Thursday, 8 October 2015
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Friday, 18 September 2015
Men In The Sky - Version 1.0.1
Review taken from hiapop Blog 21/08/14
Men In The Sky – Version 1.0.1.
DL
Out Now
Liverpool’s Men In The Sky release their new EP.
Whether they like it or not, Men In The Sky will on this offering be compared to New Order on many occasions. It is obviously no bad thing and given that they worked with Factory Records lead engineer Michael Johnson (Blue Monday, Closer) it’s hardly surprising, and with the Mancunian legends no longer a permanent fixture their timing couldn’t really be better.
Echoing the New Order sound, mostly notably from their Republic and Get Ready periods they also throw in elements of Pet Shop Boys and Delphic to create something rather wonderful. Opener, the self-named Men In The Sky has a steaming bassline and synth effects together with gritty guitar and strong melody. Potentially anchored in the 80s they also have enough nous to have brought the tracks right up to date taking them into fascinating territory.
Doom sees ‘that’ Peter Hook bass sound and like all four tracks on the EP develops into a dance oriented mix which many artists wait years to accomplish. A DJs nightmare, it stops and restarts without warning as the drum sound rolls and stomps from beginning to end. There are also vague recollections of Depeche Mode’s Songs Of Faith And Devotion era tucked away in several guitar sounds.
The most commercial track on Version 1.0.1., Expect Anything relies on many production tricks combining in another catchy effort with the most memorable chorus and guitar hook of the EP and possible nods in the direction of Hot Chip.
Closing with the dancey Stone, the quartet can be very pleased with themselves. Whether they get tired of the New Order tag is open to debate but given the tracks on show here they clearly have enough talent to change direction if they so wish, although with a possible audience still yearning for the permanent sound of Manchester’s finest why should they bother?
8.5/10
8.5/10
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Get To Know Our Artists!
If you're unfamiliar with any of the artists performing at #HarFest2015 then shame on you!
However, help is at hand with the aid of the World Wide Web.
Your can listen to tracks from any of the artists online NOW!
Just click on the artist names below and we'll see you in Whitaker Park on the 27th!
However, help is at hand with the aid of the World Wide Web.
Your can listen to tracks from any of the artists online NOW!
Just click on the artist names below and we'll see you in Whitaker Park on the 27th!
Monday, 3 August 2015
An Interview With Martin Stephenson
Article taken from hiapop Blog 30/06/13
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Photo by Sugar D Photography
Last year, Martin Stephenson & The Daintees released quite possibly their best album to date, California Star which is now being re-released for 2013 with backing by Absolute Marketing/Universal.
The whole Stephenson back catalogue will now be available again for all those too young, (or too ignorant), to have not heard them the first time around to finally acquaint themselves with one of Britains greatest, yet most underrated, singer songwriters.
For me, California Star was finally an album to at least rival the classic Boat To Bolivia. It’s text book Martin Stephenson, the story-telling songs that no-one can fail to be enthralled by, and, the music that any serious music fan can do nothing but marvel at.
Coupled with that, Martin remains a busy live performer and one which, whether solo or with The Daintees, should never be missed. As ever, he remains one of the truly nice guys of music and he was only too pleased to share a few thoughts:
Q: How’s life in the Cromarty Firth?
A: Clean & serene pal, a good place to hide away and work
Q: What made you move up there?
A: Divorce, but earlier musical visits as far back as 89 formed an idea
Q: The last couple of years seem to have been a bit of a whirlwind. What’s it like to be back and widely accepted?
A: In honesty I don’t really see it like that, I just continue, I’m not really into
attention but enjoy making and sharing music, saying that, I feel blessed for the path I have been given
Q: It’s 27 years since Boat To Bolivia, how does that feel?
A: Timeless I suppose, as was the vision behind our first songs, to be timeless, as we found ourselves landed in the early 80’s, so our main objective was not to be shaped too much by the technology of the day, we were more fans of the 60’s recording process
Q: How were your thoughts when Kitchenware closed down last year?
A: Absolutely nothing
Q: You’ve worked a few times with Paul Handyside (of 80s guitar band Hurrah!, are you in touch with many other from the Kitchenware stable?
A: Ah now there is a different energy all together, Paul is a sacred brother to me, I love him, he is truthful and a very good artist, I’m a big fan of his guitar playing
Q: I recently reviewed last years California Star for Louder Than War and said it was possibly your finest work. Do you know when you’re recording something special?
A: No idea, probably the opposite, your songs are your children, so you simply try to be a good parent and do the best you can for each song, of course they all have different kinds of power
Q: You’ve publicly acknowledged your recovery for alcohol, what made you make the decision to stop?
A: Having daughters and seeing how unreal the whole drinking culture is, along with drugs in general, addiction, I got really tired of felling shit and not being straight, I love simplicity and being reliable, truthful, I enjoying being with folks like that, hate head games, bullshit, love is the one
Q: Cheese & Onion or Worcester Sauce?
A: Oooh that’s a tuff one, more WS these days if forced to make a choice, but originally always C&O
Q: I’m always fascinated how much time you spend with the audience before and after the show. How important is that to you?
A: Most important as I see the audience as the highest level, as my teacher, I am in service and love to entertain folks
Q: What do you think of Helen’s music (Helen McCookerybook – partner and Barbaraville label mate)? Voxpop Puella was/is stunning.
A: I adore Helen’s music, her whole journey, she is a beautiful gentle and very
eccentric soul, I have learned so much from Helen, the first thing I learned when I heard her was not to sound angry and cold, Helen & Jonathan Richman were my guides.
Q: Does song writing get any easier with time?
A: I think so, it’s only as hard as you wanna make it, I enjoy helping others with it, it’s great to help folks get through obstacles, I love songs, all kinds
Q: Eliza P is an interesting artist for you to work with. How did you meet each
other? Are there any new artists around that excite you?
A: Liz is a genius, satire is her gift, we met at a gig by chance, she was married to a comedian, her songs are so clever and beautiful, I am very excited to help her make her first album Ecclectic Kettle, would you review it for us?
Q: You invite me round for tea – what are you cooking?
A: We are going to the curry house, though I make a nice Russian beetroot soup
Q: You may not remember this, but, I feel I have to remind you. You played at the Burnley Mechanics Theatre around 1989, Paul Handyside was the support. You played for ages – the venue staff were getting twitchy and you even asked if the audience ‘hadn’t any homes to go to’! You jumped down to the front of the stage and beckoned to the audience who came and sat around you in a huge circle. Some yob started passing a spliff around the ring. Happy days.
A: I remember, Paul had been hurt very badly by a girl and was travelling with me to recover, his music healed him, I love Paul
Photo by Juan Fitzgerald
Q: What’s your favourite own track?
A: ‘Me and my friend Cecil’ a bedroom recording from 1980
Q: You seem a genuinely nice bloke, is there anyone or anything that really gets your goat?
A: Well you know, Tories, thieves, liars yeah! Tories
Q: Are there any other musicians you’d like to work with? I’m thinking Ian McNabb would be a good partnership.
A: I like Ian, he is a good lad, maybe one day. Chris Layhe, the bass player out the Icicle Works, is a great guy, I would work with him too!
Peter Coyle out of Lotus Eaters a great pal of mine, very special guy. I like Nick Heyward, I would like to do something fun with him, like love conscious
trippy stuff along with Dubular out of the Transglobal Underground, John Cooper Clarke great fun, would love to produce a Rockabilly album for him!
Q: Barbaraville and llama’s – discuss.
A: Heed this advice for all that it’s worth! Steer clear of the village on the Cromarty Firth, named...Barbaraville!
Q: Did you know there was a Barbaraville Romany Gypsy camp near Hatfield that was set up by Barbara Cartland?
A: No man, that’s awesome!
Q: What’s the future hold for Martin Stephenson and The Daintees?
A: Future holds the past, “all we have is now” - Paul Handyside! Blessed be, and, thanks.
Links
Martin Stephenson website
Martin Stephenson on Twitter
Martin Stephenson on Facebook
Martin Stephenson on YouTube
Martin Stephenson Live review on hiapop Blog
Martin Stephenson California Star review on hiapop Blog
Martin Stephenson website
Martin Stephenson on Twitter
Martin Stephenson on Facebook
Martin Stephenson on YouTube
Martin Stephenson Live review on hiapop Blog
Martin Stephenson California Star review on hiapop Blog
The Daintees - Haunted Highway
Review taken from hiapop Blog 02/01/15
The Daintees – Haunted Highway (Barbaraville)
CD/DL
Out Now
The legendary Martin Stephenson releases the new Daintees album.
Martin recently claimed that he reckons Haunted Highway is the best Daintees album yet. That’s quite a bold statement from the man who has such a huge back catalogue. Sure, he will say every new album is his best, but he can genuinely say that this new collection is up there. He may be tired of hearing about Boat To Bolivia, but to be fair to everyone that has bought it they will never be bored of its brilliance. If 2012s California Star was one of the highlights of his career then Haunted Highway takes it to new heights.
If you’ve never listened to any of his music then you’ve missed out. The Geordie is one of Britain’s finest songwriters, ever. Again, a bold statement but true. His amazing talent to craft songs of every emotion and almost every style is second to none. He is, my friends, a musical genius.
The album opener is pure class in terms of song construction, melody and content. It’s an instant toe-tapper and presumably written about a journey from home via plane to meeting partner Helen McCookerybook. It’s affectionate, it’s pristine and it’s classic Stephenson.
Much of the album is classic Stephenson, second track Wishing Stone sees the tone move from full band to lone acoustic guitar as he wears his lovely heart on his sincere sleeve. Bliss. The first of two instrumentals, Mahina has echoes of Hank Marvin in both style of construction recalling hints of the cowboy West with well-timed drum and guitar breaks.
Hobo Trains is textbook Country. June Cash would have been proud to record this and if you try hard enough, you can almost imagine her singing it with her yelps and whoops. Its rousing chorus is instant and memorable and my six year old daughter went berserk at the drum interlude provided by Martin’s sister Kate. The title track remains with a Country feel too with Martin’s voice sounding as good as it ever has – soft and gentle with every syllable perfectly recited.
And so the album progresses, Black Eyed Rose could have quite easily been a part of Boat To Bolivia. Another love song wrapped around God’s Plan sees the band rock things up with an exciting feel and Johnny Red heads to the return of another Hank induced instrumental.
Rockabilly-a-go-go with Backhouse Tipping slowly brings the deceptively short album to an end with more of the same. One of the many album highlights is the incredible Let Your True Love Show, a simple reggae based track which has some of the most subtle dubs and reverbs you will hear this side of wherever. Maybe akin to Wholly Humble Heart in feel and passion and echoing the dub sections of both that song and Boat To Bolivia. It’s a lesson in simple, classic song writing. A dub album from the man would be something to savour.
Closing with eleventh track Ride you can’t help feeling energised. Haunted Highway is the work of a man at the top of his game after nearly thirty-three years as a recording artist and the perfect album to discover the talents of one of music’s greatest modern day talents before delving into his ample back catalogue.
If all this wasn’t enough, the first three hundred copies of the album come with a twenty track cd, We Are The Llama which features tracks from Barbaraville artists over the years.
The Daintees’ best album yet? Probably.
10/10
Links
Barbaraville Records
The Daintees website
Martin Stephenson on Twitter
Martin Stephenson on Facebook
California Star album review
Helen McCookerybook on hiapop Blog
10/10
Links
Barbaraville Records
The Daintees website
Martin Stephenson on Twitter
Martin Stephenson on Facebook
California Star album review
Helen McCookerybook on hiapop Blog
Men In The Sky - Live 9/01/15
If you like New Order, chances are you're going to love Men In The Sky when they perform at #HarFest2015 on Sunday 27 September in Whitaker Park Rawtenstall.
Here is a performance recorded live at the Village Club & Bar in Thornton Haugh in January of this year:
Here is a performance recorded live at the Village Club & Bar in Thornton Haugh in January of this year:
Friday, 31 July 2015
Jay Stansfield - Birth And Death
Review taken from hiapop Blog 9/01/15
Jay Stansfield – Birth And Death
9 January 2015
Eccentric singer/songwriter releases his third album.
Jay Stansfield seems to be caught up in the beauty and wondrous world of 60s pop. That’s no criticism of his path and choice, in fact on the evidence given by Birth And Death it’s a magnificent selection and one which he is allowed to present his craft with a brilliant sincerity.
Twelve tracks allegedly encompassing his existence to date and following the journey from birth to death allow Stansfield to explore several styles, all with his own very personal touch. Production wise, the sound quality is nothing short of phenomenal considering that the album was recorded in true D.I.Y. style in Jay’s front room with iPad, lone microphone and a Yamaha keyboard.
What follows is an album of wondrous quality and interest as Stansfield journeys through the psychedelic worlds of LSD-ridden Beatles and Dylan-esque ramblings in an enthralling experimental style not dissimilar at times to that of Stephen Jones (Black Reindeer, Babybird). With sounds, breaks and effects that do not allow your mind to wander (take the stereo alternation and neo trip-hop of the fascinating Without A Memory), the listener is taken on a trip of quite compelling proportions.
Album opener My Last My Grain sets the tone early on with a Sergeant Pepper infused vocal over a semi-echoed drum beat and subtle acoustic guitars. The environment we are subjected to is refreshing and truly original. Sex On My Mind begins with a Mardi Gras section before it too makes way for beautiful guitars and gentle keys and eventual meteoric vocals and soaring chorus.
Where Stansfield maybe sets himself apart is in his originality and tracks like Soul Splitter can only add to his mystique as a double vocal meanders over almost random background noises. Stansfield has quite a voice.
Superman Thief is as solid a song as you’ll get and Furlongs Away is packed with sampled sounds, galloping micro-beats and general all-round cosy feelings. There’s often an undercurrent in Jay’s songs and listening carefully will expose you to some very clever wordplay too.
Birth And Death is, as the titles suggests an excursion through many styles and conundrums, and one which is well worth taking a peak at.
8.5/10
Links
Jay Stansfield website
Jay Stansfield on Twitter
Jay Stansfield on Facebook
8.5/10
Links
Jay Stansfield website
Jay Stansfield on Twitter
Jay Stansfield on Facebook
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Something About Fret:64
Article taken from the Clitheroe Advertiser & Times 06/09/13
It has been a momentous couple of weeks for new, up-and-coming local band Fret 64.
The group is made up of James Crane on rhythm guitar and vocals, Matt Popham on lead guitar, Tom Bamber on drums and vocals, and John Taylor on Bass Guitar. All four are aged 15 and attend Bowland High School.
Last month they recorded professionally for the first time; an EP of their own compositions titled “When I Think”, and on Sunday, August 25th, gave their first public performance, outdoors at Waddow Hall, in front of hundreds of youngsters.
The 40-minute set included some of their own songs and covers of songs by Muse and Kings of Leon, among others. They were so well received they were offered other gigs straight away, including one on Septermber 21st at Lowther Castle, Penrith, with an expected audience of 3,000-plus.
The boys all enjoyed the experience at Waddow Hall and spent 45 minutes afterwards signing CDs and taking part in photo shoots with their new fans.
Asked what they enjoyed most about the day, they said: “We were blown away when the stage crew told us we’d given the best performance of the weekend!
“The audience were great, we never expected to get such a great reception, and to have our first gig managed by a professional stage crew was really special.”
Monday, 27 July 2015
Gaunt Story - Nothing Holds You Like A Song
The following review was taken from hiapop Blog 27/03/15
Gaunt Story – Nothing Holds You Like a Song
DL
6 April 2015
Gaunt Story – Nothing Holds You Like a Song
DL
6 April 2015
Multi-instrumental D.I.Y. artist releases his new album.
Beating Manchester City in the Premiership maybe isn’t the only thing that Burnley can be proud of at the moment. Enter Rob Ashworth (aka Gaunt Story), a man capable of playing many an instrument and emitting some lovely vocals disguised as some of the most accomplished songs you could hear.
On is new album Ashworth continues his journey through picturesque musical scenarios which will have you moving and jiggling any appendage you wish in an attempt to immerse yourself in his sound. He’s not a pretentious guitar player either, no silly solos that disappear into an instantly forgettable oblivion, his playing is accomplished and worthy of attention in its own right.
Nothing Holds You Like A Song comprises of eleven tracks, each as entertaining as the other and best listened to in one sitting (although there will be many more) as it takes us on a weaving, escalating roam through gorgeous wordplay and rhyming couplets.
It’s difficult to compare Rob to anyone else although there must surely be others who possess a similar talent, but until we come across them we should embrace what he has to offer for the skill that it is. Album opener My Son The Liar begins with an addictive guitar pluck which is appealing in itself before even examining the Father/Son conversation which then unfolds.
Rob Ashworth it would seem, is more than a lyricist and songwriter. The man is a poet, and that’s a rare thing in today’s schizophrenic world of music. His words could be the subject of a stage reading and no-one would be any the wiser.
The intro to Forest Of The Lost bears more than a passing resemblance to English Rose (The Jam), but what follows continues the exquisite sound than Rob soon makes his own. Recent single, Seas Of Life ups the pace with an exciting bass that underpins a fascinating song with a chorus that remains in the ether long after the song has ended.
The title track starts unassumingly but soon expands into a full-blown affair with powerful percussion, sliding electric guitars and timely backing vocals. Drifting away into a blurred cacophony of sound and militarian drums.
More than just a guitar player, November Flows displays the skill of writing an off-kilter melody with drums that occasionally shuffle and tease a trip-hop beat to engage with stunning guitar work. Album closer, Dreams Of Man returns to the one man-one guitar formula which ends the collection sublimely.
8/10
Friday, 10 July 2015
Monday, 29 June 2015
Friday, 19 June 2015
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Monday, 1 June 2015
Keep An Eye Out.....
Keep your eyes open for our lovely HarFest leaflets which have been designed and printed by our friends at Orbital Design in Ramsbottom.
There will be two different designs - one featuring our headline act Martin Stephenson and the other listing all the Incredible acts that will be performing at Whitaker Park on Sunday 27 September. Each one will be backed by an Incredible Edible Harvest Celebration design.
Below is a sneaky peak of each one - we hope you like them!
Friday, 22 May 2015
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Friday, 1 May 2015
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