Cornwall-based roots rock band Wille & The Bandits release their fifth studio album When The World Stood Still on 28th January 2022 on their independent label, Fat Toad Records.
Ahead of that comes the single ‘Will We Ever’ released this Friday 5th November, and following the album a new UK tour.
Fronted by Wille Edwards on lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, dobro, and electric lap steel, now with Harry Mackaill on backing vocals, bass guitar, and synthesizer, Matthew Gallagher on Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, piano, mellotron, guitar, and backing vocals, with Tom Gilkes on drums and percussion
The new album’s intent is to documents a time when the world stood still, recorded in a place only accessible on the high tide, on the banks of the River Fowey; one of Britain’s most iconic recording studios that is coming to the end of an influential life. This could be the last album recorded at Sawmills, funded by the fans of one of the most successful independent acts in Europe,
Sawmills Studio, with the artistry of John Cornfield, has produced some of the most ground-breaking albums of the last 30 years; from The Stone Roses’ Fools Gold, Oasis’ Definitely Maybe, Supergrass’ In It For The Money, Robert Plant’s The Fate of Nations, Muse’s Showbiz, and now Wille & The Bandits’ When the World Stood Still.
Wille & The Bandits is a band who don’t stop pushing boundaries. They were in the process of carving out a reputation as one of the UK’s most original acts when the impacts of the pandemic led to a cease of touring. Wille and the band got stuck into song-writing and an album was written; A group of powerful anthemic songs, where melodies and lyrics resonate with the emotions of a time that none of us expected.
“It had always been a dream for me to record at Sawmills,” said Wille Edwards. “I was devastated at the thought that another piece of music history was being repurposed away from a place of inspiration for the arts.”
“However,” continued Edwards, “there was a suggestion of fate when a friend took me night fishing at a secret spot, that just happened to be in the Foy River, looking across to this wonderfully situated building; one that we all know, even if we don’t realise it, from a childhood of reading Wind in the Willows.
“This set me on a hunt to find out if there was still a chance to record one last album at Sawmills with the man behind all the iconic albums recorded there – Mr John Cornfield. To fund this enterprise, we turned to our unbelievable fans who made the dream happen, and who we are eternally grateful, too”
Wille & The Bandits has so far recorded five studio albums to critical acclaim and are credited with pushing the boundaries of roots rock into a new era of music lovers. They were listed in the top ten must see bands at Glastonbury Festival by BBC Radio One and were personally invited to perform on the German TV show Rockpalast – A musical institution of global importance.
They have played festivals across the world, from Broadway to the West End, and Belgrade to Sydney. They were picked to perform at the London Olympics after being voted one of UK’s best live acts.
The first single from the album, ‘Will We Ever’, features Edward’s signature slide guitar playing and powerful vocals. It mourns the loss of performing as a band, and asks the question; will the world ever be the same?
You can stream the new single here and watch the video for it right here at RAMzine.
Tracks featured on When The World Stood Still on are ‘Caught In The Middle’, ‘I’m Alive’, ‘Without You’, Good Stuff’, ‘In This Together’, ‘Will We Ever’, ‘When The World Stood Still’, ‘Move To Fast’, ‘Broken Words’, ‘Daylight’, ‘Refuge’ and ‘Solid Ground’.
The album can be pre-ordered here.
Wille & The Bandits head out on tour from March through to April next year, with special guest Troy Redfern.
