Is this Britain's best new band? These four scamps from Staines who have stolen the headlines for their ska/rock/reggae style music. And how! If you look closely at the bands history you will find an almost deseparate state of being poor, dealing with personal problems i.e. your girlfriend's pregnant, the daily grind to find something better, opposition to politicians who feed off the vulnerable and weak, the list is a poignant one. Staines is not know for producing any musicians of this kind of class, but in Richard Archer, Steve Kemp, Ross Philips and Kai Stephens, Staines' name has forever been etched on the AtoZ Of London! Hard Fi are definitely worthy of the attention and admiration they have gathered in a small space of time!
Last October [2005] I went to a gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire. It was a cool, calm, Friday night in late Autumn, DELAYS were performing songs from their debut album, it was going to be a interesting night as I was a big fan of theirs. That night as I gain entrance to the venue, bought the customary pint of lager and found a seat, the guy next to me said hello and introduced himself. This was unexpected as normally nobody recognises me at a gig. Any gig for that matter! He sais his name was KAI STEPHENS. He told me of this band he was involved with, he was really excited by their prospects and though that they could do seriously well. (As history has shown us, incredibly well!!!!) The band had just finished recording the video for their forthcoming debut single. The whole album was recording in and around West London. (There's a short scene in the video of KAI exiting from Papillions Toy Shop in Whitton High Street - Holy Fuck!!!!!). The most memorable venue for the video was Heathrow Airport! The new soon to be released single was called CASH MACHINE. KAI was raving about the future success of the band. The name of this band? HARD FI!!. I had never heard of them, but KAI assured me that in a few months they would be big news. And he was right! I even had my picture taken with him! Oh yes! My claim to fame!!! I've meet KAI from HARD Fi!
Opening track and first single off the album is Cash Machine. Richie Archer declared the song to be written about being skint. A problem which we can all relate to, whether it be from previous experience or temperary financial demise. You scratch you had to figure out where all your wonga has gone? Though deep inside you know that you've blown it all on CD's, clothes and lots and lots of drink! Other singles taken from the album include Tied Up To Tight and Hard To Beat. The song (Tied Up To Tight) begins with a delicate piano tinkle, backed up by snyths working overtime. The song intro is likenend ( I think anyway ) to a Eminem number. You could almost be ready to start to bounce and rap at the same time. The best part of the song for me is the heavy guitar riffs just before each chorus! Real powerful stuff being fired from Hard Fi into your airwaves. Hard To Beat is your basic love song, swoon, flutter your eye lashes, flirt at a bit of skirt etc!
Other notable songs from the album are Gotta Reason, the plainative piano solo ballad of Move On Now, Living for the weekend. Gotta Reason is a lively, driven, focused song on looking at life, examining what is going on, devising a way to break from the norm and realising that the way out is easier than you first thought! You look at life and realise things aren't happening the way they should be, then suddenly, as if your struck by lightning you find the solution, your find a meaning to uncovering the happiness! Your find that special someone, and suddenly the gloom, the darkness with which has enshrouded your life is lifted and you can see that little bit clearer! There's a reason why your here, there's a reason to what you are doing, there's a reason to be you! Move On Now is a delicate piano ballad. Life in Staines must be difficult if you have the problems with which Hard Fi have to deal with! Being slap bang next door to Heathrow Airport must be at the same time be an advantage and a disadvantage. The Song was conceived after a death had occured within the bands community. Life had dealt a bitter blow and it was how the band were going to respond to this that would count. Looking out of a tower block window, overing looking heathrow and I would imagine be both awe-inspiring and devasting at the same time. I guess you would sometime wonder what it would be like to be on a plane flying to some exotic location, without a care in the world! A life which few see, but many only dream of. Living For The weekend is a straightforward as you can get. You working in a job which you depise, get abuse from all around, work for apittance, longing for the weekend to appear. The break form the norm, to escape and be yourself for a few days!
This album is jammed packed full of classic tunes, Hard Fi have brought together a blend of life experience mixed with ska/reggae/rock influcenced music to produce this gem of a record. They have that almost 80's edge to them, looking at life through the dole office. The desolation and isolation of society looking down on them, having the courage and the passion to fight back and succede! Life will never be boring again for this group of talented young band of bruv's!!!!
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