Direct Faith

For those who may have forgotten that all American music – pop, jazz, R&B, rock, show tunes, even gospel music – has its roots in the blues, Seth Walker offers a refresher course in blues based American music. Walker's been pigeonholed as a blues man, but he's much more. His songwriting is professional in the old sense of the word; like Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer, he uses the blues as a backbone for tunes that will equally please roots, Americana, folk, pop, and blues fans. He's a fine guitarist, but his playing never calls attention to itself, it's always placed in service of the song and the lyrics crackle with insight and subtle wit. He laughs with us, not at us…..

Undoubtedly the most revered leader in American history, Abraham Lincoln has had more books written about him than all our nation's presidents put together. But for all that's been written, little has focused on his faith and how this quality shaped the man who led our country during its most tumultuous years. Author Joe Wheeler, historian and scholar, brings to the pages of this insightful book the knowledge gleaned from over ten years of study and more than sixty books on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Skillfully weaving his own narrative with direct quotes from Abraham Lincoln and poignant excerpts from other Lincoln biographers, Joe Wheeler brings a refreshingly friendly rendition Lincoln's life, faith and courage. The stories, historical details, and powerful quotes on the pages of this book will leave a lasting impression on your heart, your mind, and your life.

Formed in Manchester over a decade ago, Hurts are an electronic pop band featuring vocalist Theo Hutchcraft and multi instrumentalist and producer Adam Anderson. Known for their striking and stylish videos, Hurts make epic, dramatic pop music that takes inspiration from a finely curated mix of influences including '70s Krautrock, '80s new wave, and '90s R&B.Hurts return with their fifth album and first on Lento Records. The album is the result of two years work, and features some of the most visceral, personal songwriting of the band’s career. Eschewing the “outrospection” of their previous two albums, Faith delivers on the dark introspection of the band’s early work: the rawness of Exile (2013) and the fully-formed sincerity of their debut, Happiness (2010). The result is powerful and tangible. A result of some of the most honest and direct sessions the group have ever had, Faith finds Hurts pushing themselves further both personally and musically to skew pop music and elevate their craft to new levels.