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Irony Filings- the official page

Last updated 8 May 2010

New gig dates added


Irony at the Duke of Connaught, Windsor on 27/9/2008
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!


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, Updated 8/5/10 and a new solo CD Waiting Room from Dany is now 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.


Song downloads from the new album Waiting Room:

Waiting Room

She's Legendary

Words of Wisdom

The Mistral is a Wicked Wind

Downloads


Photo Gallery

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Latest news

26 September 2009
Dany's new solo CD Waiting Room will soon be available. You can listen to some of the tracks here or on MySpace.
18 October 2008
Denise Baldwin has now left to journey to South America, but Dany has found a superb replacement in classically-trained French viola player Marie Susplugas, adding a richer texture to the songs. Rupert Chandler, meanwhile, has returned to be the band's regular drummer again.
29 January 2006
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.

Reviews


Gig dates

3 June 2010 Sète, France O-Dit-Vin (tapas wine bar) Dany plus guitarist Alain Cahuzac. Aperitif concert, 7–10pm
2 July 2010 Ganges, France Piano du Roc Four-piece rock lineup with Dany, Steve, Rupert and guitarist Alain Cahuzac. Top billing at 'Nuit du Piano', main music event of the year – outside.

Directions (click links for details/maps)

O-Dit-Vin   12 quai Rhin et Danube, 34200 Sète.
Le Piano du Roc   Le Pont, 30440 Languedoc-Roussillon. Entre Ganges et Le Vigan.

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Feel free to mail us with any comments or questions.


What's new on this site

26 September 2009
Song downloads from new solo album Waiting Room added.
Waiting Room details added to Discography page.
18 October 2008
Windsor photos September 29th added.
Lineups section and News updated.

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