A top tip for anyone who wants me to pay attention to their music: name-drop Chemikal Underground. I mean, don’t just lie and claim you’re signed to them, or anything; but if there is a connection, it’s definitely worth flagging up. Will Hanson did. And lo, I find myself writing about him.
Following the break-up of his previous band, Proxy, Paris-born Will left London for Glasgow, via New York – as you do. Why anyone would pick Glasgow over Edinburgh is beyond me, but there you go. I suppose they do have pretty much the best music scene in Britain over there on the west coast (obviously the fact that I’m Scottish in no way biases my opinion against, say, Sheffield, Manchester or London). From there he spins a deceptively dark, rather sharp-tongued take on the usual singer-songwriter fare.
Will might not actually be Scottish, but he’s certainly picked up the vibe. There’s hints of Frightened Rabbit song-writing, Idlewild riffing, and the spaciousness of Mogwai. But the most distinctive influence, and one that he acknowledges himself, is The Delgados. I suppose that’s hardly surprising. I have no idea how well-known The Delgados are across the pond – I gather they featured on that silly show about a hospital with Patrick Dempsey in it, so maybe quite – but for sake of clarity, they’re the band that founded Chemikal Underground. Think clever lyrics and tasty piano bashing, jangly guitar and a knack for penning tracks that start small, but build.
Will’s first release back in 2009, “Hope On Top”, featured some musical saw. Sadly that seems to have disappeared from the mix on the newer songs, although what’s left still manages to sound rather nice nonetheless. Having pulled an EP last minute, there’s now quite a well of material sitting waiting to be unleashed at short notice: there’s an album, “Moving A Body” (no word if the title draws on real-life experience), due out in August with a double A-side “Deathbed Conversion / The View From Ebury Bridge” shortly before. If you can’t be bothered waiting that long – and let’s be honest, here: why would you be? – hit up the Soundcloud links below for a sneaky preview.
Connect with Will Hanson – Facebook | Twitter | Website | Bandcamp | Soundcloud
Deathbed Conversion by Will Hanson
