I have been digging the sound out of Bath in the UK lately, okay… it has been my favorite this week. Though my favorites shift and change from week to week, it’s only because there is so much excellent music that I find and that shines in this ever-changing and expanding world of music. So here come The Heavy, a co-ed quintet from the outskirts of Bath, England.
Drawing on influences from funk, soul, blaxploitation film soundtracks, and the gritty garage rock of the Sonics. Guitarist Dan Taylor and vocalist Kelvin Swaby became friends in the 1990s, bonding over a shared appreciation for vintage R&B and Jim Jarmusch films. Joined by bassist Spencer Page, drummer Chris Ellul, and keyboardist Hannah Collins, the two launched their own act — the Heavy — and began combining Taylor’s distorted guitars with lo-fi samples, horns riffs, stomping percussion, and soulful Prince-styled vocals. The photogenic band made its studio debut in 2007, releasing several singles on the London-based Ninja Tunes label before issuing the full-length Great Vengeance and Furious Fire that fall. An American release followed in early 2008 on the newly minted +1 Records.
I also have a download for you all, “Coleen,” the excellent single from their new album.
The clincher is seeing them of course. Here are some videos from a contest they hosted to create a video for their single “Coleen”…
and one more, so you can see them in a live situation…
Peace.
Guru Amrit
Filed under: Freebie, Music, Video | Tagged: "coleen", ninja tune records, the heavy
Marcus … your a little behind … I made note of them a few weeks back on the ‘Hip Us To Something New’ blog!
lol…well noted, I am giving Kevin his propers. Maybe we can get this band some airplay then. I posted a song for review awhile ago and this blog is aimed at getting support for airplay, so let this be our ammo. Which song is your favorite from the album?….Kevin….you still there?
Ah, man, I wish that I had my iPod with me … that’s what I get for listening to RadioMilwaukee, harharhar.
Off the top of my head though, I concur on the selection of ‘Colleen’. I also really enjoy ‘That Kind Of Man’ … both those tracks sound like Curtis Mayfield being produced by Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad!