Today brings the release of the new ‘How To Love’ album from British singer-songwriter Withered Hand (the nom de plume of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson). This happens to be his first new music in nine years. It’s nine for nine – with nine tracks on offer, this record will be available to listeners in the classical variety of formats – on vinyl, CD and also digitally via UK label Reveal Records.
Withered Hand is the nom de plume of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson, who originally hails from London. On this album, Withered Hand continues to live up to his reputation as one of Scotland’s most gifted songwriters. He has garnered worldwide support and heavy airplay on tastemaker stations including BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio.
[bandcamp width=400 height=439 album=1817282581 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=small]
Produced, recorded and mixed by renowned producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, David Byrne, Teenage Fanclub, The Twilight Sad, Belle & Sebastian, The Delgados) at Castle of Doom Studios in Glasgow, the new album features guest appearances by King Creosote and Mercury-nominated English songwriter Kathryn Williams. Keynote tracks here include Feelings, Misery & Company, Give Myself Away, Still Quiet Voice, Waking Up and Crippled Love. Some of these are more upbeat than others, but the entire collection makes for a rewarding listen. We recommend starting from the beginning right through to the end – don’t put it in shuffle. Everything here seems to be well thought-out and intentional.
The final single before the album release is ‘Feelings’, having earlier shared ‘Crippled Love’, along with an exclusive live acoustic version, and lead track ‘Waking Up’, the radio edit for which involved a producer Mark Freegard (The Breeders, Del Amitri, New Model Army, Lush, Pale Saints),
“This cry-for-help of a song sums up years of trying to medicate uncomfortable feelings with whatever I could get my hands on. If the album opens with this car crash, then the rest of the songs on ‘How To Love’ are imbued with my attempts to keep stumbling away from living like that,” says Dan Willson.
“My own mental health struggles in the past meant life got really dark before I was willing to surrender three years ago and become willing to learn to live sober. It’s a healthy catharsis rocking out with the band on this song though, repaying a debt to some of the harder music I grew up with in the 90s.”
“Don’t stop, tell me that I earned this one
Cos one is one too many, too many’s not enoughI
swallowed my pride, I just want the harder stuff
My appetite anaesthetises love”
Withered Hand’s acclaimed‘New Gods’ LP (2014) was released on vinyl via Slumberland Records, featuring Scottish luminaries from Belle & Sebastian, Frightened Rabbit and The Vaselines, as well as Pam Berry of seminal 90’s US noisepop band Black Tambourine, propelling the album straight into the charts.
Willson began writing songs and singing in his thirties following the birth of his first child and the death of a close friend. With a wayward tenor and unaffected charm onstage, he has come to be celebrated as a songwriter and lyricist of rare wit and remarkable honesty. With songs picked up by MTV and cult series ‘Skins’, he’s gained a legion of fans including Jarvis Cocker and Rolling Stone USA, who deemed him an Artist to Watch.
The ‘How To Love’ album is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music andSpotify, and in all formats (vinyl, CD and digitally) via Bandcamp. It can be ordered at https://revealrecords.lnk.to/HowtoLove
CREDITS
Dan Willson – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Malcolm Benzie – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Fraser Hughes – Bass, Backing Vocals
Owen Curtis Williams – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Peter Liddle – Keyboards
Richard Merchant – Trumpet
Ross McCrae – Trombone
Lynsey Payne – Saxophone
Eva Willson – Backing Vocals
Eugene Willson – Backing Vocals
Produced, recorded and mixed by Tony Doogan at Castle of Doom Studios, Glasgow
(c) Dan Willson (Rough Trade Publishing)
