TIME BETWEEN US


Four years on from the release of the acclaimed Burnt Offerings, London songwriter Trent Miller returns with his fourth album. Time Between Us carries on the trajectory set by its predecessor, which saw Miller begin to emerge from the darkness that overshadowed his first two albums Cerberus (2009) and Welcome To Inferno Valley (2011), towards a hopeful glimmer on the horizon and a new maturity in songwriting.

It’s not all sweetness and light though: the past four years have seen Miller navigate his way through a difficult divorce, as well as conquering his various other demons, and this is reflected in the lyrics. Musically, the album is considerably richer, its sonic timbres sighted midway between the melodic folk-pop of The Byrds and the ethereal shimmer of the Cocteau Twins.

Like Burnt Offerings, Time Between Us was recorded at Reservoir Studios in North London, co-produced by Trent with Graham Knight of Simple Kid and Orphan Colours. The album also features Trent’s regular accomplices, guitarist Paul Cuddeford (Ian Hunter, Cat Stevens, Holy Holy), violinist Barbara Bartz (Dana Immanuel, Penny Black Remedy), cellist Bethany Porter and drummer Patrick Degenhardt.

Born and raised in the countryside of north-western Italy, fuelled by dreams of rock’n’roll, Miller made his way to London as a youth, joining the just-blooming Americana circuit. Carrying with him the dual influence of the Beats and darkly troubled songwriters like Gene Clark, Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Thin White Rope’s Guy Kyser, he made his recorded debut on the album Hidden Desert, a tribute to the latter much missed Northern Californians. Releasing his debut Cerberus himself, he later signed up to release his second album Welcome To Inferno Valley with the recording arm of highly-regarded underground magazine, Bucketfull Of Brains, also responsible for John Murry’s groundbreaking The Graceless Age.

Time Between Us is set for release on 6 April, preceded by the single 'How Soon Is Never' on 16 March.

Fans of Gene Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark will recognise a kindred spirit in his glowering meditations and steely worldview **** DAILY MIRROR

A darkly underground mix of hangovers, anguished love, mournful blues and lonesome country Q MAGAZINE

Dark and mystical poetic lyrics, passionate delivery, all blended with dreamy yet shadowy melodies… a unique force in what can be described as twisted and edgy folk MUSIC-NEWS.COM


Thursday 8 February 2018

JOHN FORRESTER - RESTLESS


As the title suggests, Restless - the fourth studio album from English songwriter John Forrester - explores the transient underpinning of the lone musician: songs of travel, displacement, creativity and disappointment sit alongside those that explore the journey we all make through life.

While working on the album, a close family member’s terminal illness forced Forrester to pause mid-album and spend time back in his home town to care for his loved one. “You make a life for yourself,” he reflects. “But then you’re pulled back to something in the past. Back in the town you grew up in. There’s definitely a comfort in familiarity but also a disconnect, as you’re now effectively just a visitor.”

These events seeped into Forrester’s writing. “It certainly coloured the album. There are songs that wouldn’t have otherwise existed. The album changed shape.” Previously recorded songs no longer seemed right and new work emerged as Forrester’s world changed irrevocably – and when recording resumed, a broader canvas was laid out upon which the new songs were afforded more room to breathe and be heard.

Working with a producer - Fairground Attraction’s Roy Dodds – for the first time, Forrester was encouraged to play less and not fill every pocket of the aural spectrum. The result is a cohesive yet adventurous album that, although reminiscent of Forrester’s earlier work, explores new ground both musically and lyrically.

From the a cappella opener ‘Richmond Hill’, where the singer earmarks a place of personal pilgrimage for future reflection, to ‘Somewhere I Can Be’, the lead-off single, a song for “all the bits of us that we leave behind”, the general mood of the LP captures the essence, drive and complexities of the restless soul. ‘Butterfly Catcher’ “was inspired by people that seek to take your time and energy when you don’t want to give it. It’s about boundaries and not giving too much of yourself away”, while ‘Restless Bones’ is an autobiographical look at the passing of time and friendships.

Restless is an album born of change – with two very different sides owing to its divided recording process. It’s also a record that relishes in a newfound sense of experimentation and collaboration, while staying true to its creator’s restless soul.

As a solo performer, Forrester has shared stages with the likes of Show Of Hands, Nick Harper and John Kirkpatrick. An accomplished electric and double-bass player, he has also served with Pressgang and, currently, Rastko, The Outcast Band and Robb Johnson.

Restless is due for release on 23 February through Irregular Records.



“By turn poetic and philosophical… Forrester is wise enough to have inherent balance…” – fRoots
“A distinctive and immediate sound… this is something special” – R2 Magazine
“Songs to captivate…  subjective, openhearted, and honest musings” – FATEA


Wednesday 24 January 2018

ASH GRAY - CHICKEN WIRE

Texan songwriter Ash Gray returns with his second solo album Chicken Wire. Having relocated over the past decade from Austin to Sheffield via New York City, Ash is, in the truest sense, a troubadour, falling in with likeminded folk wherever he ends up.

Nowhere is this better exemplified than on Chicken Wire. Ash recruited friends from the Sheffield music scene to lay down the basic tracks, later inviting musicians from back home in Austin to add their own touch. Ash then collaborated with noted Austin producer Chris ‘Frenchie’ Smith (Meat Puppets, Datsuns, Dandy Warhols etc) on the final mix. The end result blends country and bluegrass with undertones of psych, rewriting the grand Austin tradition of the ‘cosmic cowboy’.

Speaking about the recording, Gray says, “The album represents a nice bridge that’s been developing between Sheffield and Austin in the three years that I’ve called Sheffield home. I met so many amazing musicians in Sheffield and have tightened connections with old and new acquaintances in Austin since I began working on these recordings and I was interested in trying to include everyone that I’d been playing with.”

Born and raised in the US, Ash began travelling to the UK at the end of the 90s, where he formed punkgrass outfit The High Class Family Butchers with future members of Menlo Park and Kings Of The South Seas, doing brisk business at the forefront of the London alt.country scene. Winding up in NYC, he took the guitar job in legendary biker band The Cycle Sluts From Hell, before forming the psych-pop ensemble Ash Gray & The Girls, releasing the acclaimed album Born In The Summer. Later retracing his Yorkshire roots, he finally released his debut solo album Once I Got Burned in 2014. Most recently he’s been helping facilitate the musical twinning of his hometown with the city of Angers in western France.  

Chicken Wire is released on Friday 26 January.


“Ash has a penchant for a killer melody” Beat Surrender
“Convincing and effective” RnR
“Indie country with a blazing attitude” Maverick
“Without characters such as Ash Gray the music business would be the poorer”
American Roots UK