| William the Conqueror — Proud Disturber of the Peace (4 August 2017) |
William the Conqueror — Proud Disturber of the Peace (4 Aug. 2017)
♠ William The Conqueror sound like: A hoedown taking place in the Houses of Parliament.
♠ Similar artists: Band Of Horses, Courtney Marie Andrews, Admiral Fallow, Amy Macdonald Their story: William The Conqueror are three buddies and multi-instrumentalists from Cornwall, UK — Ruarri Joseph, Harry Harding and Naomi Holmes. Channeling grunge, blues and many more genres to underpin their predominantly Americana sound, they arrived into the musical world just recently with indie~sounding debut single In My Dreams. A new single entitled Tend To The Thorns, which in addition to their first single is taken from their forthcoming debut album out later this year, is due to come out on Friday. Kicking off their summer with a string of festival dates and support tours with The Americans and Danny & The Champions Of The World, things are looking up for this very promising trio.
© William the Conqueror at Sebright Arms Mike Garnell The Upcoming
Location: South West of England
Album release: 4 August 2017
Record Label: Loose
Duration: 45:18
Tracks:
01 In My Dreams 4:21
02 Tend to the Thorns 3:44
03 Did You Wrong 4:07
04 Pedestals 4:19
05 Sunny Is the Style 4:39
06 The Many Faces of a Good Truth 5:07
07 Proud Disturber of the Peace 5:15
08 Cold Ontario 5:01
09 Mind Keeps Changing 3:40
10 Manawatu 5:06
℗ 2017 Loose Music, under exclusive license from William The Conqueror
♠ William the Conqueror’s bluesy indie~Americana has already seen them head out to Nashville to perform at AmericanaFest, share a stage with the likes of Richard Thompson and Van Morrison courtesy of a nomination for Song of the Year at the UK Americana Awards, and sign to Loose Music, where they join an immensely impressive roster including Courtney Marie Andrews, Andrew Combs, Sturgill Simpson, The Handsome Family and Danny and the Champions of the World.
♠ Their eagerly awaited debut album is called Proud Disturber of the Peace and will be out on 4th August. Recorded in sessions that took the band from Cornwall right up to the Isle of Lewis and back again, the album features the multi~instrumental talents of Harry Harding, Naomi Holmes, and Ruarri Joseph, a name many folk fans may remember from his acclaimed solo output.
Review
by Amy Eskenazi | first published: 5 Aug 2017 | Score: ****
♠ 2017 seems to be the year of artists going solo, independent, or otherwise walking away from major record deals. Ruarri Joseph has established himself a member of this trend, leaving his solo folk career behind for more grungy shores, hoping that a new direction would allow him to loosen the restraints on his creativity which was otherwise being restricted by record label demands.
♠ Joseph’s new band William the Conqueror (featuring drummer Harry Harding and bassist Naomi Holmes) is another reminder that separating oneself from a major industry label can be artistically freeing, and their debut album Proud Disturber of the Peace is a sign that William the Conqueror know how to work that new found freedom into a consistent and enjoyable album.
♠ After one listen to the band’s debut release it is clear that trying to label Joseph’s newest project with a specific genre presents a challenge. There are hints of country in the guitar hooks and bluesy rhythms are peppered throughout the album, while the overall feel and the band’s laid back approach to performance says good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll.
♠ Thankfully, the range of genres produced by Joseph and co. are tightly held together by a consistent style that flows throughout the album and which leaves the listener in a dreamy state somewhere between the UK and middle America.
♠ The single Tend to the Thorns, a wistful love song carried by an infectious hook and a longing lyrical delivery, shows the best of what the three piece group can do, while newest single ‘Pedestals’ is a heartfelt confessional with an ethereal rhythm. Other highlights include ‘In My Dreams’, which is both a catchy blues inspired track and works as a mood setter for the record.
♠ Joseph draws more on some rock ‘n’ roll inspiration when ‘Did You Wrong’ is played live, the sometimes snarling vocals adding some bite to the post break~up ballad. The record is wrapped up in escapism with the ending ‘Manawatu’, about escaping New Zealand, sonically the most relaxed track on the album. ♠ https://www.musicomh.com/
Website: http://williamtheconqueror.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamtheconquerormusic/
_____________________________________________________________
| William the Conqueror — Proud Disturber of the Peace (4 August 2017) |
♠ Similar artists: Band Of Horses, Courtney Marie Andrews, Admiral Fallow, Amy Macdonald Their story: William The Conqueror are three buddies and multi-instrumentalists from Cornwall, UK — Ruarri Joseph, Harry Harding and Naomi Holmes. Channeling grunge, blues and many more genres to underpin their predominantly Americana sound, they arrived into the musical world just recently with indie~sounding debut single In My Dreams. A new single entitled Tend To The Thorns, which in addition to their first single is taken from their forthcoming debut album out later this year, is due to come out on Friday. Kicking off their summer with a string of festival dates and support tours with The Americans and Danny & The Champions Of The World, things are looking up for this very promising trio.
Location: South West of England
Album release: 4 August 2017
Record Label: Loose
Duration: 45:18
Tracks:
01 In My Dreams 4:21
02 Tend to the Thorns 3:44
03 Did You Wrong 4:07
04 Pedestals 4:19
05 Sunny Is the Style 4:39
06 The Many Faces of a Good Truth 5:07
07 Proud Disturber of the Peace 5:15
08 Cold Ontario 5:01
09 Mind Keeps Changing 3:40
10 Manawatu 5:06
℗ 2017 Loose Music, under exclusive license from William The Conqueror
♠ William the Conqueror’s bluesy indie~Americana has already seen them head out to Nashville to perform at AmericanaFest, share a stage with the likes of Richard Thompson and Van Morrison courtesy of a nomination for Song of the Year at the UK Americana Awards, and sign to Loose Music, where they join an immensely impressive roster including Courtney Marie Andrews, Andrew Combs, Sturgill Simpson, The Handsome Family and Danny and the Champions of the World.
♠ Their eagerly awaited debut album is called Proud Disturber of the Peace and will be out on 4th August. Recorded in sessions that took the band from Cornwall right up to the Isle of Lewis and back again, the album features the multi~instrumental talents of Harry Harding, Naomi Holmes, and Ruarri Joseph, a name many folk fans may remember from his acclaimed solo output.
Review
by Amy Eskenazi | first published: 5 Aug 2017 | Score: ****
♠ 2017 seems to be the year of artists going solo, independent, or otherwise walking away from major record deals. Ruarri Joseph has established himself a member of this trend, leaving his solo folk career behind for more grungy shores, hoping that a new direction would allow him to loosen the restraints on his creativity which was otherwise being restricted by record label demands.
♠ Joseph’s new band William the Conqueror (featuring drummer Harry Harding and bassist Naomi Holmes) is another reminder that separating oneself from a major industry label can be artistically freeing, and their debut album Proud Disturber of the Peace is a sign that William the Conqueror know how to work that new found freedom into a consistent and enjoyable album.
♠ After one listen to the band’s debut release it is clear that trying to label Joseph’s newest project with a specific genre presents a challenge. There are hints of country in the guitar hooks and bluesy rhythms are peppered throughout the album, while the overall feel and the band’s laid back approach to performance says good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll.
♠ Thankfully, the range of genres produced by Joseph and co. are tightly held together by a consistent style that flows throughout the album and which leaves the listener in a dreamy state somewhere between the UK and middle America.
♠ The single Tend to the Thorns, a wistful love song carried by an infectious hook and a longing lyrical delivery, shows the best of what the three piece group can do, while newest single ‘Pedestals’ is a heartfelt confessional with an ethereal rhythm. Other highlights include ‘In My Dreams’, which is both a catchy blues inspired track and works as a mood setter for the record.
♠ Joseph draws more on some rock ‘n’ roll inspiration when ‘Did You Wrong’ is played live, the sometimes snarling vocals adding some bite to the post break~up ballad. The record is wrapped up in escapism with the ending ‘Manawatu’, about escaping New Zealand, sonically the most relaxed track on the album. ♠ https://www.musicomh.com/
Website: http://williamtheconqueror.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamtheconquerormusic/
_____________________________________________________________