Rhys Williams - voice, guitar
Mark Ferguson - bass, voice
Leila Macfie - keyboards, voice
Spencer Cullum - pedal steel
Nikolaj Bjerre - drums
Influences
TS Eliot, Toni Morrison, Cathal Coughlan, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Neil Finn, Talking Heads, Kraftwerk, The Beatles, Julian Cope, Simon and Garfunkel, Morrissey, The Smiths, Super Furry Animals, The Pixies, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Whiskeytown, Chuck Prophet, Aimee Mann, Iron and Wine, The La's, Teenage Fanclub, Wilco, Kate Bush, Diego Brown and the Good Fairy
Rhys Williams is a Welsh singer/songwriter based in London. His debut album 'The Fire Stairs' is released on December 11th in a limited edition numbered run on Vinegar Alley Records. You can buy it at http://www.rhyswilliams.net.
The album was recorded at Crouch Hill Studios in 2007, with genius Scandiwegian producer and keyboard player Thomas Johansen in charge. Also featured on the album are legendary drummer and Spurs season ticket holder Dave Barbarossa (Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Republica), the Deadstring Brothers' Spencer Cullum on pedal and lap steel, harpist Camilla Pay (Spiritualized, The Divine Comedy, Jay-Z) and longtime Morrissey cohort Boz Boorer on electric guitar.
Four songs from The Fire Stairs are previewed here. The album opener, 'Comfort', asks how far you'd have to sink before you considered taking your own life; 'Lie Of The Land' looks at primal violence in Britain and the Balkans; in 'Straw', a closed community discovers an abuser in its midst and decides to take justice into its own hands; 'The Cameraman' tells the tale of a tabloid photographer driven mad by doorstepping. But, in the great British tradition, bleakness is offset by beauty in the shape of some insanely memorable melodies.
Rhys is the third most famous flautist in popular music history, thanks to his one minute contribution to Morrissey's multi-squillion selling You Are The Quarry album in 2004 and subsequent cameo at Morrissey's triumphant Manchester comeback the same year. His playing has been variously described as 'delightful' by Q Magazine, 'striking' by Radio 4's Front Row and 'horrific' by the NME. It has also prompted at least one internet death threat.
Buy The Fire Stairs at http://www.rhyswilliams.net
Hi Rhys, How cool to hear from you. It was great to hear tracks like 'Straw' & 'Lie of the land' and hear how they've evolved - like the sound. So when/where are you giging? Tash x
Ok trying not to spam your page here lol! But just wanted people who stop by to see this - YOUR MUSIC IS FANTASTIC! Think big things will happen hon! Not just little Williams either! You HAVE to let me know when he/she makes their appearance :o) Take care pickle xx
Boo!! ha ha, are you being boring and staying in to watch the Eurovision contest too...hope yesterday went well hon, cant wait to hear your songs, have a fab weekend xxx
did you hear that cheked shirt guitar playin boys are all the rage. there may be a line of you in top shop soon, designed by kate moss or pete doherty or such
Rhys,
Many thanks for your kind, kind words. Fishing for comments, eh? I was merely trying to do a good deed for a fellow 'virtual friend' by ensuring you were making full use of my site as a promotional tool for your fine music. Instead, all I get is abuse. In future, I shan't bother. Hmph.
And no, Ralf (or 'Raiph' as he likes it to be pronounced) is not named after the famous muppet of the same name. He balks at the very thought as he is not a muppet fan AT ALL. He wants me to make that crystal clear. He'd also like me to point out that he doesn't play piano either- just lead guitar.
