Reviews

The band Hargreaves also hail from the Harrogate/Gateshead area and “Sooner But Not Later” is their full-length debut. The band have a strong countryrock feel and the album is a mix of original songs and standards, like ‘Life By The Drop’, which was made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Singer Claire Ashton has a good voice, and songs like ‘Kiss Me Baby’ are good pop songs also. On ‘Dreams’, she sounds like a rootsy version of Lily Allen. The only misfire, on what is otherwise a pretty solid debut, is the dance remix of ‘Bad, Bad Girl’, which is totally out of place with the rest of the album.

Jamie Hailstone - Blues Matters! Magazine (Issue 48)

"The first full album from Harrogate/Gateshead band Hargreaves, transports the listener to a deep reservoir of musical enhancement. The quality of musicians, Chris (Bass, Guitar and backing Vocals), James (Guitar & Bass), Steve (Drums & Percussion) within the band, allows Claire to focus sorely on giving a performance of such quality and diversity of styles which has to be applauded.

"The album has the foot-tapping favourites, Kiss Me Better, (Bad) Bad Girl and Passionate Kisses. With the track Dreams being inspirational and yet self-reflective and Hi combining a catchy tune with depth of feelings and substance, the listener is then given a combination of soul/blues vocals and pure blues guitar-work on Anymore and Rumour.

"Claire demonstrates her vocal range by being a touch Country on Stevie Ray Vaughan's Life By The Drop and then covering in style the Steve Earle classic Goodbye, while the feel of the 80s can be remembered while listening to Torn In Three. To finish off there is even a dance remix of (Bad) Bad Girl, again showing incredible versatility and which the DJs of Ibiza would no doubt play constantly.

"If you want/need/require an album to surround you in a “feel-good” comfort blanket, then this is that album. You will be singing many of the songs in your mind, long after you’ve listened to the album, surely an indicator for a memorable album, which is a credit to Claire and her very professional band.

Leeds Music Promotions

"A MEMORABLE album launch, though not for the reasons the organisers may have envisaged in advance.

"Sitting at a nice table in a stylish restaurant with a nice meal, the view through the glass panels as the music starts reveals thousands of white snowflakes falling in the darkness of one of the worst winter nights for many a year.

"Troupers to a tee, the band meant to be the focus of tonight’s event gamely play all 12 tracks from their debut album on local label Straytown as if the sun was shining outside on a summer‘s day.

"Bluesy, breezy and mildly country in the studio, Hargreaves opt on stage to step on the raunch pedal as if to deny the bleak scenario outdoors.

"Although slightly rusty live, rough and ready covers of Thin Lizzy’s Don’t Believe A Word and their own country-rock track Rumour do, bizarrely, suit a bit of oomph.

"Elsewhere, some of the easy charm of self-penned country-pop tracks Kiss Me Better and Dreams is dissipated amid the early bluster.

"But it’s hard to be hard on Hargreaves, mssrs Claire Ashton (vocals), James Healey (guitar), Chris Webb (bass), Stevie David (drums) and backing vocalist Laura Ashton. Firstly, there’s the high quality of the songs; not only gems by well-know acts; Life By The Drop (Stevie Ray Vaughan) or Passionate Kisses (Lucinda Williams) but also their own impressive self-penned efforts (Bad) Bad Girl, Catastrophe and Hi (good enough to be by Lucinda Williams). Secondly, there’s their singer. Ashton is a classy number in both natural talent and, tonight, dress sense.

"Capable of being both ballsy chick and soulful romantic, Ashton’s vocals are always as clear and pure and brilliant as the white crystals fluttering just inches away outside.

Graham Chalmers - Harrogate Today

Samples of the album Sooner But Not Later are available at www.hargreavesblues.co.uk. The Hargreaves album is also being launched on Friday, February 20 at No 19 bar on Parliament Street, Harrogate.

"As if to prove they’re far from a one-trick pony, Hargreaves’ debut album on local label Straytown sees the easy swing of this breezy Harrogate band applied beyond its country-ish comfort zone.

"Light jazz, blues-soul, 80s’ New Wave pop, even, this impressive album takes everything in its stride, partly because of the consistently high quality of the song writing, the work, in the main, of band members Claire Ashton and Chris Webb.

"It’s country where Hargreaves still sound most convincing, however, where the band doesn’t feel like it’s having to push beyond its natural instrumental powers, (check out the otherwise enjoyable Dreams or Torn In Three, to see what I mean).

"Rumour and (Bad) Bad Girl prove the band can successfully out-sauce Shania Twain when it comes to prowling country-rock while the boldly honest psychological melodrama of closing track Catastrophe shows they do have a dark side.

"Best of all, however, are those moments when Hargreaves seem to be doing nothing much at all. The upbeat country pop of self-penned tracks Kiss Me Better and Hi, the lazy acoustic country-blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Life By The Drop and the gentle acoustic heartbreak of Steve Earle’s Goodbye are simply exquisite – great songs played with a gentle touch, brilliantly sung by Ashton whose sweet but far from weak vocals make every word mean something.

Graham Chalmers - Harrogate Advertiser

"To be the lead singer of any band, takes a monumental amount of effort, determination and talent, being a female lead singer, the scrutiny and demands are raised even higher. Claire Ashton has all the qualities required and more besides as she leads with passion, vigour and class. With an easygoing persona which never reduces her professionalism, she helps four-piece Harrogate band Hargreaves produce superior performances in both "Live" and "Studio" work.

"Covering Blues, Soul and Country themes, including many of their own songs and also some classic cover versions, the band consists of Claire, James Healey on Guitar, drummer Steve Shelley and Bassist and backing vocalist Chris Webb. Their highly acclaimed and recently released EP is a wonderful introduction to what the band is all about, with the bluesy title track, "(Bad,) Bad Girl", an uplifting and toe-tapping "Kiss Me Better" and covers of Stevie Ray Vaughan' "Life By The Drop" and finally Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Passionate Kisses" which this reviewer felt was the equal at the very least to the original recording. The EP is very good, catch them live and you will be very, very impressed, if America is looking for a favourite UK acoustic/blues/country band, then look no further than Claire Ashton and Hargreaves.

Paul Abrahams - Keep Music Live blog at www.leedsmusicpromotions.com

"Although still mainly acoustic, Harrogate band Hargreaves’ debut release on local label Straytown Records isn’t quite as “late 60’s Woodstock” as their demo of last year.

"The four-piece’s two openers; the bluesy title track, co-written by lead singer Claire Ashton and bass player Chris Webb, and poppy Kiss Me Better (penned by Ashton herself) aren’t quite as good as the covers Passionate Kisses or the real standout Life By The Drop (made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughan) – though they run them close. Then the key to Hargreaves is the incredibly well-judged delivery. Topped off as always by Ashton’s impressive vocals, this breezy band sound as natural as honey on buttered toast.

Graham Chalmers - Harrogate Advertiser