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Why ‘Nations'?

"Well, I'm an Englishman living in Paris, I'm signed to a German record label and there's a song on the album about Mexico..." and now Fading Ways Records imports the astounding music of Paul James Berry (PJB) into Canada. "Maybe that's not exactly the world, but it's a start - it's only my third album.", quips PJB.

"Although my lyrics are a mixture of colloquial expressions from my youth and sometimes very English in colour, I still think that's it's important that everybody no matter where they come from get a feel for what I'm doing. When you listen to the old blues guys, you don't always know what they are saying, but they give out soul and a power that transcends Nations' petty borders. Before the flags we are all just men and women."

Berry's Back in town - Slim, Mean and Moody, but always with a wry ironic smile. Paul James Berry hit the lime-light in Europe a few years back with his second solo album, ‘Ginnel' which caused quite a stir in Germany via the Supermusic Record Label.

In Paris (where he's now based) he formed his new band and started working on his long-awaited new album ‘Nations'. With the help of German producer Markus Maria Jansen, Paul's French musicians and the circle of talented artists found in Markus's hometown of Krefeld and beyond, Paul James Berry created an album that is intense and deeply moving.

Outstanding tracks include "The Ballad of Serge Gainsbarre" (a song about the French singer Serge Gainsbourg and his legendary drunken TV talk show appearances), the phenomenal "Fever Van Rose" (reflecting the wild days with his former band ‘The Rose of Avalanche'), the exotic "Mexican Girl & the English Rose", the wonderful love song "The Kite" and "Cable Ride" (a song about life and how easy it is to snap); with the track "Supermodel" ( about the fickle stupidity of the fashion business) being the first Canadian single, featured on Fading Ways Records' SHARE sampler Volume II.

Peeled, naked, unsheathed; denude is a good word. A lot of similar words spring to mind when you start to describe the latest work of Paul James Berry. If we are truly honest and strip away the tags of ‘pop/rock/indie/folk/ alternative' or whatever definitions we like to file things under, you'll then find out that this music touches and stirs something deep inside you. And that is the whole point.

FACTS ABOUT PAUL JAMES BERRY:

Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, UK - Lives in Paris, France

1986-1992 Founding member of the The Rose of Avalanche, affiliated to the cult Leeds scene. ROA released 3 albums, headlining their own tours and also supporting acts as varied as Bowie, The Mission, and Nico.
1992 Paul James Berry becomes a solo artist.
1997 Paul James Berry releases his self-titled & self-produced album.
1998-2000 Paul James Berry records his first studio album ‘Ginnel' for Supermusic.
2002-2004 Paul James Berry records his second studio album ‘Nations' for Supermusic.

Tours/Gigs/Supports: Pistepirrko, Bailter Space tour, Belly, Calexico, Frank Black, Casper Brötzmann, Clockhammer, Cranberries, Deadmoon, Drugstore, Giant Sand tour, 18th Die, Mark Burgess (ex Chameleons), Mark Shaw, Nikki Sudden, Penelope Houston, Phantom Rockers, Philipp Boa & The Voodooclub, Psycho Surgeons, Rossberger Report, Swell, Tambours du Bronx, Ukrainians, Vic Chesnutt and many solo shows....

Style: A modern singer-songwriter sometimes compared to: Cave, Cohen, The Eels, REM, The Tindersticks, Neil Young, and others - but most of all highly original songwriting, incredible distinctive voice, and freestyle, powerful guitar playing with a uniquely quirky stage presence.

Here's what people in Europe are saying...

"Intense lyrics with an autobiographical background and Berry’s feeling for rough but nevertheless catchy melodies ennoble Nations to one of the most fascinating and complex singer songwriter records in recent years". (Unicum 4/2004)

"With his multi-layered temperament, Berry even casts songs that have a somewhat happier approach into Cave-esque darkness". (Intro 5/2004)

"Finely composed guitar-songs, catchy melodies, tremendously sad and beautiful". (Prinz 4/2004)

"On Nations, the energy sometimes breaks unexpectedly out of the songs and lets none of the eleven tracks be predictable. An impressive artist and a timeless record". (Black, spring 2004)

"A poetically gloomy singer songwriter album with folk-music leanings that will not only by liked by lovers of Nick cave or Stuart Staples of The Tindersticks". (Westzeit 4/2004)

"A bit of red wine and a small cigarette and you will become one with this album". (Synthetics 6/2004)

"An album of heavy-blooded mid-tempo songs that live through/because of Berry’s rough voice". (Rheinische Post 5/2004)

"Berry sets the listener’s soul vibrating. An exquisite jewel". DNAsix (4/2004)

‘You've got a beautiful and incredibly powerful voice!,' Milla Jovovitch (backstage at a London venue)

‘One man acoustic killing machine with the face of an angel and the power of hell,' Unidentified Record Company Executive

Press quotes for PJB's previous album ‘Ginnel':

„Paul James Berry's „Ginnel" will be this summer's discovery for all the melancholic, for all dreamers with a good taste, for the lovers of old songwriter-qualities - for hobos of today, just like Berry is one." 3sat/Kulturzeit/German-TV

"The reference points that immediately spring to mind are dEUS, Tom Waits and Neil Finn's first solo album, and „Ginnel" has the same grown-up quality, that 3am coffee table post-party feel"..... "Just minutes ago I was despairing of hearing anything that would ever truly blow me away again, but „Ginnel" has made my week. It's not alternative - just damn fine songs, well sung." 9 Points out of 10/Rating: Excellent. UK Review, "Terrorizer" - January 2002