Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - Late Nights & Heartbreak - 2x LP Vinyl

The much awaited second album by UK's soul hurricane Hannah Williams, recorded and produced by The Heliocentrics' head honcho - Malcolm Catto!

Record Kicks proudly presents the new album "Late Nights & Heartbreak" by Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - recorded at Quatermass Studio in London (the HQ of the British cult band The Heliocentrics), the new album has been produced by legendary UK drummer and producer Malcolm Catto. Alongside the Heliocentric albums on Now Again / Stones Throw, Malcolm is responsible for producing great albums such as "Inspiration Information" by Mulatu Astatke, "Jaiyede Afro" by Orlando Julius and "The Last Transmission" by Melvin Van Peebles. Not only this but Malcolm regularly collaborates with artists such as Floating Points, Quantic, Dj Shadow and Madlib.

So a new producer and a new life for Hannah; who is also now backed by the Affirmations, her new super tight band from Bristol - who will be touring the record too. The musicianship has ramped up several gears since Hannah's first album; bringing a welcome flare of excellence which punctuates Hannah's heartbreaking vocals and embraces Malcolm's tight, psychedelic production. Mixed totally analogue, and mastered on tape, "Late Nights & Heartbreak" includes 13 tracks of visceral soul with a touch of psychedelic atmosphere - as evidenced by the first single:"Tame in The Water". The sound is tighter and punchier than ever before - a trait of the Affirmations which has been brought out in several mind-blowing tracks - like the 8+ minutes of "Still in My Head". Which grooves hard throughout, and showcases Hannah up to her most show-stopping moment on the album. "Woman Got Soul" is another 5 minutes of groovy, addictive proof that this is next-level for Hannah and her band. The albums' grooves are interspersed with deep and layered soul tracks, like "Another Sunrise" or "Your Luck Can Change" which act as musical beds upon which Hannah explodes with genuine emotions of love, lust, longing and anger - and everything in between.All the songs are original and come from hands of the Bristol-based collective surrounding The Affirmations, led by MD James Graham. The only exception being a monster psychedelic soul version of "Dazed and Confused", which is strongly influenced by the original version by Jake Holmes.

Blessed by Sharon Jones, Hannah Williams exploded onto the soul scene with her debut album a "Hill Of Feathers" in 2012. The first single "Work it Out" was an independent hit on the airwaves all over the world. From US to Australia and all around Europe, the single became beloved; to the point where it spent time as the number 1 most downloaded song in Greece. The official video has also garnered over a million views on YouTube. The story of Hannah Williams seems to be written in lore from day one. Her father was a musically gifted minister, and her mother let her join the church choir at the age of 6. Hannah could read music before she could properly read words. Now she's an unstoppable force of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime talent. After the release of "A Hill of Feathers" in 2012, she was catapulted all around Europe, capturing the hearts of all they met including (among others): Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Cat Power, Charles Bradley and Craig Charles. Since then Hannah has made several trips to Europe to headline festivals and stun audiences in clubs such as the Mojo in Hamburg, Magnolia in Milan and Tempo in Club Madrid. Sold out shows at UK venues include Band on the Wall in Manchester, The Colston Hall, Jazz Cafe Camden, 100 Club and Pizza Express Jazz (3 times). As well as this, she has appeared on the UK festival scene, with sets at Shambala, Valley Fest, Wilderness, Cambridge Jazz and Larmer Tree Jools Holland's stage.

The whirlwind of Soul is back to grace stages around the world and leave them in tatters afterwards.It will not take long for anyone who hears "Late Nights and Heartbreak" to be conquered by this unique and heart breaking, dance floor shaking blend of raw and real Soul.

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