Biography

(March 2009)

Phantom Limb is a refreshing and timely reminder of what country and soul music can and should be. Yolanda, Stew, Dan Brown, Dan Moore, Luke and Matt have settled into a stride that's yielded a critically acclaimed debut and a growing list of memorable shows in Europe and across the pond. You don't see many bands as musically in touch with each other - or as relaxed and at ease with their respective crafts. They're not watching themselves do it, either. They're just doing it, and doing it well.

The band's influences are clear but subtle - the likes of Gillian Welch, Aretha Franklin, The Band, Etta James and the Staple Singers. Phantom Limb delicately conveys the same disarming honesty that only comes from singing about the truth. Yolanda and co can - and probably will - bring a tear to your eye with a cocktail of hope and resignation, sadness and joy.

All the band members have written for, recorded or toured with multi-platinum selling artists. Stew Jackson and Dan Brown are Robot Club, for example, and Yolanda toured with Massive Attack in 2008. But Phantom Limb is a spiritual home for all of them. Even guitarist Luke Cawthra, the most recent addition, plays and interacts like he's been in the Limb household all his life.

Recorded at Robot Club, Bristol and Rockfield Studios near Monmouth, Phantom Limb's eponymous debut is more a reflection of their live ability than vice versa. It's art - unembellished, imperfect and very real. You listen to it and assume this is an album from the latter stages of a life's work. Which makes you realise what they're capable of and what they'll accomplish as time passes. Simple, enchanting, honest music with this much integrity is hard to find, but so easy to fall in love with when you do. Buy it, and hear for yourself - a special edition with live bonus tracks is out in April.

Picking up bigger shows and stealing coveted support slots, the band had a deserved surge last year surrounding the album release. Appearing at SXSW, Glastonbury, and Centrum Scene in Oslo with Big Bang - friends they met at SXSW - they've also supported Candi Staton this year on some of her uk tour dates

There's much more to come from Phantom Limb. But there's enough beauty and soul in what they've already delivered to keep your faith in real music alive for some considerable time.