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The main creative force behind Hercules and Love Affair, Andy Butler, began his music career as a DJ at the young age of fifteen, working in a 'leather bar' in Denver, US. In the late 1990s, he moved to New York City, US to study at the Sarah Lawrence College, where he met musician Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons), with the two becoming friends. Butler immersed himself in New York City's club culture, promoting parties and creating his own music.
Butler's first release came out on the DFA label, titled "Classique/Roar" (2007), a joint effort with TIm Goldsworthy, featuring vocals from Hegarty that had an early Chicago house sound. Butler then went on to release the single "Blind" in the UK in March 2007, with the song quickly becoming a hit. Having broken into the UK top 40, it would go on to be named 'Best Song of 2008' by Pitchfork and came in sixth place in Resident Advisor's annual poll of the 'Top 30 Tracks of the Year.'
Butler continued his project with a rotating cast of musicians, releasing the self-titled debut album in 2008, released through EMI records. The album featured Hegarty on vocals although he did not perform live with the band. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 191 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 31 in the UK Albums Chart. The band embarked on a European and North American tour after its release.
Butler and his band returned in 2011 with their second album, "Blue Songs," released on British independent, Moshi Moshi. As well as guest vocals from Hegarty, Kele Okereke, of Bloc Party fame, also featured on the song "Step Up." This was followed by their third creation, "The Feast of the Broken Heart" which went for a bleaker, darker sound with more aggressive baselines that had more of a techno influence than previous releases. It also featured the vocal talents of John Grant, Krystie Warren and Rouge Mary. Through their success as recording artists, Hercules and Love Affair have found significant popularity at European festivals, performing at the likes of Meltdown Festival and Lovebox, both in the UK.
Back when DFA Records, the label co-founded by James Murphy, were making a real charge back in 2008, Hercules and Love Affair were pretty much right out front of it; the project started as a solo affair for DJ Andy Butler, but soon expanded to encompass a full live setup, one that did justice to the disco and house stylings of their self-titled debut album, which met with a terrific critical reception upon release after months of the group generating hype across the blogosphere. That album, in fact, was co-written, in part at least, by Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, featuring his vocals throughout, too. In the years since, Hercules and Love Affair haven’t quite managed to capitalise upon the blindingly good start that they made; 2011 follow-up Blue Songs met with a less rapturous reaction from the critics, and saw the band back to playing the intimate rooms that they’d frequented earlier in their careers. With album number three, The Feast of the Broken Heart, released back in May, though, new UK dates - to follow up last November’s London show at the Coronet - should be announced soon; expect a frenetic live show and eccentric instrumentation, from a band who’s experimental sound hasn’t aged a day since their debut dropped.
Joeg_67
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