Hannah Aldridge + The Pleasures

Hannah Aldridge grew up on the muddy banks of Muscle Shoals--her birthright is music and

Alabama. A reckoning between her coming-of-age in the South and a lifetime of trying to create an

identity outside of it, her songs strike a delicate balance between rebellion and self-discovery.

These two themes weave through Aldridge's gifted storytelling, making for records that soothe like

a lullaby and crack like a whip. For those raised in the Bible Belt, Aldridge's music sounds like the

voice of an old friend who understands. For those not in the know, her music is an initiation to the

dark side of the South, Christian fundamentalism and the struggle to forge a future in a place

haunted by its past.

Her new album;Dream of America’ - released through Swedish label Icons Creating Evil Art -

treads a fine line between the genial charm of Americana, and the raw, hypnotic and occasionally

electronic stylings of what some might like to call; noir indie pop. It is music for those looking to

confront their demons without remaining tethered to them.

"Hannah explores our deepest desires and makes them sound absolutely irresistible"

No Depression 

No shrinking violets, The Pleasures; sound is raucous, dirty and blues-inspired (occasionally

interrupted by delicate moments of sublime country-folk), whilst their subject matter leaps from bold

and bawdy to heartfelt and insightful. They call themselves a country band (and they’re fronted by

16 time Grand Ole Opry guest Catherine Britt), but there’s as much Jack White influence here as

there is George Jones (in fact there’s plenty of both) alongside the plethora of mythologised girl-

boy country acts with whom they will inevitably draw comparison. If you get the feeling that The

Pleasures have drawn upon every debaucherous night out, self-inflicted wound, bleeding heart and

broken bone to come up with this noise, you'd be absolutely right.

“The Pleasures debut is a classic duets album where love isn't merely dangerous, but it

should be illegal in every state: a mess of fireball, spitball and vitriol that makes Tammy and

George look like romantic softies"

Bernard Zuel, Rhythms Magazine