Paul Heaton // Presents the 8th

Release Date: 2nd July 2012

Paul Heaton presents The 8th (Proper Records)

Paul Heaton, the crisp packet collecting musical genius of a white boy from Hull, previously renowned globally for selling millions of albums (over fifteen to be precise) with the Beautiful South and in his earlier career years, The Housemartins, has now gone solo if you didn’t know (where have you been?) and here he has delivered something of a unique modern day musical opera with this truly eclectic masterpiece.

It is such an exciting, diverse and truly absorbing album, crossing over many genres in the process from gospel to country, soul and rock. It spits, bursts and screams throughout its twenty one tracks with both positive energy and attitude. It is street poetry in motion.

It was written from the sewer up about the day to day life in a brutal poverty stricken neighbourhood, for the addicts, the pimps, the prostitutes, the gamblers and the lonely.

The opener ‘The Southside’, more than sets the scene for what we are about to receive.....is it aliens landing in America or are the U.S of A special forces that we hear booming through the skies in their fighter jets about to blast some insurgents or maybe even a gang of drug dealers to smithereens? Whatever is going on its all taking place to a back drop of a maddening violinist stirring up the rising tension on the earth below us as the order comes over from HQ on the radio to “Do it now, that’s a direct order, do it now”, the track closes and you hear no more. It is a gripping and dramatically dark and gut stirring opener. 

Heaton always a master of the class in song writing is still brimming full of lyrical genius and he retains his sense of timing and humour in the process with lines such as “The only colour they respect is the one that don’t talk back”, “The times they are a changin’, but only if you’re Bob” (Panther) and “Fat was the ass that was sitting on the seat” (Gluttony). There are many more great lyrical gems here as you would expect from Heaton and also tales a plenty about voluptuous figures, murder, slavery, Fat Alice, Fat Elvis, bent coppers, strawberry birth marks and so much more....I could just write forever about the qualities of the 8th.

The Wires, Reg E Hathey adds to the musical poetry in a Samuel L Jackson style with booming in yer face black power rants, with all the blood boiling power and soul of a Martin Luther King speech, such a powerful force of a voice that is softened at times with a sprinkle of gospel (Pride), it is both soulful and powerfully poetic as tracks like ‘Walk Into The Light’, ‘Lust’, ‘Panther’ and ‘Pharaoh’s Boot’ grab you kindly by the balls. His veins (in his neck) are bursting.