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Hard-Fi

Hard-Fi are approaching a dramatic new apex in their career. Critically acclaimed, commercially successful and tower block tall, the West London four-piece continue to reinvigorate music with raw, category-defying sounds and instant, merciless beats. Neither bound by musical restriction or industry expectation, they follow their blazing, genre-defining Number 1 U.K. debut ‘Stars of CCTV’ with the eagerly anticipated ‘Once Upon A Time In The West’, September 11th3rd. In short, Hard-Fi are the sound of now. Written by frontman Richard Archer and co-produced by Richard with Wolsey White, it’s a landmark LP of scopic, wide-eyed, unrepressed tracks. Mixed by Spike Stent (U2, Bjork & Madonna), it’s their second studio album and their most cohesive, definitive release to date. Boasting 12 killer anthems, including the blistering new single ‘Suburban Knights’, August 20th, it’s truly hard to beat. Born from the kitchen sink fatalism of Staines in 2002, Hard-Fi - Richard Archer (vocals), Ross Phillips (guitar), Kai Stephens (bass) and Steven Kemp (drums) - have emerged from suburbia triumphant. After recording their dazzling debut in the ultimate brokedown palace – a dilapidated taxi rank that cost £300 in rent – it matured into a DIY triumph that propelled them into the A-list. Selling nearly 1 million UK copies and soaring to Number 1, it spurned the radio mainstay hit singles: ‘Cash Machine’, ‘Hard To Beat’ & ‘Living For The Weekend’. “I lost my dad 5 years ago and he was the one who’d always tell me to pursue my dream. He’d been working for other people his entire life and wouldn’t let the bastards get him down. He inspired me to get out there and kick some arse…When we were first signed, the major labels didn’t want to know,” says Richard. “They mistook variety for being inconsistent - they obviously hadn’t ever listened to the Clash” Nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize and Best British Group at the 2006 BRITs, their defiance paid off. In a matter of months Hard-Fi had shapeshifted into one of Britain’s biggest bands. Their first major tour sold out in a record 15 minutes and saw them play London's Brixton Academy for 5 consecutive nights - making them one of the few bands to do so alongside The Clash, Bob Dylan &The Prodigy - plus the only act to do it with their debut album. “Whenever I think of a great British band – The Rolling Stones, The Specials, Massive Attack - they're not just a rock band," Richard explains. "At the end of the day we're a rock'n'roll band but we listen to hip-hop, we listen to house music, we listen to dub and reggae and we're not afraid to introduce that.” P.T.O Now, following a white-hot headline set at Glastonbury in support of Love Music Hate Racism, they return to the fray with their eagerly awaited new LP. “We’ve learnedt a lot in the making of this record. People say that debut albums are always the best because you have a lifetime of experience to pour into them, but that’s bullshit. The last three years have been like 20 years compressed.” “Before we started the LP, I wanted to make something that sounded dark, atmospheric with elements of the Clash and Stones – and we’ve really fucking nailed that. CCTV was put it on and turn it up, this is sharper, more tactical and raw.” “We were tempted to fuck off and record it abroad, but it didn’t seem appropriate,” says Richard. “We looked around at other UK studios, but decided that everyone else records there…and we definitely didn’t want to sound like everyone else. Ultimately, nothing really made us feel comfortable but, saying that, recording in Staines was anything but comfortable – we returned to our converted taxi office, which didn’t have running water until halfway through. It was more the fact that we could do what we wanted. We used bigger studios to mix, but conceived it in our natural environment.” “The first album came together in stages – track, EP, mini album then album - so this felt like the first time we truly made a record,” he adds. “It’s like anything we do, it’s never contrived. It’s just what comes out. There are still elements of CCTV- style social commentary, but it’s more subtle and integrated. The 12 tracks are simply the best ones written, and they just happened to mean something.” “We were on tour and watching ‘Once Upon A Time In The West’ while on the bus. Ultimately, that title reflected the theme of the album – these are stories from our west, West London”. Standout tracks include the 70’s SKA-inspired ‘We Need Love’, and ‘Tonight’. “The latter is a big piano-driven number – it had a few incarnations before it became what it is, but it’s about the possibility of night time. History is made at night.” Meanwhile, the former harks back to the Specials and was inspired by Billy Bragg’s acclaimed novella ‘The Progressive Patriot’. Other highlights include the rousing R&B swagger of ‘Can’t Get Along’ with its stomping Motown lilt, the stark fragility of ‘Help Me Please’ – a track written about the death of Richard’s mother – plus, ‘I Shall Overcome’ which echoes an early Clash while remaining truly, unmistakably Hard-Fi, and the lead single ‘Suburban Knights’.

Latest bulletin 11.13.09

Bid For Hard-Fi and Rankin's Original Artwork on Ebay!

Hey everyone,

As you may know we worked with the acclaimed photographer Rankin in aid of Youth M...

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Photos posted by Hard-Fi

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Bulletins

Nov 13, 05:37 AM

Bid For Hard-Fi and Rankin's Original Artwork on Ebay!

Hey everyone,
As you may know we worked with the acclaimed photographer Rankin in aid of Youth Music.
The original artwork is now available at auction with all proceeds going to Youth Music.
BID FOR HARD-FI AND RANKIN'S ARTWORK NOW!
The Rankin "Destroy" Exhibition along with other fantastic music based art is open for viewing at Phillips De Pury gallery,8 Howick Place near Victoria Station, London until 21st November.
Oct 05, 06:53 AM

Richard on Medhi`s 'Kalashnik Love'

Richard features on the track 'Dubai' on Medhi's new album 'Kalashnik Love'
Come to the Album Launch, you can´t miss it!
Sep 22, 02:15 AM

Latest Blog from Hard-fi:

As some of you may be aware by now, we are involved with Becks lager "Music inspired Art" campaign. Over the years some of the biggest names in art and design have come up with labels for them such as Gilbert and George, Damian Hurst, Tracy Emin and Sam Taylor Wood. We've always tried to make our sleeves relevant and say more than just our name and title and being involved with Becks "Music inspired Art" gives us the opportunity of taking that to another medium and level. So, instead of competing with these top artists and designers (we're a band after all), we decided to do something that's true to us and what we're about.
The first design is in the style of "Once Upon a Time in the West" and reads "Love Music, Hate Racism". For those who don't know about LMHR, they are an organisation that, through music, promote and celebrate cultural diversity. As a band this is something that we all think is very important and we have supported them in the past.
We thought we would take the opportunity to promote what we believe in.
From LMHR...
"Love Music Hate Racism is delighted that our slogan will be appearing this summer on millions of Becks beer bottles, courtesy of the support of Becks and Hard-Fi. This support reflects the fact that anti-racism is a very popular cause; millions of people in our society like living in a multicultural society and living, working and going out to enjoy themselves alongside people from many different backgrounds. At the same time there are racist groups on the rise who want to divide our communities, so getting out the biggest possible anti-racist message using the music that brings us together is vital today. This campaign will help to get many more people actively involved. Love Music (And Beer) Hate Racism!"
The second one was just a bit of fun and a giggle. Like the CCTV camera on the front of "Stars.." we thought we would take their image and make it ours. We think it looks pretty cool too.
Anyway, We'd better go. The courier has just arrived and we now have a studio full of lager to get through... We're gonna need a bigger fridge.
Hard-Fi
Sep 07, 05:35 AM

Hard-Fi 's art on beer labels!!

Music Inspired Art Labels
http://www.becks.co.uk/labels.aspx
Sep 02, 06:55 AM

Mo-hawks, Mo-problems

Yo! Just wanted to let you cats know that there is a new podcast out from our adventures in Japan last month at the Nano-mugen fest. Sorry it's taken a while but we were waiting to get some TV footage from the event sent over to include. Unfortunately the footage we took was limited to the first day since after the usual wired from jet-lag, we're in Japan excitement we all went out and got - as my nan used to say - tight...very tight...And some dumb arse (may've been me - not yet proven though) broke the camera. Hence the waiting for extra footage so you lot didn't have to sit through five minutes totally made up of shambling, half-baked, half-arsed philosophies and general drunken idiocy....There's till quite a bit of that though and for that I apologize. We played two new numbers in the set so listen out for a couple of snippets of 'Sweat' (see the last podcast if you haven't already) and 'Killer Sounds'. Also, at that point in the evening, in our heads, we were all definitely gonna get mohawks....luckily there were no 24-hour barbers... Rich
Jul 29, 02:42 PM

Kai's Blog: "I Want More!!"

Hi all ! Just a quick one to let you know that we're home from Japan and back in the studio, making noise and pissing off our neighbours. The Nano-Mugen experience was a very positive one. A great feeling to be back on stage again, like a shot in the arm - I thought we may be a little rusty after not playing for a while, not so... white heat... I want more!! It was a big show. Asian Kung-Fu Generation topped the bill and Manic Street Preachers were to be main support but unfortunately had to pull out at the last minute due to illness. (20,000) fans turned up to watch all of the bands so we played to a full house. You could forgive us for being a bit nervous, but we were as cool as cucumbers, like I said, we'll be back stronger and sharper. Good things, etc. I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Glen, Rich(Pops), Larry and Chris(the twin towers), Pablo, and Sunny for looking after us and to give a shout to The Young Punx, Laura Kidd, Farrah and Nada Surf. The biggest shout goes to Asian Kung-Fu Generation for having us all at their show. Thank you, it was so much fun. Much love to you all. (yes, and you). x Kai