Monday, 20 November 2017

The Wandering Hearts share debut EP ‘Burning Bridges’ (Review)


THE WANDERING HEARTS
Burning Bridges (EP)




Burning Bridges / Nobody’s Fool / Never Expected This/ No One’s Gonna Love You
Release Date: 17 Nov 2017)
Time: 14:24
Label: Decca (UMO)
Genre: Indie & Alternative

Chart success: Debut Fri 17 Nov: #38 UK Alternative iTunes (#227 overall UK Albums chart), then #12 Alternative iTunes (#62 overall UK Albums chart) then #56 | Mon 20 Nov: #39 Alternative iTunes (#241 overall UK Albums)

The Wandering Hearts who comprise vocal harmony group Tara (Tara Wilcox), Chess (Francesca Whiffin), AJ (Alexander John Dean-Revington) and Tim (Timothy Prottey-Jones) fairly burst onto the Folk Americana/ country scene in 2017 with the release of their superb debut single, the bittersweet "Wish I Could," back on May 5, 2017.
Their first London show at St. Pancras Old Church (26th April 2017) was a sell-out, and the single was championed by Michael Ball and his team at BBC Radio 2. Then on August 19th Radio 2 “B” playlisted their brilliant catchy follow-up single "Devil".
Fresh from recently hearing they have been honoured winning The Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award (to be presented at The UK Americana Awards in Feb 2018) in somewhat of a quiet release they have now surprised fans with a 4-track EP BURNING BRIDGES with the title cut and an additional three acoustic tracks produced by Ant Whiting.
With its delicate acoustic opening with a soft cello bittersweet tale Burning Bridges questions and points a compass on the love merry-go-round-difficulties of losing one’s way in a relationship.
Although it seems there’s no turning back, there’s a distant reassuring plea to patch up differences when reaching out: You can’t see but if put your hand in mine and it will be alright
But it seems it’s all in vain from the female’s standpoint:
I’ve tried it all but nothing has worked yet, I’ve given all that I can give
And after all that I’ve been searching, can we put this thing to rest

The harmonies are tight and beautiful with a lovely open and somewhat eerie sound. Although references have been made likening The Wandering Hearts to Fleetwood Mac I feel, especially on this track, there’s more close resemblances to American folk-rock quartet Bryndle (who consisted of singer-songwriters the late Andrew Gold, Karla Bonoff, the late Kenny Edwards and Wendy Waldman) with an equally gorgeous sound.

With its Lindsey Buckingham-esque acoustic rhythm, Nobody’s Fool is a bouncy number they showcased at the Country To Country C2C 2017 Festival on The Big Entrance Stage to an appreciative audience on Sunday March 12, 2017. It’s a song that pulls no punches after a hazy, drunken night filled with regret and later tears.
Tara, whose vocal has more angst and rawness in contrast to the softer tones of Chess share the lead vocal duties taking no prisoners to escape the craziness, as hollow words are dismissed playing the female protagonists role with AJ and Tim providing the harmonic ooohs

On the beautiful slow-paced shuffle Never Expected This, with AJ on lead, it conveys a story where unexpectedly love finds a comforting home and its warmth melts a frosted heart. In just a moment, a smile and one kiss two searching souls unite. The joy is intense and is raised vocally as the song flows seamlessly
Heaven knows what I expected, but I never expected this
I never expected this,
Never for a moment
I never expected this
But my heart has found its home

Another love related song No One’s Gonna Love You closes out the 4-tracker. It’s a cover of Seattle based American rock band Band Of Horses single first released in February 2008 as the second single from sophomore release CEASE TO BEGIN. The song went on to have chart success in Europe some three years later in Denmark.
Putting their own twist on the track, it seems to be a perfect fit for The Hearts as firstly Tim and then AJ on lead are joined on harmony by Tara and Chess. The result is pure delight showing that each member is more than capable of expressing the emotion. The synergy is breath-taking with production that is restrained allowing their qualities to shine.
This exciting taster will leave fans eager to hear and get their hands on a full album which is expected to drop in the early part of 2018. Terrific stuff!

Adrian Clark

Press Release:

THE WANDERING HEARTS
SHARE DEBUT EP ‘BURNING BRIDGES’
ANNOUNCED AS WINNERS OF BOB HARRIS EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
AT UK AMERICANA AWARDS 2018

Within 30 minutes of uploading their first demo online, the London band were discovered. When you hear them perform, it’s easy to see why.” – Telegraph

Their music is a British twist on everything you love about the classic Fleetwood Mac plus some of the finest harmonies you’ll have heard in years.” – Record Of The Day

There’s no doubt that Folk-Americana group The Wandering Hearts have taken the UK music scene by storm this year with a string of high profile performances and sold out shows. The momentum is set to continue with the announcement of their debut EP Burning Bridges, out on Decca Records on 17th November 2017.
































This week, it was announced that the band have won the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award at The UK Americana Awards 2018. Handpicked by Bob Harris OBE himself, this special award celebrates the breakthrough act that has particularly impressed the legendary music broadcaster throughout the year. The award ceremony will take place at Hackney Empire on 1 February 2018, where the band will accept their award and perform live.

Often performed off-mic during their live shows, the EP’s title track ‘Burning Bridges’ has the power to completely silence a room. The haunting vocal arrangement and gentle accompaniment highlight the captivating lyrics, giving the audience space to connect with the song’s themes. The EP showcases another two live favourites, ‘Nobody’s Fool and ‘Never Expected This, alongside a stunning cover of ‘No One’s Gonna Love You by Band Of Horses.

Speaking of the track, The Wandering Hearts say, “Burning Bridges is about reaching out to those around you to find some hope in the world when you feel lost, alone and don’t know who to trust. The EP brings together some of the earliest songs we worked on as a band, when we met almost serendipitously and everything kind of fell into place. We’re excited to get these songs out into the world ahead of our debut album.”

With their seamless vocal harmonies, The Wandering Hearts are reminiscent of First Aid Kit and Of Monsters and Men, whilst channelling Fleetwood Mac’s pop sensibility and the storytelling of Chris Stapleton, all the while keeping their British roots at their heartBand members AJ, Chess, Tim and Tara are all grafters – working hard to hone their skills as musicians, and the standard is there to be seen. Hearing how naturally their voices blend together, it’s incredible they met almost by chance two years ago. Their shared passion for folk, Americana, vocal harmonies and gin drew them together, and one afternoon in an empty bar room of the Earl Haig Hall in Crouch End, The Wandering Hearts were born.

The Wandering Hearts have been writing and recording their debut album at east London recording studio, The Premises with producer Pete Hammerton. The EP brings together ‘Burning Bridges’ from the album sessions with three acoustic tracks produced by Ant Whiting. ‘Nobody’s Fool’ – “one for the girls”, ‘Never Expected This’ – “about unwittingly stumbling into love”, plus band favourite ‘No One’s Gonna Love You’ by Band Of Horses, reworked in The Wandering Heart’s distinctive style.


In-between recording dates, The Wandering Hearts have played two sold out shows in London, and a string of summer festivals across the country including British Summer Time Hyde Park – sharing the bill with the late Tom PettyStevie Nicks and The Lumineers – Bestival, Cornbury, Secret Garden Party and Standon Calling. 

The band recently completed a UK tour supporting the legendary Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and are set to join Marty again in Nashville in June 2018.

Speaking of the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award, The Wandering Hearts say, “We are overwhelmed to be acknowledged at this stage of our career and to be recognised by the legend that is Bob Harris, makes it even more incredible. We can’t wait for 2018 – the Americana Awards, releasing our debut album, touring the UK and a trip to Nashville - it’s a dream come true, can it get better than this? We are honoured to be AMA-UK ambassadors!”

The BURNING BRIDGES EP was released on Decca Records on the 17th November 2017, with a full album to follow in early 2018, which promises to be a thrilling debut from this exciting new band.

See related BLOG POST (Sept 2017):

CONNECT with The Wandering Hearts:
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