Sun 4 Mar 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: FREQUENCY ONLINE

Paradoxes. (Yeah, I thought the plural'd be “paradoces” as well, but no). Paradoxes and Hackney. I love Hackney, yet at the same time I fear her something rotten. No, it's not just the fact that I've been mugged here more times than I care to remember (well, even just the first time was technically “more than I care to remember”, but, y'know...), or that there's always the risk of getting shot. No, what frightens me is that the other day, while out walking in Stoke Newington, I happened to notice that someone had left pasta out for the birds. Pasta. Not breadcrumbs, pasta. How can it be that in just the one borough, stupid amounts of crime can sit alongside people who genuinely believe pesto is a sandwich filling? As I say, paradoxes.

Another like that is Morning Bride's new album, Lea Valley Delta Blues. Yeah, even the title's paradoxical, or at the very least self-contradictory. As is the fact that Morning Bride, already possessed of a huge cult following in Hackney, are exponents of what I could call Americana, if it weren't for the fact that I hate the term. And have members coming from up North as well as from, well, America. But, y'know, paradox is what drives Morning Bride, as it does all truly great music. Love and loss. Heartbreak and hope. Suicidal despair and transcendent optimism. Somewhere is a place where all these things meet and have a few shots of whisky, and Morning Bride are on the jukebox there. Examples? Crikey. Nine tracks and not a moment wasted. Like the finest booze, it's bloody hard to distil. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll give it a go.

Each time I listen to this I have a different favourite track. Right now it's “Stepping Out In Front Of Cars”. Utterly gorgeous- one moment the vocals are breathy, frail... next thing they're kicking ass and taking names. Not sure whether it's the most uplifting song ever, or the saddest. Like I said, paradox. “Faith Is Blind”. Another cracker. Slide guitar and strings... always a beautiful combination. I honestly couldn't tell you whether this is a gorgeous love song with a core of spite, or a vicious one with a heart of gold. And do you know what? I couldn't really give two shits if it's gonna sound this good at whatever it's doing. Imagine if Shivaree had come from Hackney. You can't, can you? Well, you don't have to. It's all right here. “Eleanora” is a very different beast. Chief songwriter (that's a good title - wonder if you get a special hat with that?) Mark Pearson takes over lead vocal duties for something that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Julian Cope's Fried, or Skellington, maybe. If you don't understand that that's a recommendation, then you can stuff your fair trade pineapples up your asses and fuck off.

Ahem, sorry. It's that Hackney duality thing kicking in again, I'm afraid. Oh, on the subject of Hackney, the album closes with a proper down-home hoedown, "Mother Hackney", which addresses both the fear and love people have for this place. “Livin' on the Murder Mile/oh what can you do but smile?” indeed. Come on. That's great. A love song for a dysfunctional relationship with a London borough - now that's what we need. Get to know and love this song now, so you can sing it in drunken memory once the Lea Valley's been destroyed to make way for that sporting event they're planning on having in a few years' time. I don't care where you live, you'll be pretending to live in Hackney by the time the last note dies on this one.

So, did I like this album? Figure it out. It's hardly rocket salad. Science. Sorry, meant to say “science”. If you can't do that, then try this one. How come my favourite Country album in, well, ages, managed to come from the middle of a built up urban shithole? As I say, paradox. Paradox is beautiful, and it can rip your heart out. Let it - there are worse ways to go, after all.

-Deuteronemu 90210 in a goddamn suit-

Tue 3 Jun 2008
live preview - Bonanza
Source: Bonanza

Fri 9 May 2008
LIVE REVIEW
Source: THE INDEPENDENT

Wed 5 Mar 2008
GREETINGS FROM ABNEY PARK, N16
Source: PLAN B MAGAZINE

Tue 4 Mar 2008
PLAN B LIVE REVIEW, FEB 2008 ISSUE
Source: PLAN B MAGAZINE

Fri 1 Feb 2008
Live
Source: ALTER STATES

Tue 11 Dec 2007
Live at Hot Burrito, Newport, Wales
Source: soundsnew.com

Wed 7 Nov 2007
live review

Mon 15 Oct 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: HERE COMES THE FLOOD webzine

Mon 8 Oct 2007
LIVE AT THE FAVERSHAM, LEEDS 2007
Source: RAWKSTAR.NET

Tue 2 Oct 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: 17 SECONDS webzine

Mon 1 Oct 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES - ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Source: soundsnew.com

Sat 18 Aug 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: NOIZE MAKES ENEMIES webzine

Fri 17 Aug 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: NET RHYTHMS webzine

Sat 14 Jul 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: THE WORD MAGAZINE

Wed 6 Jun 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: Song, by Toad webzine

Wed 23 May 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: SOUNDSXP.COM

Mon 21 May 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: PICCADILLY RECORDS

Mon 7 May 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: AMERICANA UK

Thu 19 Apr 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: ROCK N REEL MAGAZINE

Sun 1 Apr 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: N16 MAGAZINE

Mon 5 Mar 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: PLAN B MAGAZINE

Sun 4 Mar 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: FREQUENCY ONLINE

Thu 1 Mar 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: ORGAN MAGAZINE

Fri 2 Feb 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: SUBTER.COM

Mon 29 Jan 2007
'TIME DELAY'
Source: Partly Porpoise ezine

Sun 28 Jan 2007
'TIME DELAY'
Source: indie-mp3.co.uk

Thu 11 Jan 2007
LIVE AT ALTER STATES, December 2006
Source: americana UK

Wed 15 Nov 2006
interview with mark
Source: antivirus review

Wed 15 Mar 2006
interview with mark
Source: essex chronicle

Mon 20 Feb 2006
LIVE AT WHAT'S COOKIN', 1st february 2006
Source: artrocker magazine

Fri 13 Jan 2006
live preview
Source: the gilded palace of sin

Tue 10 Jan 2006
'ISABELLINE' / 'REPLICA' by rob barnett
Source: music-news.com

Wed 14 Dec 2005
DEBUT SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY, 12th november 2005
Source: frequency

Mon 5 Dec 2005
LIVE AT RYAN'S BAR, 25th november 2005
Source: music-news.com

Thu 10 Nov 2005
'ISABELLINE' / 'REPLICA' by Richard Fontenoy
Source: N16 magazine

Wed 10 Aug 2005
LIVE AT THE SPITZ 18th july 2005
Source: spitz website

Mon 25 Jul 2005
LIVE AT THE SPITZ, 18th july 2005 by Lilly Novak
Source: Frequency