 |
|
|||
 |
Tandy Hard - Tandy Hard
It's difficult to resist the instant urge to brand Tandy Hard's Andrew Willis as the south's Richard Hawley. With a velveteen sheen to his music and a lyrical elegance that walks a fine and sophisticated line between Scott Walker and Edwyn Collins he's a singer/songwriter who talks with the same stately romance and bittersweet aura of Sheffield's finest son.
As an integral part of Devon's excellent Drift Records such comparisons will suit Willis. Hawley's reputation as a fashion-resistant balladeer have garnered him a passionate and committed fan-base of musical waifs and strays desperately seeking some soul in their UK music. 'Tandy Hard' will appeal instantly to this rag-tag community. If he's not careful, Willis could well be sitting on a cult classic album here and it's not hard to see precisely why.
At eleven songs in length, this is a delightfully elegant listen from beginning to end. From the opening splendour of 'I Guess' Willis caresses each of these songs with the delicate and cherished touch of a true craftsman. Painstakingly adding fine detail (miniscule string parts add a lovely texture throughout the LP), each song seems smooth to the touch with Willis' dry-wit and lyrical flair working in tandem to tie these gentle folk songs together into an album that feels so much more than the mere sum of its parts.
Highlights themselves are plentiful; 'War Songs' is a beautiful downbeat ode that comes to life with the addition of Jane Bartholomew's whispered backing vocals (giving the impression of a subdued and string-laden Delgados), 'Stockholm' is a galloping folk-rock stomp, whilst the closing epic of 'Tandy Hard' piles on the melodrama as it swells to its rather impressive climax.
It's a faultless debut that deliberately sits beyond the confines of fashion. If Richard Hawley can carve himself such an impressive niche then there's no reason for thinking Willis won't be too far behind.
'Tandy Hard' is released on 1st September through Drift Records.
Matt Brown
www.driftrecords.co.uk
As an integral part of Devon's excellent Drift Records such comparisons will suit Willis. Hawley's reputation as a fashion-resistant balladeer have garnered him a passionate and committed fan-base of musical waifs and strays desperately seeking some soul in their UK music. 'Tandy Hard' will appeal instantly to this rag-tag community. If he's not careful, Willis could well be sitting on a cult classic album here and it's not hard to see precisely why.
At eleven songs in length, this is a delightfully elegant listen from beginning to end. From the opening splendour of 'I Guess' Willis caresses each of these songs with the delicate and cherished touch of a true craftsman. Painstakingly adding fine detail (miniscule string parts add a lovely texture throughout the LP), each song seems smooth to the touch with Willis' dry-wit and lyrical flair working in tandem to tie these gentle folk songs together into an album that feels so much more than the mere sum of its parts.
Highlights themselves are plentiful; 'War Songs' is a beautiful downbeat ode that comes to life with the addition of Jane Bartholomew's whispered backing vocals (giving the impression of a subdued and string-laden Delgados), 'Stockholm' is a galloping folk-rock stomp, whilst the closing epic of 'Tandy Hard' piles on the melodrama as it swells to its rather impressive climax.
It's a faultless debut that deliberately sits beyond the confines of fashion. If Richard Hawley can carve himself such an impressive niche then there's no reason for thinking Willis won't be too far behind.
'Tandy Hard' is released on 1st September through Drift Records.
Matt Brown
www.driftrecords.co.uk
In the first of an (ir)regular new series, FDM.com looks to highlight the gallant...
Since dropping through Fresh Deer Meat's letterbox 14 days ago, Ten Kens' eponymous debut has not been off the stereo. Teetering midway between gonzo rock and...
Pulling threads gently from the genres of folk and blues she weaves together a blithe...
The release of 'Silver Jew' is perhaps a small attempt to help demystify David Berman and The Silver Jews...
It's difficult to resist the instant urge to brand Tandy Hard's Andrew Willis as the south's Richard Hawley. With a velveteen sheen to his music and a lyrical elegance...
The world they're painstakingly recreating is one of dust-bowl Americana - cheap motels, huge skies, colossal pick-ups and some pure rural hedonism. It's this pin-pointed...
Wholeheartedly endorsed by one of America's most under-valued lyricists, John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats, Bowerbirds arrive on these shores with a hearty reputation to fulfil.
For sure Godreau shares some unquestionable common-ground with the female singer-songwriters she evidently wishes to distance herself from...
The author Jack London has a stranglehold over a certain kind of guy. Those that dream of wilderness and draw romance from the desolate swathes of rural North America...
'The Company I Can Get' is a fine first step on this rocky, well-populated road. It edges along at a snail's pace...
With a voice that's warm and lilting she wanders through the country-rock playground drawing inspiration for songs that range from upbeat bar-brawl hoedowns through to gentile moments of gospel-tinged Americana.
Where once Molina would be pigeon-holed as a 'world music' artist, now her reach is broader and she seems intent on bridging the rather ominous gap between world and pop music. 'Un Dia' is her first real foray on this journey and it's a brave and engaging
Much has already been written about the Canadian alt-rock scene and its rampant creativity. Arcade Fire may have been responsible for lending the UK mainstream some semblance of quality and integrity over the last couple of years but it's always been the
Squeezed like sardines into a dilapidated barn in the middle of the Oxfordshire countryside we stand in quiet ore. In the midst of the splendid Truck Festival a young band have taken to the stage and - bereft of any kind of fanfare - have blown our collec
Effervescent in spades, 'Volume One' nonetheless is a recording of delightful simplicity...
This is a gentle thrill-ride that rattles dreamily between the rails of experimentation and pop...
A few listens in and 'Stay Positive' takes on the infinite bulk of an unravelling novella...
