- the original site
Last updated 7 February 2016
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Last updated 7 February 2016 |
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| L-R: Marie Susplugas, Steve Sculpher, Rupert Chandler, Dany and Dave West. |
are a distinctive, versatile and musically
broadminded group of exceptionally talented musicians
from the Thames Valley (UK).Their songs combine a catalogue of contemporary styles into wonderfully listenable numbers delivered with great passion, feeling, warmth and intelligence. Styles range from driving blues-rock, through plugged-in laments like the brilliant Maria Bahran, acoustic songs with jazz and country elements, mellower soul/funk grooves tastefully blended with ambient folk-rock, to dramatic, in-yer-face stream-of-consciousness songs like These Images at one extreme and heart-warming gospel-style anthems such as Monument to Love at the other. Tuneful, memorable melody lines and colourful, seductive instrumentation are combined with songwriter Dany's graphic lyrics, sensitive yet commanding vocals and catchy refrains into fresh, evocative songs that come over well on casual listening yet incorporate plenty to invite deeper listening.
songs are often mistaken for
lost rock classics!
 |
| L-R: Martin Gray, Vince Cooper, Mark Cooper, Dany and Steve Sculpher. |
Inspired by mainman Dany,
have now produced six CDs
of original songs covering acoustic numbers, vibrant rock songs and mellow, jazzier compositions,
and a new solo CD
Waiting Room
from Dany is now available.
The variations to 's lineup over the years have
prevented the band getting stuck in a rut with a single, predictable 'sound'.
The first lineup combined Vince Cooper's great guitar playing with extrordinarily liquid sax and flute from
Martin Gray, a master of space and timing.
With Steve Sculpher
of the flying fingers ever present on bass, and
Mark Cooper on the drums,
they produced rock classics such as Fine Line and
Growing Wild, from
Out Of Our Heads Again, while its sister album Some Wide Horizon
captured 'unplugged',
with folkier songs like the beautiful Down at the Waterhole
and The Road to Paradise.
Ex Mungo Jerry keyboardist Steve Jones
was a regular contributor to
recordings from the very outset. He became
a full member after Vince moved on,
leading to the much jazzier sound evident on the
Funny How Time Flies and
Faraway Friend
albums, with great
songs including 6 Billion Of Us and
Vapour Trails.
Then, superb drummer Rupert Chandler
joined the band, heralding a transformation to a
more fusion era with
Yeah, but...
including classics like
Blank Paper Syndrome,
These Images - inspired by the 9/11 atrocity and featuring an amazing 5 tracks of layered guitar from
Nick John -
and the almost gospel-style
Monument to Love.
In 2003, Martin left,
giving way to spirited sax playing by Denise Baldwin, who also plays on several of the
earlier recordings. Around the same time,
's
current ace guitarist
Dave West
joined, forming the heart of today's lineup.
Three years later, Dany moved to France, where he later met French guitarist
Alain Cahuzac,
with whom he played duets there. Alain also played one full-blown
gig in France when Dave was not available, and came over for one Windsor gig.
Denise went to South America to do charity work for a time, but has now re-joined.
Dany returned to the Thames Valley in 2014 and
are
now playing here regularly again.
Ginni Hogarth
has now become a regular member, adding colour to the Irony sound with her keyboard and vocals.
Dany has also recently been playing acoustic duo gigs with Dave.
are masters at varying their lineup to suit the gig circumstances, whether electric
or acoustic. Anything from just Dany on acoustic guitar and harmonica with Dave and/or
Steve Sculpher on bass - 4-string,
fretless or double.
Or the full-on 6-piece for a great rock sound, delivered
with passion, power and commitment.
|
I'm really loving that Maria Bahran song...it's very powerful and sensual at the same time. I'm having a hard time getting it out of my head.... Amanda Baughn, New Jersey |
Full-length MP3s of the following songs are also available here for your enjoyment:
)
Here are some photo pages of :
Yeah, but... is now available for download from CDBaby.
Great news - Dany is moving back permanently to live in the Thames Valley area again!
Denise has now rejoined the band after returning from her adventures in Central America.
Vince Cooper temporarily re-joined on guitar while Dave West was struck by illness (thankfully, Dave is now recovered and back).
Dany has now produced another great solo CD Imagine This, with twelve cracking new songs.
Irony now have a new official website to keep us all informed of their latest news, gigs and releases. After keeping up Irony's web presence single-handedly for a number of years, I had latterly become only too well aware that my low-tech style could not meet contemporary expectations such as online shopping facilities, while other commitments increasingly prevented me giving this site the time and attention it deserved. It was time for a change. So I was glad to pass on the baton of running the main Irony website.
The new site is well presented and has some good content about the band. It also includes some fascinating photos of Dany from the 70s and 80s.
I will be keeping this site going, but from now on as a fan site rather than the official one. I will continue to add photos and other content as and when availability and time permits, but will probably focus less on news and forthcoming gig dates than previously.
None currently arranged.
are also featured on the following sites:
Feel free to mail us with any comments or questions.
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