NEIL ARCHER: vocals, guitars, dobro, ukulele, keys, gob iron, hammer and spanner.
TIM SMITH: drums, bass, guitars, keys, ham bones, vocals.
GUESTS:
MARIA DAINES [Cambridge, UK]: Lead and Backing Vocals on "The Lounge Lizard"
LEAF ERIKSON [Detroit, Michigan, USA]: Rap on "Lullaby"
BLAKE EERIE [Detroit, Michigan, USA]: Rap on "LostforWords", Humz on "Lullaby"
JENNIE TUESDAY [Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, UK]: Vocals on "Slash and Burn"
Influences
Add the sound of the classic British bands from the 60's including the Beatles, Cat Stevens, Kinks, The Who, Spencer Davis, and Small Faces - more recent bands such as Supergrass and Paul Weller, the jazz of Pat Metheny, and Jimmy Smith, with a splash of Northern Soul, and that's where we'd like to be.
Sounds Like
COMMENTS BY MYSPACE FRIENDS:
"...listenin to without a sound just now and its gorgeous, just what the hangover needed!"
"Without A Sound is a beautiful song. I just listened to it 3 times in a row."
"Without a Sound is a seriously cool track"
"Listeining to (and liking!!) "Without a Sound." pure and classic, but relevant. Songwriting is very direct. You've got a lot to be proud of."
"This song [Without a Sound] really got to me.I rated it 10 because you made me cry in recognition...music sometimes has that effect on me."
"Lullaby..." is genius! Thanks for letting me know about it.
"Lullaby from the drive... a stunning song!! 100% perfection...very orginal, loving the rap!! Adds style and class to the song..a very laid back kindof sound, something that appeals to me very much so!! I will be checking your profile guys frequently, count me down as another fan!!!"
"The song is really a beautiful track...... I was blown away. I really hope to hear more from both You and Stan together in the future. Your music together is really unique and refreshing to me, probabally because it's so unique. There aren't many tracks out there that feature this angle of music. The only group I can think of the top of my head is the Gorrilaz, but without the accoustic sound and teeny bopper groupies. This track is amazing..... Good job to both of you. I think this collaberation was one of the greatest I've heard in a real long time."
"...it was such a lovely surprise to hear of your new song, and such a beautiful piece of music, so innocent, like a daydream with enchanting melody :) You are doing so well and we're so pleased for what you are acheiving with your talents. I had heard of Leaf and it was really nice to hear what you have created together, an unusual and truly delightful collaboration, this song is free spirited and gentle, it could easily sit alongside any other song I've heard on mainstream radio, and be better than many."
"I have to admit when you described Lullaby to me I was a bit skeptical but after listening to it (over & over) I have to say that it works beautifully... Leaf did an excellent job on it as well...Congratualtions! I can't wait to see what other craziness you have in store for us :-)"
"That is a bloody good track Stan !
Yeah like it and like the mix of style...."
"I need more songs like Lullaby in my life. Fills me up with a gentle warmth.
Definitly a good direction of sound and melody. Keep it up boys.
"inspired"
"Great song! And hey any song about sipping margaritas cant be bad right?"
"Brilliant stuff!! Love the not the rozzers or the
rockers' lyric"
"Hey Stan, your style is unique and your songs are really good!"
"Hi guys, like your music. Every so often it reminds me a little of Pink Floyd, especially the vocals, and that feeling of depth and space."
"you guys rule to be fair"
"Fellas, you produce a psychedelic wave that drives me far out into the deep withouht a second's hesitation. The versitility, & approach requires my utmost respect. Thank you for being creators."
"Great Music, Truly amazing."
"I love the cd!
Thanx very much!
I have it playing on the pc right now.
Keep up the good work."
"May I take this opportunity to say how spanking I think Son of a Son is? I can see that getting many successful hits for you."
"I love your stuff by the way. You seem to be a mix of the beatles and pink floyd which is cool."
CHECK OUT OUR 7 DIGITAL WIDGET FOR FREE AND PURCHASE DOWNLOADS
Turned down by major labels for being too old...STAN are a critically acclaimed duo from Hertfordshire [UK], who have attained something of a cult status on a number of internet music sites. Many musicians from different countries and different genres have asked to collaborate with them and appear on their guest list, and they have developed a particularly strong connection with leading members of the Detroit hip hop community.
They play in a variety of styles creating their own unmistakable genre that one reviewer rather neatly called "slightly wonky folk". Recordings for their third album "LostforWords" have been completed and the cd is now available.
STAN have appeared on BBC and Commercial Radio, as well as a number of internet stations including being play listed on Pulse.
"Just loved meeting you lovely blokes, great story and wonderful songs evidence of joyous global fusions." BBC Radio host Sue Marchant
Andrea Thorne writing in Making Music Magazine awarded four stars and wrote:
"catchy, ...laidback grooves,... atmospheric,... [with lyrics] that create some very vivid images, which is a bit of an art form in my opinion, I like songs that play like movies, so well done".
"THE QUEENS PARK" CD reviewed in edition 30 of the international magazine ...BLUES MATTERS!
STAN - "THE QUEENS PARK"
NARCH1 Productions 14 Tracks 47.09 mins
STAN are a two piece group formed of Neil Archer & Tim Smith, who between them play an assortment of instruments, covering the traditional Guitar, bass drums, keyboards to the less popular Ham bones & Hammer & Spanner.no they are not into Heavy Metal.
The duo deliver 14 tracks, all self written & produced, conjuring up the soft music of the late sixties, with plenty of whimsy, eastern influences & experimentation. They are not afraid to improvise and each track has plenty of depth and subtlety that warrants repeated playing.
While only having one true blues track on the album in Black Cat Blues this album should not be disregarded, as some of the other tracks do bring back memories of yester-years, like the mod influenced Brighton Rock or the ship yard factory sounds of the 1920s on Son of a Son of a Sailors Son. This CD is definitely an album that benefits from playing in a relaxed atmosphere; it is very soothing.....
Review by Adrian Blacklee.
"LULLABY" EP reviewed by ROCKMIDGETS.COM
It seems that of late, relaxed acoustic acts are on the rise. James Blunt's Back To Bedlam sold massively last year, Jack Johnson's third album has received widespread acclaim and soft-jazzy acts like Katie Melua and Jamie Cullum continue to shift records. So STAN, releasing the Lullaby... EP as a stopgap before their third independent long-player, should by rights be massive by now. Sadly, this is not the case; there is probably a reason for that.
The reason being that they refuse to remain stuck in the restrictive laid-back niche that the aforementioned acts seem happy to relax in. STAN experiment, and have somehow found a genre somewhere between 1960s pop and... rap. The Lullaby... EP is acoustic music, but not as we know it. Stan, made up of two ridiculously talented multi-instrumentalists, Tim Smith and Neil Archer, start with acoustic sketches and screw around with them; a rap break here, a splash of Hammond organ or even a gong there.
By daring to think outside the box, STAN may have doomed themselves to a lifetime of obscurity; I don't know about them, but I'm happy with that. If boring music is the price of commercial success, then may they continue to play their slightly wonky folk for years to come.
Rating: 4/5 by Gaz Hughes
BUY THE LIMITED EDITION LULLABY EP AT www.sparklepromotions.com/shop
"LOSTFORWORDS" CD reviewed in FUSE MAGAZINE April 2008 edition
STAN are a pop/rock/jazz duo
from Hertfordshire, who play
in a variety of styles from
acoustic to full on rock. Their
influences include classic Brit
bands across four decades,
add to this a jazz influence,
with a touch of Northern Soul,
then you might have some
idea of where STAN are
coming from…
Describing themselves as
‘Internet-Café Jazz’, Stan (great
name!) build diverse sounds
around off-kilter West Coast
rock, Zappa-esque jazz breaks
and even rap vocals sometimes.
Stan songs deal in dark, cohesive
themes of obsession,
compulsion, addiction, love and
loss and over the past three
years they have attained cult
status on several internet sites.
On the face of it, Stan should
not really work. Their strangely
eclectic pot of sounds, on paper,
belongs in the dark corners of
real ale pubs. In reality their
heady brew of internet friendly
modern takes on classic themes
is strangely engaging. Add some
brooding Hammond organ and
the result is uplifting music you’d
love to accidentally find being
played live in a week night bar
when you want to chill out
rather than party.
All band photos by Russ "the man with the long lens" Hardy.
When my mom died, I was cleaning out her house and came across my dad's big band and swing record collection. There were about 100 or so records, plus a record cabinet. I admire Maria Daines, and have her cd Music United For Animals.
You guys were FANTASTIC just now on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire with Sue Marchant!!!!!! Loved the interview & hearing all your songs live on the air, TERRIFIC stuff & let's hope you'll be on again very soon, keep up the great work, loved hearing you talking about how you met etc., AWESOME!!!!!!
hey neil!! how are you mate! i went to a guitar shop and i though about you! yeah i plan on getting me an accordian soon and another acoustic guitar so i can start playing and warming up more often..
Hi Thanks for adding us. If you ever need any great strings or other gear of your guitar be sure to check our profile. Good luck with the band Black Dog
Neil ~ Schedule has been messed up. We have a music fest up north next weekend to get ready for. So we'll be rather pressed for time to meet. Don't think we'll male it.
Hey Neil ~ I can't even begin to think how awesome that must have been!!! You wouldn't know if Ringo ever played the uke would you? The only Beatle picture I don't have playing one! Downtown Detroit is about 85 miles from Lansing - About 1&1/2 hours drive!
Ha ha hell yeah wait till u hear the album!! Thanx for the comment its my fav pic too!! Yeah Leaf and Van are both on my album I'm deeply honoured!! Just tell em that Blu says hi, I'm sure I'll do it in person sumtime this year. Ur work is awesome keep it goin maan. Have a great weekend Peaces Blu
long time no speak neil! glad to see everythings going well. my band are currently changing alot, little heavier and more serious. with a member change, new promos and a brand new song up in the next 2-3 weeks :)
