Award-winning composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Fitzpatrick, aka Badhands, will release his second album Far Away this Friday, 1st April 2022.
Already, the album has drawn critical acclaim, drawing sonic comparisons to the likes of Nick Cave, Scott Walker and Lee Hazelwood.
Inspired by the sonic templates of artists such as PJ Harvey and Scott Walker, as well as the experimental nature and energy of groups like the Shangri-Las and The Flamingos, Far Away is a 9-track reflection of uncertainty, and what it means to break free in one’s life. Blending elements of hazy, classic rock instrumentation with Badhand’s lyrical realism and willingness to conquer new sounds and textures, this record is Badhands’ most accomplished and cohesive work to date.
The Beatles - Happiness Is a Warm Gun
The Beatles were the first band I really got into as a kid, and the main reason I wanted to learn the guitar. It's hard to pick 1 of their songs, but this is a tune that I always find myself going back to. I love the weird structure and different sections in it, starting off moody and eerie but finishing off elated, with a really incredible vocal from Lennon. I would have worked my way through most of my parents' vinyl collection when I was young, and luckily my Dad had all the Beatles ones, including a very scratched but functioning White Album.
Nina Simone - Sinnerman
Her performance and the performance of the band on this ten minute masterpiece blows me away every time I hear it. The band are so tight and intuitive, with so much energy; the way they break down individually to all clapping and then each instrument builds back up is so exciting, it has such a great live feel and I just love her piano playing. I never get sick of listening to it.
Leonard Cohen - Avalanche
The first time I heard Avalanche I was massively taken by Cohen's guitar playing on it. He is one of my favourite songwriters and lyricists, but I also really love his guitar playing, especially on songs like this, or 'The Partisan'. After hearing those I immediately started figuring out that style of picking, and I've incorporated it into my own songs from time to time.
Nico - These Days
I first heard this song in the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenembaums, and I've been a huge fan of it ever since. Jackson Brown wrote it, though I much prefer the Nico version. He wrote it when he was 16 supposedly, which I was always fascinated by, as the lyrics are so full of regret. Some of the versions I've heard of this song have sounded quite cheesy to me, but Nico really nails it.
Thin Lizzy - Emerald
I became heavily into Thin Lizzy as a teenager. Phil Lynott was, and is, a real hero of mine, and I used to spend hours and hours trying to figure out all the guitar parts in the tunes, this one especially. I remember trying to learn both the harmony guitar parts of the solo of this song, once I got the hang of the 1st one I'd record it on a tape and then play the harmony over it, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I was also really captured by the sort of Irish mythological flavour to the lyrics; like a lot of Thin Lizzy songs I think not many other people could have gotten away with writing/singing them, but he could.
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
This album really creates its own unique sonic world and the opening song 'Astral Weeks' sets the scene perfectly. It immediately seems to open a door, the instrumentation is so great, and when the strings come in on the first chorus it's like entering a dream. There is also a real looseness to the performance and the vocal/lyrics that I really love. The album is pretty different to his other albums from around that time, and it's definitely one of my all time favourites.
Howlin Wolf - Moanin' At Midnight
This song sparked my interest in a load of old blues artists. I can still remember the first time I heard it. His voice at the start of this song just immediately transports you somewhere, and I knew I wanted to hear more, I had a few years of being obsessed with early American blues and country artists; Howlin' Wolf was a kind of gateway artist for me in that sense.
The Pogues - Pair Of Brown Eyes
When I first discovered the Pogues, I quickly set about acquiring and learning the banjo and the accordion, and was determined to make music like theirs for a spell. I loved the songs, and the raw energy and sound of the band. This song still stands out as one of their best, the lyrics and the music are both so evocative.
PJ Harvey - In the Dark Places
I first discovered this song and the Let England Shake album years ago when touring in the US with The Mighty Stef band. We listened to it a lot while driving through some pretty strange parts of America, and it's been a really big influence on my songwriting. I find myself going back to this song and album all the time when working on new music, it still just sounds so incredible to me. I love the instrumentation, especially the way she uses saxophones on her songs.
Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down
This song is the closing song on the first Kristofferson album. I used to listen to that album and especially this song religiously after heavy weekends or on days when I was particularly hungover. The title is fairly self-explanatory, and I think it captures that feeling better than any song I've heard. He is one of my favourite songwriters. I sang this song at my Dad's funeral as it was one of his favourites too, I imagine he would have got a kick out of it being sung in a church, given the nature of the lyrics.