Self In Fiction, by William (CD on Tough Love)

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Legendary artist Patti Smith and My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields are set to release a double-disc set of their live performance of The Coral Sea on July 11, 2008 on their own PASK imprint.  The Coral Sea is Patti Smith’s posthumous homage to her friend and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and the title to her 1997 book.  Kevin Shields accompanies her on guitars and effects and creates a haunting backdrop to the spoken prose. The ‘love recordings’ were made June 22nd 2005 and September 12th 2006 respectively at sold-out performances at the QEH in London.  The set will run almost two-hours with a different stylistic approach to each performance. The UK’s Guardian upon reviewing the 2005 performance gave it 5 stars and called it “magical.” One critic said of the live performance: A kind of screaming requiem, The Coral Sea describes Mapplethorpe’s terminal illness. Intense, layered electronics surged to a discordant climax as Patti Smith read her poem, the words sailing over the noise like an ocean liner, with the black-and-white video showing the ocean, the liner and the grey twilight of grief. The poem tells the story of M (Mapplethorpe) on a final voyage to see the s“Lurching between wall-of-sound frenzy and sweetly picked melody.” Artrocker / “William are rousing jerk-rockers that should fill indie-disco floors very soon.” Drowned in Sound. The aim was to keep it simple: a power trio with good songs. They wanted to play the slow melodic, but scream and thrash with detuned guitars - nothing wrong with that bitter dischord. They wanted blood sweat and tears - A variety of styles would be employed. Disillusioned with the way others would welcome particular pigeonholes, they needed to express every aspect of their existence - whisper and scream in all the ways they saw fit. From humble beginnings WILLIAM have released two acclaimed singles on Coventry based label Tough Love Records. The two singles, “Five Minute Wonder” and “Playground” have had a great deal of coverage courtesy of John Kennedy and Steve Harris of XFM and Zane Lowe of Radio One. They have also recorded a live session for the XFM Xposure show and with Self In Fiction present a debut album of 10 songs, each a small victory for British indie-rock. The record starts with the pop-nous and angular guitar stylings of “Five Minute Wonder” and doesn’t let up until the chaotic climax of “Zhero”. Various influences are apparent but never entirely or obviously replicated, William creating a sound that is very much their own. Taking the lo-fi spirit of The Replacements and Pavement and pairing it up with the intensity of Rites Of Spring and The Van Pelt, William are an exciting and brave prospect. Guitar lines repeat and adapt, all kept in line by a rigid and melodic rhythm section. Tracks such as “Porco Dio vs Schweinehund” and “Thomowski” echo these songwriting sentiments perfectly, both containing memorable instrumental hooks to back up Gavin’s impassioned vocals. “Self In Fiction” is one of the most consisent releases of this year, of any year, and is an album that deserves to find a home in the hearts of hipsters, indie-kids and punks alike. Some nay-sayers don't like their name, apparently too simple and banal, but WILLIAM is not about looks and glamour - this is real, heartfelt, whether shout or croon. Numbering just three, they sound like an army.

Tracklisting is:  1.  Five Minute Wonder,  2.  Whoreditch,   3.  DS1,  4.  Thomowski,  5.  South of the Border,  6.  Errr...Lee,  7.   Aperture,  8.  Playground,  9.  Porco Dio vs Schweinehund,  10.  zHEROtars of the Southern Cross before he dies.

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