"STORMBREAKER"

Release date: Jan 28th, 2008

John Power from The La’s will release his new album ‘Stormbreaker’on January 28th through Tanuki Tanuki records. The album was recorded in the summer of 2007, over the water in Birkenhead; the record was recorded and mixed in just 15 days.

‘Stormbreaker’ nods its head in affection to the likes of Captain Beefheart, The Crickets, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, throw in some Bootsy Collins (playing for James Brown) and some scouse rocknroll boogie and you hit the mark!

The band Jay Lewis (The La’s / Cracatilla) plays an elastic band Hofner violin bass, while Steve Pilgrim (The Stands) plays the drums and Drumbo’s hi hat, while John plays Leadbelly guitar.

So far there has been no shortage of eruptions and turmoil in Powers musical life. Combined with the other slings and arrows fate has had a habit of delivering, they could have been enough to make any musician throw their instrument down and lose faith in what music is actually there for. But this is a man who has just recorded his best collection of songs since he first appeared on record in 1987.

“These are the most comfortable, wind – in my sails recordings I’ve done” he states “Its grassroots music. I could have only written this now, ‘cos I think you need a certain amount of living to write certain things, y’know? I feel like I’m only just starting to write and play the guitar. Everything else I’ve done means nothing”

He’s wrong of course. Alongside the myth-touched songwriter, Lee Mavers, John Power was the other constant member of legendary Liverpool band the La’s. Power joined on bass in 1986 fresh from a city council scheme for aspirant musicians, and would keep the faith for six years. That groups one album the self-titled debut from 1990, sustains a fervent cult of admirers but according to the group it never captured the true spirit of the band or the extraordinary set of songs that appear on it. Though he was de facto mouthpiece and ever-enthusiastic public face of the La’s, compromised by a burgeoning writing talent that would not be satisfied by occasional live outings – Power decided to strike out on his own in 1992.

He went on to take charge of Cast, a formidable live four piece with whom he would sell bewildering amounts of records with (1995’s All Change was famously the biggest and fastest selling debut album on the Polydor label of the 90’s). Whether on the charts on magazine covers or headlining at the Glastonbury festival, Power the pop star was a phenomenon that lasted four long players until 2002 when the wheels came off.

There was a straight ahead dust settling solo album in 2003 called ‘Happening For Love’, then in 2005 The La’s played shows in Britain, Japan and Ireland, this gave John his mojo back, and he released the critically acclaimed ‘Willow She Weeps’ last year. Which now brings us right up to date.

Enjoy the record la!