Cornish psych explorers Hanterhir recently unveiled a video for their new single.
Arloedthes a’n Lydn – ‘Lady Of The Lake’ in English – is coupled with Darallow and is released digitally via iTunes and all usual platforms on Friday 6 July.
The track is taken from the Redruth band’s new album, The Saving Of Cadan, a triple-vinyl / double-CD concept work which has been four years in the making.
Rooted in traditional folk, the album draws on a wide range of sources, arriving in the 21st century via psychedelia, post-punk and alt-rock.
The Saving Of Cadan is released though Easy Action Records on 27 July.
Hanterhir play Penlee Park Open Air Theatre, Penzance on Friday 13 July. Check out Arloedthes a’n Lydn below!
We managed to catch up with Ben Harris (guitar, vocals, keyboards) as he talked about their latest release and more!
So how has the video for Arloedthes An Lydn (Lady of The Lake) gone down with fans?
I think it has gone down well – I hope so. We spent a lot of time editing the video and making it as blurry as possible to hide our ugly mugs! The song’s quickly becoming a live favourite with the fans and we’ve already had a lot of people coming up to us with a sort of “Woah man, that video was one hell of a trip!” drawl that I don’t quite know how to deal with.
Can you tell us something about the video no one else knows?
Jason was filmed entirely in the nude and we photoshopped clothes onto him afterwards (or we filmed it in the freezing cold in late November. We took turns in holding the stage lights to warm our hands).
How pumped are you for the release of The Saving of Cadan?
Can’t wait. The album took about 4 years to record, mix, master and all that jazz. We really did spend a hell of a lot of time making sure that the story of Cadan and Morwenna is told correctly both musically and vocally – probably too much time – so the release is going to be a big thank you to the fans for being so patient with us (we’ve been telling people about the album ever since its inception as a 10 song 10-inch) as well as everybody who’s been a part of making it. On top of all of that, it’s a dream that musicians have to release vinyl, so it being released by Easy Action as triple vinyl is a dream gone wild.
What’s your favourite track from the album?
It’s hard to pick one out really. I love the fact that The Dream was recorded almost 100% live in our rehearsal room, I love so many tracks on the album for one reason or another, but I think if you were to waterboard me I’d eventually plump for Alone Again.
How have the people at Easy Action Records helped you become the band you are today?
Apparently Easy Action are complete and utter mad bastards. They’ve been so supportive in our stupid ideas, we’ve really benefited from being involved with them. When we first told them that we were planning a rock opera, they didn’t say “Why not try something different?”, Carlton just said “OK, let’s go for it”. We’ve been completely honest with them and every stupid idea they just support, even when the album turned out to be triple vinyl instead of double they just supported us. Everything we’ve done they’ve been 1,000% behind and that kind of reinforces your own belief that the music you are writing is good.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Honestly, other than a handful of bands in Cornwall that most people would never have heard of it’s really hard to say, because since we started Hanterhir, I’ve never really wanted to be in any other band. I’m so lucky to be able to play in a band that varies in size from just me to 9 or 10 amazing people, I rarely think about anything more. I suppose if I really had a chance to choose anyone I wanted, I would have to go for the classic mid 70’s Burning Spear line up backed by Hanterhir, maybe chuck Lee Ranaldo, Robert Poss and Richard Thompson in there on guitar somewhere as well. If I suddenly grew some balls and drank a lot, Neil Young, Mark Kozelek, Frankie Stubbs or Stina Nordenstam, but I don’t think that even then I would have the courage to speak to them.
What was the first ever gig you went to?
Finally, an easy question! New Model Army on their Impurity tour supported by Ed Alleyne Johnson and the Levellers at the Cornwall Coliseum. Living in Cornwall, we didn’t really get that many bands who I ever really wanted to see, it was general chart crap or just general crap most of the time. Our bass player Grant was also there, although we didn’t know each other at the time, he probably remembers it better than me. I just remember the whole crowd dancing in sync with each other to songs like Whirlwind as well as snogging someone by the pool tables before going in. All three artists were amazing.
Will you be touring at all this year?
We never stop playing live if that counts as an answer? The truth is, we’d love to tour more and play more, but booking gigs and blowing our own trumpets just really isn’t in our vocabulary and from there it gets hard. I’ve no idea how to promote us as a band, I’m not really sure if I’m even that interested in that side of the music business, but we would love to play more venues and meet more people. We’ve definitely got some shows in the south east of England later this year, so I guess maybe this will be a tour?