Christopher Rees makes a barnstorming return with "What Walks Outside My Window?". The first single from his forthcoming 4th album ‘Devil’s Bridge’ will be released by Red Eye Music on 6th April 2009 as a digital download.
A firm live favourite "What Walks Outside My Window?" is a rip roaring slice of 50’s styled rockabilly / murder blues about paranoid people-watching at 4am.
With a healthy nod in the direction of the legendary Sun Studio and its most famous exports Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, as well as other rockabilly heroes like Johnny Burnette and Gene Vincent it provides a high voltage taste of the tremulous thrills contained on 'Devil’s Bridge' which will be released a month later on May 4, 2009.
Watch "Bottom Dollar" video YouTube notes: Christopher Rees performs Bottom Dollar with Becky Newman from the Hot Puppies on ITV Wales show 'The Guest List':
Fourth Album spins tales of Murder! Heartbreak! Salvation!
Following his critically acclaimed 2007 album 'Cautionary Tales', “A genuinely roots affair...that deserves to be admired”, (Fred Dellar - MOJO) Welsh singer, song writer, multi instrumentalist and producer Christopher Rees has developed his narrative storytelling even further with his fourth album 'Devil’s Bridge'.
Largely revolving around compelling tales of murder and misconduct, he has also incorporated themes like curiosity, karma, confessions, mortality, sacrifice, shadows, heaven, hell, desolation, imprisonment, conviction and awakening to create his most disarmingly upbeat and immediate record yet.
With "Prescott’s Confession" he uses traditional lyrics from 1833 and places them over a new banjo stomp, while self-penned originals like "What Walks Outside My Window?" and "Shadows In The Night" sound as if they could’ve come from a 50’s Rockabilly session at Sun Studio in Memphis (a place Rees visited as part of his musical pilgrimage through Tennessee last year). The presence of veteran rockabilly guitarists Pete Mathison (Ray Davies) and John Lewis (The Rimshots) also help inject a certain vintage authenticity.
Katy Rowe adds her irresistible violin to the frenzied bluegrass of "Kicked Out By Love" and drummer Dan Tilbury (The Snakes, Redlands Palomino Company) provides inspired drumming throughout. Rees stretches himself to take care of all other instrumentation including guitars, banjo, mandolin, lap steel, church organ, piano, bass, choral backing voices and chapel shaking, foot stamping, hand clapping percussion!
'Devil’s Bridge' is clearly informed by Rees’ love of Americana, in all its diverse and dynamic glory. From Rock’n’Roll to Bluegrass, Gospel, Blues, Country, Spaghetti Western, Rockabilly and Appalachian Folk it’s all there. The cinematic tremolo guitars so favoured by Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch also provide some enticing atmosphere but as the 12 piece choral sections to songs like "All Our Beds Are Made" and "World’s Fall Apart Everyday" show, there remains something quintessentially Welsh about it.
Titled 'Devil’s Bridge' because the album was predominantly recorded in a mountain retreat near the village of the same name in Ceredigion, Mid Wales the album sees Rees take another giant step forward on a journey that becomes ever more fascinating and rewarding with each new album.
"Deliciously raw and spellbinding" - Phil Alexander (MOJO)
"Compelling vocal theatrics & spectral blues communion" - UNCUT
What Walks Outside My Window? - New Digital Download Single Released – April 6 2009
New Album Devil's Bridge out May 4 2009
UK Tour Supporting Kristin Hersh - May 2009
Christopher Rees 2009 UK tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
5 Apr Laugharne Weekend Festival / Rugby Club Laugharne, Wales
19 Apr The Globe, Cardiff ( w/ William Elliott Whitmore)
23 Apr Porters Cellar Bar, Bath
16 May South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell (w / Kristin Hersh)
17 May The Sage, Gateshead (w / Kristin Hersh)
19 May The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (w / Kristin Hersh)
24 May Burnley Library, Burnley (w / Kristin Hersh)
26 May Norwich Arts Centre, (w / Kristin Hersh)
27 May Duke Of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton (w / Kristin Hersh)
28 May The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (w / Kristin Hersh)
31 May The Marrs Bar, Worcester
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Just wanted to say, I have known Chris for a good few years now, and I have heard him grow and grow, tearing apart fantastic line-ups to reveal the inner bones of what it is that makes him the artist he is today. All strength to you Chris, keep loving it, living it and showing the world what its been missing while it rushes on by......