Blackhart and Strangelove

Artist Information

Biography

“Blackhart Strangelove” is based around the husband and wife duo of Laura Wendling (vocals) and Mark Dixon, (multi-instrumentalist and songwriter) from Fremantle, Western Australia.

Originally started as a recording project in 2007, the result was an EP entitled “Don’t Set Yourself On Fire”.

Although most of the instruments are played by Mark (aka "the Johnny Strangelove Orchestra"), some notable musicians also lent their considerable talents to these sessions including Martyn Casey (the Bad Seeds), Ben Franz (the Waifs), and Angus Diggs (Mia Dyson, Jeff Lang).

In 2008 the song “She Wasn’t Sorry” was licensed to the “Cue Fashion Winter ‘08 Campaign” and a video featuring Vogue covergirl Megan Collinson from New York was shot for broadcast in Australia.

Although the EP received some critical aclaim, they were never entirely happy with the finished product, and this year, after remixing and remastering by Pete Grandison the CD is now ready for formal release.

Over the last two years Blackhart and Strangelove have been playing around Fremantle and the Southwest as a duo, trio and band, with Carol Henry on keys, John Wilson on bass and Dave Capper on drums.

Instrumentation

Mark Dixon - Banjo, Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Violin, mandolin, slide guitar
Laura Wendling - Vocals, autoharp

Discography

Debut EP - "don't set yourself on fire"

Track 1 - kill your love
Track 2 - the meta morphosis
Track 3 - she wasn't sorry
Track 4 - anyone but me

Official Website

http://www.blackhartstrangelove.com

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Cue Fashion Winter '08 video clip

Audio

• Kill Your Love
  Listen  
• Anyone But Me
  Listen  
• She Wasn't Sorry
  Listen  
• Kill Your Love (acoustic version)
  Listen  
• The Meta Morphosis
  Listen  
• Mel Honey
  Listen  
• The Mannequin Mistress
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Kill Your Love
• MANNEQUIN MISTRESS (the girl in the window)
• Anyone But Me
• MEL HONEY
• The Meta Morphosis
• She Wasn't Sorry

Video

videocue

Photo Gallery

Press

• Sentamentalist Magazine New York [+ Show ]
  

  "Blackhart and Strangelove have this eerie bewitching quality about them . . . sometimes vaguely men..."Blackhart and Strangelove have this eerie bewitching quality about them . . . sometimes vaguely menacing, but with enough frills and fishnet, horns and piano to beckon you to come closer . . . "Don't Set Yourself on Fire" is a delightful hint of what should be a fascinating, and hopefully longterm artistic endeavor." - Carrie Alison, Sentamentalist Magazine New York

• Songwriter's Monthly [+ Show ]
  

  This 4-song EP is saturated in atmosphere. The lonely, dusty twang of guitars, mournful horns and th...This 4-song EP is saturated in atmosphere. The lonely, dusty twang of guitars, mournful horns and the delectable flavor of other more exotic instruments combine with inventive arrangements to form a wonderfully shadowed foundation beneath Laura Wendling’s pristine vocals. . . Blackhart Strangelove’s music is oddly compelling. The band has the enviable ability to draw you in until you are fully immersed in their vibrant world filled with twilight wonders. Even though you might feel a little unease, you will not want to leave because you’ll want to absorb the entire experience.

• Unsigned the Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "The storytelling musical tales that this duo offer are gripping and fantastic . . . I full-heartedl..."The storytelling musical tales that this duo offer are gripping and fantastic . . . I full-heartedly recommend this band as one to watch and embrace." - T. Mathenia, Unsigned the Magazine

• Glasswerks UK [+ Show ]
  

  ". . . there is almost a real warning alarm about the invading guitar (Kill Your Love) . . . So loun...". . . there is almost a real warning alarm about the invading guitar (Kill Your Love) . . . So lounge music with attitude? Artistic expression with message? . . . could be one of this years few "something sacred out there"; Assuming of course it gets the attention it deserves." - Steven Hurst, Glasswerks UK

• Three Monkeys Online [+ Show ]
  

  "(Anyone But Me). . . piano and sparse guitar punctuates a tale of dark self-discovery. It's the s..."(Anyone But Me). . . piano and sparse guitar punctuates a tale of dark
  self-discovery. It's the sort of song that the late great Johnny Cash could have happily covered." - Three Monkeys Online

Setlist

Anyone But Me
A Love Song
Kill Your Love
Mannequin Mistress
the Meta Morphosis
Mel Honey
Nick Of Time
She Wasn't Sorry
Can't Let Go (cover)
Bang Bang (cover)
Casino Queen (cover)

Basic Requirements

Calendar