The Human Value
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The Human Value

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"Nemesis To Go 6/06"

Watch out - my new band detector unit is flashing code red. That means we've got a hot one.

Here's your essential information. The Human Value are two humans and a drum machine - on this album, anyway: the band now have a full-scale human line-up. They come from Somewhere, USA. Guitarist and all-round man-who-makes-the-music Hiram Fleites was once in Kittens For Christian; vocalist Turu was previously in Sukhotin (nope, I'd never heard of them, either). But the really essential information is simply this: The Human Value are a cracking combo. It's been a while since a new band has come out of nowhere and made me think, Ooooh. This lot are a bit good. But The Human Value have pasted a grin on my stupid face and I'm sitting here moshing in my seat. That's a result all right. Even if it does make me look like a twit.

The band's sound is a splendid combination of gritty, buzzing, clanging guitar and Turu's world-weary, after-closing-time vocals. The rhythms are neatly convincing, rattling everything along like the last train home. It all hangs together ludicrously well, and the songs themselves are little things of beauty. The sound of The Human Value pitches up somewhere between PJ Harvey and The Faith Healers - to mention a 90s British indie outfit of which, I suspect, The Human Value have never heard. But there's something in the way many of the songs here take off into spiralling, guitar-driven mantras, the way Turu sings a kind of keening blues, dragging her voice through gravel in the verses and then revving it all up as the chorus comes round, that recalls the outer fringes of British indie-dom, just as it also hints at vintage US alterno-outfits such as 10,000 Maniacs. And if you're going to deploy a few influences, you can't get much cooler than that lot, is what I say.

All of which doesn't mean that The Human Value are simply a vintage John Peel show distilled down into one band. They stamp their own identity very firmly onto their music. They have a certain jaundiced, world-weary persona, as if they've been buffeted by life but they're still defiantly standing. 'Give Me' is a wonderfully petulant jeremiad, bile and bubblegum-pop handclaps in one neat package. 'Lonely Girl' is a smoke-blackened roadhouse blues, while 'Tonight' is probably the most accessible song here, a tumbling mash-up of syncopating drums and layers of guitar falling over themselves as the song scrabbles up to the take-off-and-fly chorus. If there's a hit single here, this is it. And 'Somebody', on which the band prove their out-there pop sensibility once again, must surely be the follow-up. 'Parts Per Million' blends a little cream with the vinegar - it's a charmingly downbeat ballad, with Hiram shadowing Turu spookily on the vocal. This one'll convince you that the vibraphone is a rock 'n' roll instrument, too. And right at the end there's 'Springtime She Waits' - slow and battered, like an old Pontiac driven by a frowning Tom Waits.

In short, it's all an unexpected treat, and I'm now consumed by a desire to catch The Human Value live. That might not be entirely easy, since although the band seem to gig extensively in the USA they have not, so far, ventured elsewhere. However, apparently vague plans exist for a European tour later this year, and I'd certainly like that to happen. This is lovely stuff, and it needs to be taken to the world.
- Michael Johnson


"Incendiary 2/06"

"Its dark, its dirty and it sounds as seedy as hell....The Human Values Hiram avoids any kind of angles and uses guitars that drone and wail enough to make Sonic Youth beam with pride whilst Turu, his partner in crime, wails above him with a voice that sounds like Chrisse Hynde and Patti Smith. Lyrically, theyre all about sex and lust. If they werent making this an eponymous album, then they could well have called it Wanting Impatiently, because they want it and they want it bad.

Its a steamy little affair, this album. It groans, it drones, it grinds and itll get you all hot under the collar. So get out the bin bags, screw in the black light and get down and dirty. You know you want to."


Damian Leslie- - Incendiary


"Alternative Nation 3/06"


I’ve been waiting for an excuse to use a black light bulb again since 1987 and I think I may have just found it in The Human Value. Many things pass me by these days musically, but I’m glad I managed to catch these guys. The Human Value are perhaps getting an unfair retro tag being compared to such luminaries as Bowie, Talking Heads, Souxsie & The Banshees (and dare I say it … The Ramones), but these guys are the real deal from the first cords of that fuzzy guitar sound through the haunting vocals and to the end fade. These guys hit the spot.

There’s a fair mix of cultures in the band—members from Cuba, Greece, Spain and the good old US of A. Whether this has any bearing on the musical bent of the musicians it difficult to tell, but one thing is for sure—The Human Value have captured a incredible sound that evokes a classic area of ’80s music.

Even though all the comparisons are clear, these guys have a very unique resonance that is more ‘inspired by’ than ‘copied from’ the aforementioned greats. They have stamped a very prominent identity over their music, definite pop overtones, but with a sleazy, seductive quality running through its veins and oozing into your soul—much of which is down to the haunting lyrics of lead vocalist Turu.

The Human Value’s new single is out in April and is well worth a listen!
- Alt Nation


"Heathen Angel Mag UK 3/06"

Rating: 9/10

The new wave, new wave crave is marching to the UK and the potential leaders
of it, America‚s The Human Value, capture a buzzing sound and shake it like
it‚s a poor man‚s money box, to produce Blondie-eqsue provocation and XTC
style eccentric frivolity. The crawling vocal approach of Turu that has a
mechanical effect turns the wheels of this satiating grinder of an A side.

The hollow percussive build up to B-side ŒNashville #5‚, helps to set a
nostalgic feel that throws matters into a reflective vortex at which
throbbing instrumentals are the centrepiece. There is a lustful hunger that
trickles through Turu‚s stammering vocals, lifting the number‚s quaintness
to a catchy high ground. The vocals take a delightful turn towards the Katie
Jane Garside manner, in the salacious glam/punk melting pot of ŒShe‚ and
keeps this purring first single bubbling throughout its entirety.

Rating: 9/10
- Heathen Angel


"UKM Mag 4/06"

With fuzzy guitar riffs, generous smatterings of handclaps and big glorious pop hooks - The Human Value deal in ragged power pop, the sound of Blondie being molested by The Ramones down some dark alley.
With single GIVE ME, the band stake their claim as future pop stars - a song dripping with attitude, energy and catchy hooks. Singer Turu purrs along with rock menace whilst guitarist Hiram weaves fuzzy guitar magic, propelling you along and leaving you breathless and happy.
That all four songs here sound strong enough to be singles in their own right should also tell you something about The Human Value, from the shimmering glam smoulder of SHE to the messy pop racket of SOMEBODY.
As overtly pop as Pink, as unashamedly noisy as The Ramones, The Human Value are a band that are going to be very hard to ignore in the coming months.
- UKM Mag


"This Is ULL mag UK 4/06"

Armed with band members from as far-flung places as Cuba, Greece, Spain and
North America, this fresh quartet is making some exceptionally exciting
sounds courtesy of this debut single.
Here is an Alt.-rock band with commanding attitude, fronted as it is by the
feisty Turu - who used to be in the band The Send Effect. Turu, in The Human
Value's initial stages, hooked up with ace guitarist Hiram, and from there
they recruited the remaining two members.

The Human Value's music heaves with Dressy Bessy-esque vibes and Siouxsie
and The Banshees' brand of nu-wave originality, as the chorus-dominated
title track in Give Me gives way to Nashville #5, which is a simply
mesmerising piece of music blessed with Turu's extraordinary vocals.
The distinctive guitar chug also sees through Somebody and She in style,
with the dark vibes and classy melody-lines ensuring that this band is truly
one to watch, especially since they've been working closely with Grammy
award-winning producer Bruce Bouillet.
Given the strength of both this single and the band's eponymous album, The
Human Value is clearly priceless. - thisisull.com


"Creem Magazine 12/2005"

Sounding like a slightly harder version of Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Human Value come out swinging on their self-titled debut. The album has a persistently dark and gothic sound, but most of the tracks are genuinely catchy and well-produced. Guitarist Hiram, formerly of Kittens for Christian, does a good job of keeping things interesting with his propulsive fuzztone approach. And singer Turu's full-throated vocals lend a grand sweep to the proceedings. The record's been picking up some college airplay, but the opening track, "Give Me," sounds like a ready-made alterna-radio hit just waiting to happen.
W.C. Moriarity - Creem Magazine


"Crave Magazine 1/2006"

With comparisons to groups such as Blondie to the Ramones and the Talking Heads, The Human Value brings their own unique blend of retro/rock/pop that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. In a scene that owned the 80's, The Human Value exploit their old school influences but push forward with their own sound that will set the standard for years to come.
The album opens with the catchy "Give Me" that you would expect to find blowing up the airwaves from local radio stations. "Kill Pangs" is a very peaceful and but dark song that is very relaxing and easy on the ears. Other strong tracks that showcase Turu's unique and melodic vocals and Hiram's smooth guitar melodies, are "Tonight", "Parts Per Million" and "Complications". Definitely check out The Human Value and find out why this duo is making a scene and look for them to be around for years to come.
- Crave magazine


"Slug Magazine 12/2005"

The Human Value = PJ Harvey (Dance Hall at Louse Point) + My Bloody ValentineBaby, I think I wanna take you for a ride. Ex-Kittens for Christian member Hiram Fleites is The Human Value‚s mastermind, woo-ah ha ha. Think guitars so laden with splendid buzz that they‚d give the Raveonettes a run for their money; vocals veering between Blondie 80s new wave, PJ Harvey sensual know-how, Siouxsie Sioux wailing and Chrissie Hynde earthy maturity; drums and drum programming encompassing ABBA and Sisters of Mercy without blinking an eyelash; violin hanging like a terrible, haunting tightrope dangling high above. Goth overtones are unavoidable, but as far as parallels between The Human Value and Kittens for Christian, there are few, and they are unimportant. „Complications‰ might come the closest, if that‚s what you‚re looking for, but only because Hiram is singing, really. „Nashville‰ is my favorite track, coming lovingly close to jagged shoegazer like Scarling. or
My Bloody Valentine. This
is going in my Top 10 for 2005. ˆRebecca
- Slug Magazine


"Jointz Magazine Feature 12/2005"

Appraising The Human Value
By Sandee Curry
Previously a pretty scary downtown dive, the reinvented Bar 107 is now awash in black velvet paintings, hipster décor, and kooky movies. As the jukebox provided the soundtrack from David Bowie to Black Sabbath and back again, Bar 107 made for the perfect setting to meet with a band whose music is like a vintage Italian horror film—dark, grainy, scary, very sexy, and kinky in a way that nothing purely American ever dares to be.

There is something undeniably nostalgic about the music of The Human Value. It is reminiscent of everything good about the ‘80s: driving beat, dark synths, smoldering vocals, and intense lyrics. But this is no retro band. The Human Value possess a sound all their own and are driven by extreme passion for communicating through music. The Human Value is truly a labor of love.

“Not one day goes by that we don’t treat this as if it’s the air we breathe,” said Turu, lead singer and main lyricist for The Human Value.

Formerly of Kittens for Christian, co-songwriter Hiram Fleites also handles guitar and vocals. Turu provided backup vocals on the Kittens for Christian record while she was also busy with her band Sukhotin (aka The Send Effect). Frustrated with their previous projects, Hiram and Turu eventually joined forces for this incarnation.

“When you need to make music, and you need to express yourself, you have to do it, so we found ourselves putting everything on the line,” said Turu of the band’s self-titled debut.

The duo left everything behind and took off for Nashville to meet up with Grammy-winning producer Bruce Bouillet, and during that time, they fiendishly wrote, played, and recorded with the fire evident in the resulting sound. The album was recorded in the Oak Ridge Boys’ old studio, which was so haunted that it literally and repeatedly scared the piss out of the band mascot, Lucy the dog. In this creepy, musty basement, the two “never saw the sun” during recording. They worked through the nights to get it done, lending a visceral vibe to the record.

Turu says of the album, “I think it’s introspective and it tries to think about all the emotions we go through and all the reasons why we think we’re here and why we exist and what it’s all worth.” It was music that needed to come out, and this urgency comes across.

That raw emotion and the deep connection between Turu and Hiram are evident in the harmonies. The layers of distorted guitar and throbbing rhythms make fine companions to Turu’s soulful purr. The music is steeped in the dark and heavy, the sensual and quite melodic. The heavily textured record is thick with a sound that draws you in and envelops you. The themes of the songs are human, universal, relatable.

The band was the first on Big Deal Records’ roster. Then came the difficult task of finding band members to complete the puzzle. The search finally resulted in Alex Tanasi on bass, Lynnae Hitchcock on drums, and Susan Lagle on guitar. With this lineup, the personalities seemed to blend together in an eclectic human stew. The members’ ethnic backgrounds are as diverse as their influences, and the outcome is a combination of Cuban, Greek, Argentinian, Spanish, and Native American. While all the band members are deeply rooted in their cultures, the music comes not from a specific ethnicity or location, but from a similar core. Their influences range from The Velvet Underground to Bill Withers to the Pixies to Roberta Flack to PJ Harvey, and while all these influences make perfect sense in the context of this music, the band’s sound is not at all derivative.

Just back from a West Coast tour where they fell in love with each other as people and as musicians, they’ve set their sights on Europe and a second record for the near future.

The Human Value will be playing dates in the LA area and the Pacific Northwest in December and January. With Turu’s commanding, sexy, powerful, and mesmerizing stage presence leading the charge, the band’s live performances capture all the intensity and passion of the music and purvey it in a way that any thinking, feeling human can relate to.
- Jointz Magazine


Discography

Upcoming Releases:
August 12th US Release of "Push and Pull" with additional bonus tracks exclusive to the US

Limited Edition Colored 7" Vinyl with Remixes

Previous Releases:
The Human Value (S/T) US and UK Release
Give Me 7" (white vinyl, red vinyl, and grey vinyl)
"Give Me" Neal Pogue Remix

Photos

Bio

THE HUMAN VALUE, originating in the US, has now created a viable base in the UK. This sensuous, dirty sounding band is readying for an '08 swoop of festivals
and proper clubs. Stage savvy, great reviews, great looking, even better
sounding; THE HUMAN VALUE has fully honed their performances in and
about the UK touring and playing festivals such as In The City (Manchester) for the last year and a half gaining recognition for their performances and releases in prominent UK mags such as NME and The Fly. THV will be releasing their second US Album August 12th, 2008 with additional bonus tracks exclusive to the US only!__________________________________
REVIEWS
Live:
NME/Radar Live picks THV as one of only 10 from hundreds @ ITC: “(Turu’s)…thrilling wail charges the NYC band’s dark swathes of mood-pop”
Clash Magazine (Live @ ITC): "The Human Value, an American band who come to Manchester every year for the conference were next on our lists. Their adventurous, New York howl saw a change of pace at Squares. Dark pop which brought Souxie and The Banshees to mind, all three band members mashed up their well penned riffs with ruthless drums and the quality vocals of front woman Turu set the band apart and hopefully they’ll get the good bit of spin they deserve from this years event."
The Fly (UK): "Hypnotically serpentine front woman with a thrillingly fluid yowl. Sinuous drummer who turns into a cyclonic juggernaut at the whiff of his sticks. Nonchalant third member who flings out deceptively complex guitar with such rabid intensity that you could almost forget there’s not a bassist in sight. Why, this bunch are practically the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with added PJ Harvey, and, in the stompsome clarion call of ‘Parts’, they’ve even got their own ‘bang’. They are the Human Value. We are not worthy."
Amateur Chemist (US): “The Human Value didn't mess around. They rocked the audience from start to finish holding a good majority of the Spaceland audience with an all out performance that I have rarely witnessed in the late slot."Pleasant Town" from their album "Push and Pull" served as the first punch to the face with its brutal guitar/bass lead as Turu raced around the stage manically. The Human Value would fall into the realm of high octane garage rock with gothic inspiration from Siouxsie and the Banshees. Their set had a sense of unpredictability and danger that is rarely seen in live shows. I especially enjoyed Hiram's leap from his amp to punctuate the set. That is what I call a rock and roll show.”
TheReporter.co.uk quote:
"This Human Value is about getting lost,
throwing it all away for this beautiful rock n’ roll moment and if a
band can make somebody else do that for one minute of their shit,
routine-built, over-looked, systematic hell for a life then that is
worth more than all the money in the world."

TheReporter.co.uk: full review
“Who needs values when there are bands like this, introducing The Human
Value. Superficial comparisons to Souxie Soux on vocals with a high-density
riot-grrrrrl assault against the fragility of Hiram”s voice, makes for a glass shattering combination! The bass was actually guitar ¬ the ONE guitar making ALL the noise. The deepest shoegaze wall and riffs of slowed Stooges, a perfect fusion. All this over a female drum machine, absolutely flawlessly rock tight. If you need to see an example of how an
interesting groove ¬ like bossa nova - played fantastically can be more effective than any rudiment and spectacular drum solo, look no further, This girl is on the button. With a song like Somebody¹ you are in How Soon Is Now¹ by The Smiths territory. Not for influence comparisons but for the pure fact that the defining riff is so good you could actually listen to it on a loop forever. This Human Value is about getting lost, throwing it all away for this beautiful rock n¹ roll moment and if a band can make somebody else do that for one minute of their shit, routine-built, over-looked, systematic hell for a life then that is worth more than all the money in the world.”

Music-News.com quote:
"The Human Value is a classic case of a band being more impressive, more
varied and more affecting live than can ever be reproduced in a
recording."

Music-News.com: full review
“The Human Value is a classic case of a band being more impressive, more varied and more affecting live than can ever be reproduced in a recording. Lead singer Turu is a tousle-haired ball of energy with a voice of such depth and resonance that it teeters on the verge of being frightening in the constricted space of The Fly. She is a darker Shirley Manson, a deeper Beth Gibbons of Portishead and blows the socks off Moloko’s Roisin Murphy. Guitarist and backing vocalist Hiram was similarly solid in his performance and provided an added depth to Turu’s vocals, melding easily to form the dark harmonies which the band so effortlessly produce. The drummer’s arms were a blur most of the time and it was a w