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THE HUMAN VALUE
TURU: VOCALS, KEYS
HIRAM FLEITES: GUITAR, VOCALS
JAMES HAZLEY: DRUMS, PERCUSSION
Turu and Hiram formed THE HUMAN VALUE. A little over a year later they staked a claim on the UK landscape when, within 3 months on "guerilla" steam, they racked up numerous club dates and received excellent reviews for live shows and their self titled debut. They were singled out by NME "Radar Live" for their In The City performance, were high on a number of Top 10 year- end lists and covered in lots of media to include a full-page feature in DIVA magazine.
In March 2007, THV returns to the UK and Europe from the States (from where they hail). They are in the process of completing a striking, self-produced, full-length follow up that will capture more of their jaw-dropping raw energy and live sound. In the meanwhile, London's 586 has taken the track "She" from THV's debut album and spun it into a dance mix which is due to hit the UK club scene early spring to satisfy the requests from their first tour.
The Past
Hiram: While establishing Kittens For Christian, released a handful of EP's, and then signed to Columbia/Sony via Serj Tankian's (SOAD) label for the full length, The Privilege Of Your Company. KFC toured extensively to support the Columbia release and were chosen to open for the Raveonettes and Stellastarr on a two-month North American tour.
Turu: Established Sukhotin, later reincarnated as The Send Effect. They self released an EP Into My Ways. With extensive tour support of that EP, they particularly created a strong base in the west and northwest markets of the U.S. where Turu was likened to Chrissie Hynde, Siouxsie, and Robert Smith!
James: Formerly of Cockeyed Ghost, recorded Keep Yourself Amused, produced by famed Earle Mankey (Beach Boys and Sparks) and Neverest. During that time CG graced the cover of LA Weekly, toured the US and Canada with Shonen Knife, and opened for many other high profile acts. James' previous bands include Boyscouts of Annihilation, The Party, Nightmare of the Elf, and 69 Boys.
LIVE QUOTES:
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"
Nemesis (UK): "Their music is full of edges and angles, scrapes and collisions, like a speeded-up film of rush hour traffic. Bumps and tumbles, a big, rolling, motorized sound, Turu's vocal pulling it along and imposing a cross grained authority on every song. Yet the band never loses control. Even when they rampage through 'Give Me', their new single, running red lights all the way and definitely exceeding the speed limit, there's a sense that they're clinging firmly to the steering wheel of their careering juggernaut. Hiram's guitar sound swells and crashes, filling the room with sound. The Human Value on record: taut, precise, tipping their hats to the speed cops even as they feather the accelerator. And then there's The Human Value on stage: turning it up to twelve, and giving us all a white-knuckle ride."
ThePorter.co.uk (UK): "Who needs values when there are bands like this, introducing The Human Value... 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."
UK-FUSION: "... The Human Value prove they're bona fide rock stars all righty, Blighty... Lead singer Turu makes her mike look like an extension of her mouth so close is her relationship with it and guitarist Hiram strums, effortlessly displaying his strategically-placed Fred-Perryesque tattoo to all and sundry whilst doing so."
Music-News.com (UK): "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...Kept the audience transfixed until the very last note"
HedMagazine (UK): "The last song just blew my two odd socks off me. There was Patti Smith in there, aided and abetted by Chrissie Hynde! This band rocked - in the purest sense."
The Tube Club (UK): "The Human Value kindly passed by our club and it was obvious that they had embarked on a tour because their music was so tight and purring along like a wild cat... All adept at their own instruments and fronted by a fantastic sounding female."
InFlightAtNight (US): "Their set was intense with singer/keyboardist Turu belting out their songs and flailing around with reckless abandon... Hiram's, the guitarist, sound is so loud and powerful, as he runs through a bass and guitar cab..."
ALBUM REVIEW QUOTES:
MusicTap.net (UK): "The Human Value plays a punkish pop that is full of all the right stuff that makes for great sounding records. It is also a disc that I went back to several times after hearing it. That's a sign of a good record, when you just can't seem to move on to the next album because the one you've just heard won't leave your brain yet... The album contains 13 tracks, all of them excellent, and all worth your time. The Human Value's debut is very contagious and extremely viral. Once inside your head, it's hard to get out. 4/5 Stars"
Creem Magazine (US): "The Human Value come out swinging on their self titled debut.... 'Give Me' sounds like a ready-made alterna-radio hit just waiting to happen."
AAPA (The Netherlands): "This debut album is captivating, at times both eerie and dazzling, abstruse yet arousing, and unique in that it is able to awaken all our emotions in a truly original and exhilarating way. There is not one duff or filler track on the entire album (take note The Killers!), while singer Turu has a fantastic voice, capable of tons of variation and range.... This is an excellent debut album; it is also very provocative and it ensnares you in both a menacing and a stirring way. - 8.5/10"
Incendiary Magazine (UK): "It groans... it grinds and it'll get you all hot under the collar."
Get Ready To Rock (UK): "...this album is a breath of fresh air in a stale music scene."
The Skinny (UK): "The Human Value are a soon-to-be-popular American boy-girl new-wave beat combo with peculiar names, low, scuzzy guitars, gothic melodies and sensuous female vocals, who are very reminiscent of Siouxsie & The Banshees - and they are perfect."
Nemesis (UK): "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."
Really Love Music (UK): "First and by far the best thing in recent times for me."
UK Music Search (UK): "...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.
This Is Ull (UK): "Title track 'Give Me' gives way to Nashville #5, which is a simply mesmerizing 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."
Diva Magazine (UK):
Musicfolio Top 20 Albums of 2006:
ALBUM REVIEW QUOTES CONT'D:
Really Love Music (UK): "First and by far the best thing in recent times for me."
UK Music Search (UK): "...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.
This Is Ull (UK): "title track 'Give Me' gives way to 'Nashville #5', which is a simply mesmerizing 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."
Rhythm & Booze (UK): "The Human Value offer up a unique brand of music that far exceeds the sum of their influences, you can expect big things for this band so beat the rush and check them out now."
Alternative Nation (UK): "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."
Heathen Angel (UK): "The 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."
Bruise Magazine (US): "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."
Crave (US): "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."
Slug (US): "Baby, 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."
Popentertainment (US): "Yet, the Human Value is not just a retro band. With sultry vocals by Turu anchoring most of the songs, there is a wonderful timelessness to much of this debut album."
UK-Fusion.com (UK): "Possessing the capacity to monkey about with your heart beat, The Human Value are one potent arsenal of noise. Turu herself has special powers. She could give the most slumberous of men sleepless nights."
STV (UK): "...this eponymous debut album is intense and atmospheric; creepy, sexy, and exciting. You'll be spellbound."
Glasswerk (UK): "...this trio of musical liberators from the West Coast, led by the provocative pitch of vocalist Turu, erects a solid foundation from which to project their carpe diem message."
Jointz (US): "There s something undeniably nostalgic about the music of The Human Value. It is reminiscent of everything good about the 80's: driving beat, dark synths, smoldering vocals, and intense lyrics. But this is no retro band."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THV CONTACT MICHELLE MARX
michelle@mmarxinc.com / 719.473.6600
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