The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project – ‘The Task Has Overwhelmed Us’ (Glitterhouse Records)

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project – ‘The Task Has Overwhelmed Us’ (Glitterhouse Records)

Featuring Dave Gahan, Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan, Warren Ellis, Mick Harvey, Lydia Lunch, Mark Stewart, Jim Jones, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Hayes, The Coathangers, Suzie Stapleton, Duke Garwood & more. If that list doesn’t set your musical taste buds tingling then I don’t know what will. Quite simply I got excited way back when I first heard there was going to be a volume four of Jeffrey Lees sessions. I loved Gun Club from the very first time I heard their music and everything thereafter moving through the posthumous releases I couldn’t get enough so when these releases came out and seeing the list of contributors I was delighted and this is no exception.

Ten years in the making by the late Gun Club titan’s guitarist Cypress Grove, the Project has always
aimed to highlight Pierce as one of America’s most fascinatingly influential singer-songwriters of
the last century while propelling his outpourings into modern times by placing it in the hands of
former collaborators, friends and fans. Following 2009’s We Are Only Riders, 2012’s The Journey Is Long, and 2014’s Axels and Sockets, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us presents stellar interpretations of tracks from Pierce’s Gun Club and solo canons along with fresh works constructed from rehearsal skeletons its simply exquisite. Described as a wild ride doesn’t do it justice from these skeletons and Frankenstein songs have been fleshed out into lean mean rockin machines from Depeche modes Dave Gahan’s opening haunted piano ballad take on ‘Mother of Earth’ through, Mark Lanegan singing ‘Go Tell The Mountain’ backed by Ellis and Cave (who back Jeffrey himself on ‘Yellow Eyes’) is simply haunting and the warmth in the vocal is spine-tingling. Cave duetting beautifully with Debbie Harry again on ‘On the Other Side’. The blitzkrieg bop of ‘Debbie By The Christmas Tree’ is only matched by a thumping Jim Jones ‘Going Down The Red River’.

If it’s beautiful balladeering then Suzie Stapleton doing ‘Secret Fires’ will give you the chills. But the Debbie Harry and Nick Cave duet is simply wonderful no need for superlatives it walks the walk and talks the talk. there are eighteen tracks on offer and I could recount them all and their majestic beauty but I’ll trust you to buy this and revel in the genius and beauty of the music and these interpretations. Jeffrey Lee Pierce went too soon, way too soon he had so much more to offer on top of what he did leave us. Just buy it! it’s worth every second of your time.

Buy Here

Author:Dom Daley

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Suzie Stapleton ‘Angel Speak’ video

Suzie Stapleton ‘Angel Speak’ video

from album  ‘WE ARE THE PLAGUE’
Negative Prophet Records/Cargo Records
VOTED TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2020 
“A dazzling debut album of guitar rock, fused with the primal spirit of blues and gospel… Blending the spirit of Patti Smith and PJ Harvey with the soul of Nick Cave and Mark Lanegan.

The album, which Stapleton self-produced, was recorded with her band which shares members with The Stranglers and Jim Jones Revue. However, ‘Angel Speak’ is a stripped back affair with Stapleton making a switch to acoustic guitar and her delicate vocal taking centre stage.

Stapleton filmed and edited the video herself, collecting footage through the changing seasons over the past year around her home town of Brighton. “A year,” she says, “when great beauty has shone from small things often taken for granted and passed by in the rush of life.” Full press release below.

Stapleton will be playing her first shows in 20 months supporting Humanist in the UK in October. She is also working on a follow up album with funding from Arts Council UK.

Suzie Stapleton
Tour Dates October 2021
Supporting Humanist 

Saturday 23rd – Academy 3, MANCHESTER
Monday 25th – The Prince Albert, BRIGHTON
Tuesday 26th – The Lexington, LONDON (Sold Out)

Suzie Stapleton – ‘September’

Suzie Stapleton – ‘September’

From debut album ‘WE ARE THE PLAGUE’ released July 31st
on Negative Prophet Records / Cargo Records

As Autumn creeps through the door, Suzie Stapleton has unveiled a timely new film clip for the appropriately titled track ‘September’.  ‘September’ is the fourth single from the Brighton-based artist’s self-produced debut album ‘We
Are The Plague’ which was released on July 31st via Negative Prophet Records. The album,  which weaves it’s way through alternative rock to gothic-blues and dark-folk, has been stacking up praise with Stapleton being compared to Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Emma Ruth Rundle, and Mark Lanegan. ‘We Are The Plague’ was voted into Louder Than War’s Top 22 Albums of 2020 So Far in July and tracks from the album have been played on BBC6, Radio Eins,
Double J and more.

Whilst ‘We Are The Plague’ is the defiant call of a generation sold down the river, ‘September‘ takes a more introspective turn. Stapleton’s band – bassist Gavin Jay (who also filmed and edited the video) of Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind and drummer Jim Macaulay of The Stranglers – rumble beneath Stapleton’s driving guitar lines which are reminiscent of an unhinged Thurston Moore. Lyrically Stapleton doesn’t disappoint with a feverish shamanistic outpouring as the song crescendos and her dry-wit shining through with lines such as ‘Muses don’t
get royalties’.

It seems Stapleton is keeping up the pace on other fronts, recently making a cameo on backing vocals on Crippled Black Phoenix’s single ‘Cry of Love’ from their forthcoming album ‘Ellengæst’ . Stapleton also contributes guitar to a Bauhaus rendition on the album which is set for release on October 9th via Season of Mist. Stapleton met Crippled Black Phoenix via their 2014 collaboration on The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project which Stapleton
contributed to whilst still based in Australia.

Stapleton’s next live dates are in February supporting Humanist in London, Manchester, and Brighton.

Suzie Stapleton is touring the UK Feb 2021 supporting Humanist

6th Yes (The Pink Room) MANCHESTER (solo)
8th The Prince Albert, BRIGHTON (full band)
9th The Lexington, LONDON (solo)
BUY TICKETS HERE

 

 

Suzie Stapleton- ‘We are the plague’ (Negative Prophet Records)

Suzie Stapleton- ‘We are the plague’ (Negative Prophet Records)

I have to admit, I’ve been waiting for this LP to land and after living with it for a couple of weeks, the jury’s in absolutely no doubt this is my LP of the year so far. No mention of past influences, this is Suzie Stapleton finding her own identity, I’ve watched her develop over the last few years, both live and on record and this is so far from the singer I saw in Camden that it’s unreal. I couldn’t on that day believe the sound that was created in an acoustic setting and the fragility and in equal amounts intensity that I witnessed within that performance are resident in Spades here.

 

The Stark Nihilism presented, really is a thing of Beauty an aural assault on the senses that leaves you breathless, stunned and with an all-together different mindset, this is the impact that really good music should always have on the listener.

 

As we weave our way through the opener “We are the plague” you really take on board the significance of the vocal message, the dark history attached and the bleak landscape of a potential future.  The eastern influence within the guitar- work , first looks to and then draws us into almost Eastern Meandering, full of esoteric imagery but underpinning the journey is a vocal line that just holds you mesmerized.

 

The feral guitar that sears its way through “Thylacine” (the single that was released to raise funds for the Australian Bush fire support) really hits you full on and before you know it you’re into “Blood on the windscreen” another of the singles, this has a great Rock and Roll feel, not as intense as the openers but way above what’s come out so far this year in any genre. As “September” weaves its way forward you’re drawn into the story unfolding, a storyboard of images moving from verse to verse.  Pausing to draw breath, the reality is that this LP is a little bit special, and the distance traveled since Obladi Diablo is huge.

 

As you listen through next up ‘The river song” the, to me, native American imagery and soundscape, provides a great intro to what is probably my favourite track on the LP “Angel Speak”, fragile, intense, in turns, weaving a portrait full of imagery.

 

“You were there” with its almost somber tones, part accusatory, part accepting holds you in its grasp, with no easing until it’s done. I think for myself, looking back at this album, what really grips you is the vivid imagery conjured up, each story or vignette having a life and feel all of its own. “In the Darkness” and “Silence in my bones” take you in all sorts of directions, before we’re finished off with ‘Negative Prophet” and if you look back at the video that supported the release with the “Impeach God” that flashes across the screen you realize this is the perfect message for a bleak dystopian future, this is powerful stuff. So what do we have?

 

Question: Is it the LP of the year so far?

Answer: Absolutely, a thing of real dark beauty.

 

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Author: Nev Brooks

 

THEE HYPNOTICS CONFIRM SUPPORT ACTS FOR UK & EUROPEAN 2020 SPRING TOUR

THEE HYPNOTICS CONFIRM SUPPORT ACTS FOR UK & EUROPEAN 2020 SPRING TOUR

Thee Hypnotics have confirmed the full supporting bill for their upcoming UK and European tour. In addition to topping the bill at the Fuzzville Festival in Alicante in Spain, the legendary testifiers will be bringing their devastating live show to Birmingham, Leeds, London, Ramsgate, Southampton and Cardiff.

 

Each date will have a different support act and adding to the ramalama are rockers Black Bombers (Birmingham), Teeside punk’n’rollers Johnny Seven (Leeds), downtuned desert rockers Sky Valley Mistress and chronicler of the dark Suzie Stapleton (London), grunge revivalists The Nightmares (Ramsgate) and punk rockers The Glorias (Southampton).

 

Suzie Stapleton will also support in Cardiff.

 

Thee Hypnotics reunited in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus to play sold-out dates across the UK and Europe in support of the career-spanning and re-mastered vinyl boxset, Righteously Recharged. Featuring the classic line-up of co-founders Jim Jones (vocals) and Ray Hanson (guitar), with Phil Smith (drums) and Jeremy Cottingham (bass), Thee Hypnotics will once again deliver their sonic payload with a savage intensity.

 

“We’re really pleased to be joined by so many good bands,” says frontman Jim Jones. “It means that each and every night of this tour is going to be offering more bang for your buck. You’ll definitely be getting a proper night out.”

 

Tickets for all the shows are available via Thee Hypnotics’ website at theehypnotics.com

 

Thee Hypnotics play

 

MARCH 2020

 

19 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham UK (w/Black Bombers)

20 – The Warehouse, Leeds UK (w/Johnny Seven)

21 – The Dome, London UK (w/Sky Valley Mistress and Suzie Stapleton)

22 – Music Hall, Ramsgate UK (w/The Nightmares)

24 – The Joiners, Southampton UK (w/The Glorias)

25 – The Globe, Cardiff (w/Suzie Stapleton)

28 – Fuzzville, Alicante ES

Website: https://www.theehypnotics.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theehypnoticsofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theehypnotics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theehypnoticsofficial

Suzie Stapleton releases Australian Bushfire Fundraiser

Suzie Stapleton releases Australian Bushfire Fundraiser

Special release to raise money for wildlife injured in the Australian bushfires. All proceeds will go to Wildlife Victoria.

This digital download of ‘Thylacine’ includes a bonus, previously unreleased track ‘Song of Murray’s Brigade’, an adaptation of a 1940 poem by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson.  Purchase Here

Suzie said about this fundraiser, “ I have been completely heartbroken watching the destruction caused by the fires in Australia. I’ve created a special release to raise money for Wildlife Victoria to help injured and displaced wildlife.

This digital release of ‘Thylacine’ includes an exclusive, previously unreleased bonus track called ‘Song of Murray’s Brigade’ which is an adaptation of a 1940 poem by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. It was recorded at the same time as ‘Song of Artesian Water’ (another adaptation of Paterson’s poetry) though hasn’t been available to purchase previously. The song is stripped back with acoustic guitar and Gareth Skinner on cello.

Many of the species that have been affected by these fires were already threatened or endangered due to factors such as habitat loss from land clearing for agriculture and urban development, invasive species, and pressures from extreme heat caused by climate change and ongoing drought. These fires pose a huge threat for their ongoing survival, but we still have a chance to help and ensure that they don’t end up in the history books next to the thylacine (now extinct).

The cost for both tracks is £5, though you can pay as much as you want. 100% of proceeds will go to Wildlife Victoria. This release will be available for a limited time. Every little bit helps”.

 

Suzie Stapleton – vocals & guitar
Gavin Jay – bass
Jim Macaulay – drums
Gareth Skinner – cello

 

To make a contribution click: Here

SUZIE STAPLETON Announces New Single ‘THYLACINE’ And Run Of Live Dates

SUZIE STAPLETON Announces New Single ‘THYLACINE’ And Run Of Live Dates

Acclaimed chronicler of the dark Suzie Stapleton has announced the release of her new single, ‘Thylacine’, and a five-date UK tour. Both herald the release of her highly anticipated debut album, ‘We Are The Plague’, which is due in the spring.

Released on 29 November via AWAL as a digital-only release, ‘Thylacine’ finds Suzie Stapleton in compelling form. Tying in with the apocalyptic themes that inform ‘We Are The Plague’, the new single is suffused with a sense of drama and an ethereal intensity that marks her down as a very special talent. This is music that seduces, compels and haunts.

“When I started writing for this album, I felt a sense of responsibility to address what was going on in the world. We’re bombarded constantly by horrific news, stuck on a broken systemic hamster wheel. I felt stupid writing about my insignificant woes whilst the world burned around me,” explains Stapleton.

Joining Suzie Stapleton’s live band are bassist Gavin Jay from Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind and Yann Tierson drummer Dave Collingwood. The Stranglers’ drummer Jim Macauley brings his talents to the studio.

“I approach the art of recording differently to performing songs live,” continues Stapleton. “There’s energy during live performances that can turn songs into a different beast. I expect that these new songs will evolve and begin to draw breath during these dates.”

Produced by Suzie Stapleton, ‘Thylacine’ and ‘We Are The Plague’ were recorded at OX4 Studios in Oxfordshire and Stapleton’s home studio and were mixed by award-winning engineer Dan Cox, whose previous credits include Thurston Moore’s ‘The Best Day’.

Suzie Stapleton plays:

DECEMBER

07 – Paper Dress Vintage, London

JANUARY

04 – The Carlisle, Hastings
24 – The Brunswick, Brighton
25 – Rough Trade, Bristol

 

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