Album Notes

"A TERRIFIC DEBUT, A GREAT ALBUM" - BOB HARRIS, BBC RADIO 2

The band "Truman Falls" centres around the music of Simon Rea, an extremely gifted singer-songwriter hailing from the Isle of Man. Within weeks of his debut album securing a limited release with Stereoscout Records, songs were being played by the legendary Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2; Simon and his acoustic partner Paul Teare were being asked to record sessions for the national and independent radio stations on the Island; and emails started coming in from as far afield as the US and New Zealand - from absolutely lovely strangers - professing their newfound addiction to the album.

Manx Radio's Roy McMillan called it "SIMPLY GORGEOUS...aching, poignant and melodic, it's more like a greatest hits collection than a single album".

"Little Happyhells" combines the timelessness of well crafted songs polished off with a contemporary alternative edge: Simon's writing style is indisputably original and yet at the same time pays subtle homage to some of the greatest songwriters of the last thirty years, from Bacharach to the Beach Boys.

First, a layer of lilting, sunny and highly singable melodies; next comes the lyric - passionate, dark, witty and emotional storytelling bursting with a mass of visual imagery of the kind that can only come from the mind of a deeply sensitive and observant soul. The songs say a great deal about life and love - and a great deal more about desire, self-worth, personal battles with rejection, fear and failure. All told with a turn of phrase and sharp wit so rare in most of todays music. More than anything, the songs are painfully honest and are sure to touch the hearts of those who take the time to listen.

"Gorgeous. Arresting. Timeless. Incorporates everything that is magical about music - sublime, soothing...a soundtrack to every season. But beware: the lyrics leave a tiny tang of bitterness as a cheeky aftertaste." (Christy D - EnergyFM)

Although the essence of Truman Falls lies with Simon, it is the collaboration with producer Dave Armstrong and others, like local guitarist Steph Joyce, that completes the record's sound. Combine all of these ingredients with the final layer - a distinctive soulful, passionate vocal from Simon Rea - and you've reached "Truman Falls".

The songs are all truly original, personal and genuine in their own right, but if you need a pointer and like Josh Rouse, The Beach Boys, the Beautiful South, Nilsson, the Cosmic Rough Riders, Lambchop, etc etc then you are in the right place.