New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The Cornelius Crane, a multi-instrumentalist alt-Americana band from East Manchester are mixing up the influences of the best of seventies Americana with the best of British prog & Mancunian folk traditions.
Frontman Steve Wilson has been a cornerstone of Manchester music for many years fronting cult Madchester band Bong, the experimental Plastic Gun Alliance and
Smile Like Fools who were courted by Miles Copeland, before his later band, also called Wilson, signed a deal with Fiction.
As a producer, Wilson has worked on albums for ex Chameleons drummer & guitarist John Lever & Dave Fielding, seventies punk legends Ed Banger & the Nosebleeds, rising stars Mary
Joanna & the Southern Electrikk and Audioweb frontman Sugar Merchant with his band SupaJamma.
The line up is completed by brothers Dan & Mark Adams formerly of Valve, Jonathan Jackson & Paul Higham who joined Steve Wilson in Plastic Gun Alliance and guitarist/vocalist Jonny Roberts.
Following well received performances on this summer festival circuit and the release of three EPs to a strong critical response, the band have attracted fans from across the UK and strong radio support.
Ahead of the release of their recently completed album, The Cornelius Crane return with a three track EP 'Soul in the Lightening'
Steve Wilson - Guitars & lead Vocals
Mark Adams - Bass & backing Vocals
Dan Adams -
Drums & backing Vocals
Jonathan Jackson - Organ
Jonny Roberts - Pedal Steel , Guitars, backing Vocals
Paul Higham - banjo
Links
https://www.thecorneliuscrane.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/thecornelius.crane
https://www.twitter.com/clubcornelius
https://soundcloud.com/stereokill-recordings
www.stereokillrecordings.com
Previous Reviews for The Cornelius Crane
"All 4 tracks stand up, not one a filler and due to a fantastic/clear production together with those soaring choruses, superb musicianship and heartfelt homage to its US influences, this EP might be one of your favourite releases from any Manchester group this year." Louder Than War
"The Cornelius Crane brought me back to that sweet mellow resonance of John, Paul,
George and Ringo playing through "For No One." For something that starts a little "eh?" it sure turns into something out of the ordinary. With a little exposure The Cornelius Crane has the potential to turn into the next big thing". Vents Magazine
"Providing compelling examples of how rootsy old-fashioned song craft can be elevated by fluid musicianship & ambitious arrangements. All dovetailing vocal harmonies, bare-bones strings, luscious pedal steel and lyrics of keening realism. They bring to mind a more reigned in
Mercury Rev / Band of Horses brand of cosmic country." Metro
Kicking Harold-Kill You
Kicking Harold are modern rock alchemists, synthesizing hard rock, alternative, metal and dance-pop elements, to generate radio gold. But this isn't some hollow sleight of hand. New album Red Light District boasts twelve expertly sequenced potential singles poised to erupt on multiple platforms. And every slugger in this murderers' row boasts a home run hook, from the supercharged strut of lead track 'American Nitro' ("I'm crazy / like De Niro, Scorsese") to the passionate entreaty of the newly-resuscitated 'Kill You' ("Would it kill you if I told you I loved you?")
The first order of business is to do right by Kicking Harold's loyal, patient fan base. 'Kill You' originally appeared on the band's 1996 MCA debut, Ugly & Festering. But due to spools of red tape that would strangle a lesser band, the fan favorite has long been out of print. Luckily, frontman Tim
David Kelly conceived a novel solution: rerecording and modernising 'Kill You' as Red Light District's centerpiece single.
"I wanted to retrack Kill You to give something back to the original fans who can't get it anymore, and also use it as kind of a rebooting of the franchise for new fans, as they say,"
Kelly laughs. "People still love this song and we still play it live, so it made sense to give it some new life and a really cool new video as well."
Indeed, Kicking Harold are that rare breed of band who recognises, respects and learns from their past. Fans of auto makeover reality show Overhaulin' (originally on TLC, recently revamped on Velocity/Discovery) will recognise staccato rager "
Gasoline" as the theme music.
Kelly credits this placement for saving his band. After third album Space Age Breakdown, members had gone their separate ways and
Kelly was prioritising his production work (he has an impressive litany of TV and film credits). But Overhaulin' unexpectedly made a sleeper hit out of Gasoline. Generating millions of YouTube views and awakening the hibernating Kicking Harold once again. Always striving to stay on top of preserving the band's legacy,
Kelly subsequently reissued Space Age Breakdown in 2006 with extra tracks, recorded and released the band's forth album Zombies, Cars & Evil Guitars in 2010, and re-released the ultra rare second album, Return Of The Bulbmen in early 2014.
Back to the future, Red Light District offers the perfect balance of classic and contemporary.
Kelly loves the big riffs and dancier elements of new jacks like Young the Giant and Shiny Toy Guns, (see: 'Drinkin' to Forget You', 'Dance to the Radio'), but also the melodic thunder of ageless grunge heroes like
Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots.
"I have always tried to make albums where you have pretty, acoustic things next to really heavy, riffy stuff, so there is a broader range of material,"
Kelly says. "I like heavy music, but I am also very attached to melodies. I try to put the two together to get it as rocking as I can, while never losing the hooks, the pop part."
That explains Red Light District's lone cover: Kelly's unique take on INXS' sultry 1987 smash 'Need You Tonight', which explodes with auto-wah attitude "I felt like their songs were made to be done heavier-they always sound like heavy riffs to me, just done with clean guitar."
Kelly says, going on to underscore Kicking Harold's winning philosophy: "I learned from a producer a long time ago that if you're gonna do a cover, do a #1 song, because it'll always be a #1 song." Now that he's all caught up tying his past to the present,
Kelly can finally go about the business of delivering Kicking Harold's own hits.
Joined by guitarist Bret Domrose and drummer
Peter Burke,
Kelly has once again pulled Kicking Harold's Delorean out of the garage with the flux capacitor set to rock 2015 & beyond.
https://kickingharold.com/album/215129/kill-you?autostart=true
