about
'Greenhaus,
who managed to enlighten me already with their live performances
last year, have done it again this year to brighten up the late
Fall with a beam of sunshine, similar to Sigur Ros, who managed
to do this just two months earlier' (Electric Diary - Germany)
‘Not just an ethereal soundscape but an enchanting melody
as well… the kind of music not heard since the Cocteau Twins,
and listening to ‘Higher Ground’ we are very glad
of that’ (Record of the Day)
Greenhaus, originally an electronic 3 piece formed in the late
90‘s, (with releases under the Beggars Banquet and Kickin
Records labels), are about to release their 4th studio album.
The first three have paved the way for the latest entitled 'A
Fools Paradise'. The bands' first offering, 'The Unmistakeable
Sound of Sloth', was described variously as 'the offspring of
ambient and wave' and an 'essential album that will cater to a
wide range of musical tastes'. This was then followed up 2 years
later by Another life (2004), described by one critic as 'best
suited for those into lunar and dreamy moods’, 'space rock
with electro grooves.' This album contained many tracks featuring
the vocalist Lahannya.
The band's third studio album, 'You're Not Alone', was released
on Kalinkaland Records in Germany and Revolver Records in the
UK during 2006 and 2007. It received excellent reviews (quoted
above) and has been considered the band's best work to date. Vocals
are now provided by Phoenix J, with her beautifully crafted melodies
and tone leading to the overall offering being described as 'almost
therapeutic', and likened to Massive Attack and the Cocteau Twins.
She is the ideal complement to Anthony Neale, who has been providing
excellent vocals for the band since 2005. During this time the
band have played many times across Europe.
The band's live lineup has stabilised over recent years to include
Phoenix J on vocals & lyrics, Steve Bellamy on music, Warren Farr
on drums, and Clark Denham on bass, with Roi Robertson of Mechanical
Cabaret guesting on live keys. And during this time they have
been busy working on the new album, comprising a mixture of full
vocal tracks and instrumentals.
Originally planned as a double-album release,
the finished product is now a fourteen track CD with a bonus instrumental
CD to be given away free at gigs if purchased with the new album.
Some of the new material have a more electronic
feel to it than 'You're Not Alone', although other tracks are
almost totally acoustic such as 'Kiss and Tell' which contains
ethnic rhythms and violin riffs. The recordings also contain excellent
contributions from Mark Anthony on lead guitar and Susana Duende
on keyboards, both of whom have performed with the band on many
occasions, as well as Anthony Neale on vocals, Nim diRicci on
flute, Malcolm Standard on viola, Jonny Hunt on violin and Achim
Faerber on drums.
'A Fools Paradise' is now scheduled for release in December 2010.
Greenhaus are:
Steve
Bellamy
Production, Programming, Guitars, Keyboards
Electronics, Sounds, Songwriting
Phoenix J
Songwriting, Lyrics, Melodies, Lead & Backing Vocals
Clark
Denham
Bass Guitar
Warren
Farr
Drums & Drum Trigger
guest musicians:
Anthony Neale
- vocals
Roi -
Mechanical Cabaret- vocals/keys
Susana
Duende - vocals/Keys
Achim Faerber - Drums
Mark Anthony Adams - Guitars
Nim diRicci - Flute
Jonny Hunt - Violin
Malcolm Sentance - Viola