The warm, mellifluous voice of Paul Heaton often masks the jagged satirical content of his lyrics. From pointed political jabs like “The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death” to darkly comical love stories such as “Something That You Said,” Heaton′s work with the Housemartins and the Beautiful South has had countless listeners obliviously humming along to his biting wit. In the ′80s, Heaton was the leader of the Housemartins. Like the Smiths, the Housemartins were college radio all-stars in the U.S.; although the group′s jangly riffs and brainy, humorous songs couldn′t draw mainstream acceptance in America, the band shared a portion of the Smiths′ sizable cult of devotees. In 1986, the video for the Housemartins′ “Happy Hour” was selected as a Hip Clip of the Week on MTV; the rollicking single is still a favorite of′80s flashback shows on modern rock stations.

After the Housemartins disbanded in the late ′80s, Heaton then fronted the Beautiful South, a group that mirrored the Housemartins′ no-frills approach. Nevertheless, the Beautiful South expanded Heaton′s musical canvas, exploring jazz and even country influences. While many critics and student-run radio stations in the U.S. continued to laud Heaton′s talent, the Beautiful South became far more successful in England, where they charted several number one albums. The group called it quits in 2007 and Heaton shifted his focus to his solo career. Although Paul′s first solo release was back in 2001 [albeit under the pseudonym Biscuit Boy], it wasn′t until 2008, with the release of The Cross Eyed Rambler, that Heaton started putting out records under his own name.

Paul is currently finishing off his third solo album proper and training hard for his ambitious Pedals and Pumps tour, a cycling tour of 16 traditional English pubs in 20 days supporting the greenest form of transport whilst fighting the pub closures. This tour is now expected to cover over 900 miles. Summer will see the release of the new solo album and Paul appear at several of the country′s festivals.

1. The Old Radio
2. Even A Palm Tree
3. It's A Young Man's Game
4. Welcome To The South
5. Life Of A Cat
6. House Party
7. This House
8. The Ladder's Bottom Rung
9. Acid Country
10. A Cold One In The Fridge

17.00 €