Dawn of a New Day is Valentin’s first ‘real’ solo album. ‘There have been other attempts’, he says coyly, ‘but the less said about them the better’. Put together during many, many patient hours by Valentin and Warrick Hayes (soulfully assisted by Warrick’s aristocratic basset-hound, Byron), with for only friends a laptop, a good microphone, and a brand of Canadian lager whose name has been forgotten, the album strives to remain simple and free from over-production, relying on a texture of accoustic guitar and layered, harmonically dense vocals. ‘We recorded half of it in an estate in Abbey Wood, in the midst of the concrete jungle, and the other half just off Kilburn High Road’, says Valentin, ‘perfect places as the album was born from my tempestuous love affair with London, and my fascination with its many facets, characters, love stories, half-forgotten places, dusty bars, dark nights etc.’

The album, blending musical styles to suit the complex story lines of the songs, brings together influences of Cuban, Brazilian music, Jazz and Folk as well as distinct Pop sensibilities: ‘I think that certain musical styles have certain types of stories and characters within them,’ Valentin remarks. ‘if you learn and play music by trying to hear what it says, by learning its secrets, instead of always making it do what you want to do, then you find stories and characters hiding in every musical expression, waiting to be heard. And it becomes more about writing their story than your own’. Woven together with strong musical narratives and inspired by the lives and characters of London, Dawn of a New Day emerges as a work of songwriting at once epic and humorous, moving through complex harmonies, rich musical ideas and soulful vocal performances. ‘I’ve only just started to learn my craft,’ says Valentin, ’songwriting is a lifelong quest. But I was glad to finally be able to put something down.’

Aside from the patient hard work, encouragement and post-modern sense of humour of Warrick Hayes (whose piece de resitance includes extremely believable running commentary in the voice and person of his aforementioned basset) Dawn of a New Day’’s other prime ingredients are Wendy Nieper’s warm and spirited vocal, jazz pianist Robin White’s edgy and intense playing, and the percussive talents of Marcus Sharp.

The Songs

Rain River

Thursday Angel

Traces of Light

The Ballad of LuisdeSouza

Dinner Party

This is the Waltz

Early One Sunday

The Ghost of Gray’s Inn Road

Sweet Fool

Dawn of a New Day

All songs are written, performed and arranged by Valentin Gerlier. (c) 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Produced by Warrick Hayes and Valentin Gerlier.

Mastered by Filippo Gaetani.