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| L-R: Marie Susplugas, Steve Sculpher, Rupert Chandler, Dany and Dave West. |
are a distinctive, versatile and musically
broadminded group of exceptionally talented musicians
from the Thames Valley (UK).Their songs combine a catalogue of contemporary styles into wonderfully listenable numbers delivered with great passion, feeling, warmth and intelligence. Styles range from driving blues-rock, through plugged-in laments like the brilliant Maria Bahran, acoustic songs with jazz and country elements, mellower soul/funk grooves tastefully blended with ambient folk-rock, to dramatic, in-yer-face stream-of-consciousness songs like These Images at one extreme and heart-warming gospel-style anthems such as Monument to Love at the other. Tuneful, memorable melody lines and colourful, seductive instrumentation are combined with songwriter Dany's graphic lyrics, sensitive yet commanding vocals and catchy refrains into fresh, evocative songs that come over well on casual listening yet incorporate plenty to invite deeper listening.
songs are often mistaken for
lost rock classics!
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| L-R: Martin Gray, Vince Cooper, Mark Cooper, Dany and Steve Sculpher. |
Inspired by mainman Dany, have now produced six CDs
of original songs covering acoustic numbers, vibrant rock songs and mellow, jazzier compositions,
and a new solo CD
Waiting Room
from Dany will soon be available.
The variations to 's lineup over the years have helped
prevent the band getting stuck in a rut with a single, predictable 'sound'.
The original lineup combined Vince Cooper's great guitar playing with extrordinarily liquid sax and flute from
Martin Gray, a master of space and timing.
Together they produced rock classics such as Maria Bahran, Fine Line and
Growing Wild, from
Out Of Our Heads Again, while its sister album Some Wide Horizon
captured 'unplugged',
with folkier songs like the beautiful Down at the Waterhole
and The Road to Paradise.
When Vince moved on and Steve Jones (ex Mungo Jerry) joined on keyboards, the result was a much jazzier sound, and great songs including 6 Billion Of Us and Faraway Friend emerged. More recent lineups have spawned more of a fusion era, with powerful songs including Vapour Trails, Blank Paper Syndrome, These Images - inspired by the 9/11 atrocity and featuring an amazing 5 tracks of layered guitar from Nick John - and the almost gospel-style Monument to Love. The last three of these appear on Irony's most recent and best album to date, Yeah, but... At the same time, Denise Baldwin added some spiritred sax playing for a few years after Martin left.
are masters at varying their lineup to suit the gig circumstances, whether electric
or acoustic. Anything from just
Dany on acoustic guitar and harmonica with Steve Sculpher, he of the flying fingers, on bass (4-string,
fretless or double).
Or the full-on 5-piece for a great rock sound, delivered
with passion, power and commitment.
Classically-trained viola player Marie Susplugas has now joined the band, to complement
Dave West's superb guitar licks, while
Rupert Chandler has returned to the drumkit.
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Full-length MP3s of the following songs are also available here for your enjoyment:
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I'm really loving that Maria Bahran song...it's very powerful and sensual at the same time. I'm having a hard time getting it out of my head.... Amanda Baughn, New Jersey |
(Most dial-up users should still be able to download the big
version in about 12-15
minutes.)Here are some photo pages of :
have disbanded for the time being as mainman Dany
has taken up a new opportunity in France. They
played a storming farewell party to a large, appreciative crowd
at the Duke of Connaught in Windsor on January 27th - photos here.
It was particularly good to see Martin Gray
in the audience - Martin made a major contribution to the earlier
albums and live shows.
| 30 January 2010 | Ganges, France | Piano du Roc | Dany plus guitarist Alain Cahuzac. Acoustic Soirée. |
| 27 February 2010 | Sete, France | New Capricorne (barge bar) | Dany plus guitarist Alain Cahuzac. Acoustic Soirée. |
| 27 March 2010 | Windsor, England | The Duke of Connaught | Irony. 9pm - admission free |
| Le Piano du Roc | Le Pont, 30440 Languedoc-Roussillon. Entre Ganges et Le Vigan. |
| New Capricorne | Quai Pierre Paul du Riquet, 34200 Sète, Languedoc-Roussillon. |
| Duke of Connaught | Arthur Road, Windsor. Leave the M4 at J6, heading for Windsor (A355/A332). Take first exit, after crossing the Thames, and left at roundabout. The pub is about 200 yards on the left. For the nearby car park, turn left at the following set of lights. |
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