'Paris of America', the second album from Sheffield's The Payroll Union, continues the band's fascination with America's darker bygone era. The eight song / story cycle tells tales of a city tearing itself apart, life in chaos, a warzone on the streets. No not New York in 70's but Philadelphia in the 1830's and 40's.
The record is a result of a collaborative project with Arts Enterprise at the University of Sheffield. Songwriter, Pete David, worked with historian, Dr Andrew Heath, to look at how stories of the past can be told in different ways. Along the way, they worked with a film-maker to chart the process of their work together, Sheffield illustrators and artists, and a number of other musicians, to bring to life these complex narratives of a 19th Century American city.
The band are musically excellent and the vocals that tell the stories from Pete are akin to a Dan Michaelson, Slow Show or Nick Cave style, just a higher pitched baritone. The effect is mesmeric.
The Payroll Union formed in 2009 in Sheffield, after releasing two EPs - 'Underfed & Underpaid' and 'Your Obedient Servant' - they toured the UK in 2013 with their debut album. 'The Mule and the Elephant'. Alas at present there are no signs of live dates other than Tramlines in Sheffield nor, is the album being made available on vinyl it seems. A CD or download and can be found on Bandcamp.
The band is: Pete David - guitar, vocals, Tom Baxendale - guitar, Paul Heath - bass, Ben Fuller - drums and Shane Surgey - keys
Pete
9/11
The Ballad of George Shiffler
Bull
The Winter of '41
White Slave of the North
The Mission Field
Wo Unto Sodom
Blood or Bread
Will You Still Remember Me?
