The Human Value 'The Human Value' album

What makes the flesh? What makes the pulse of a heart? What moves the mind? What causes it all to fall apart? What is the value of it all? This self-titled debut release from THE HUMAN VALUE vacillates between the light and dark side of the human condition. The love, the desperation, the rejection, the lies, the need and the triumph of the human spirit – its all here. Hailed as one of the hottest new bands from America's West Coast, comparisons have been made to such classic bands as Siouxsie & The Banshees, Talking Heads, Blondie and The Ramones; evocative of everything good about the 80's driving beat, dark synths, smouldering vocals, set against a seductive new killer sound, however, The Human Value are no retro band.

The Human Value's first single release
"Give Me" has been mixed by Grammy award-winner Neal Pogue who's work includes hit punk band The Tranpants, Pink and Outkast's multi Grammy Award winning Album of the Year. The single will be released in the UK on Monday 18th September.

Their self titled eponymous debut album "The Human Value" will be released in the UK by "Big Deal Records" (with distribution through "Proper Distribution") on Monday 2nd October. The album is helmed by Grammy award-winning Producer Bruce Bouillet.

"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," says David Adair on AngryApe.com. "The crawling vocal approach of Turu that has a mechanical effect turns the wheels of this satiating grinder of an A-side."

Awash in fuzzed out guitar, propelled by grinding rhythms and propagated by seductive ruminations this collection of songs achieves the rare feat of obtaining sonic bliss with pure pop overtones. Hiram, formally of "Kittens for Christian" supplies the guttural, body grooving guitar riffs and yearning vocals, while Turu's sensuous singing, intense confidence, provides an in-your-face performance of sheer intensity.

Musically, the band hailed as the new Siouxsie and the Banshees, however, their songs capture an attitude that's more inherent of America's West Coast rock music scene.

Over the years LA and San Francisco have produced a lot of underrated, influential bands whose contribution to rock is very much apparent in 2006. When you first listen to THV, one can't help but think about all those ground-breaking West Coast bands like Romeo Void, Missing Persons and X. Also name-checked is PJ Harvey and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

In the late 70s West coast rock was thriving, from the D.I.Y. hardcore punk aesthetic of the Darby Crash and the Germs, Black Flag, The Weirdos, the Dead Kennedys and The Cramps.

The music was exciting and spontaneous and audiences never knew what to expect next. The West coast rock tradition was carried into the eighties with the likes of X and Romeo Void. The Human Value captures a spirit that's reminiscent of that exciting time, and in doing so, brings something new to the table.

"Watch out. My new band detector unit is flashing code red. That means we've got a hot one," says Nemesis UK. "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! THV'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."

About The Making of the "Give Me" Video

The concept behind the "Give Me" video came to Turu in a dream. The band had just finished doing a photo shoot with Bquicktronic which had taken place in the latter's bathtub. Later that same night, Turu suddenly woke up in the midst of what she claimed to be "a bizarre dream." The band was in Bquick's bathroom moving around as if we were being observed in photographic flipbook. Turu immediately started brainstorming the concept with Hiram and the video took on a life of its own.

The 8-hour shoot consists entirely of still photography, roughly 3000 stills, filmed on the band's digital camera. Once taken, the stills were painstakingly edited together. The video cost $20 US dollars to make.

"Give Me" – Credits:
Director: Turu
Photographer: Bquicktronic
Editor: Simon P Chung
Production Coordinator: Hiram Fleites
Stylist: Layla Ross

The Human Value: Line-up:

TURU: VOCALS, KEYS
HIRAM: GUITAR, VOCALS
LYNNAE HITCHCOCK: DRUMS

The Human Value's eclectic backgrounds include Russian/Greek, Mexican/Irish, and Cuban. They call various parts of the U.S. 'home.' While recording their self-titled debut LP, THE HUMAN VALUE lived in Nashville, TN. When it was nearly finished they packed up and headed west to Los Angeles to complete it. That was followed up by extensive touring of the West and N/W Coast. Now, in support of the UK release, they're heading across the 'big pond.' They relate well to being a band of gypsies, establishing a makeshift home wherever they landed the night before. It's not surprising given their heritage.

Turu was born in New York City to Russian and Greek parents. They were heavily involved in music both as performers and behind the scenes. Since day one, Turu had her bassinette set atop a mixing board and a recording studio, anywhere, has always felt like home. Her nomadic spirit was nurtured as she grew and traveled with various musicians, assisting on tours, etc. She secretly took singing lessons until her confidence fully developed. Being a performer was not only in her genes but was her destiny.

She studied acting at Lee Strassberg Institute and got involved in dance, music, and fashion, which is still a passion. Turu formed the band Sukhotin (aka The Send Effect), released the album Into My Ways and supported it with an extensive tour.

Hiram arrived from Cuba by boat with his parents while still pre-teen. His father had been a political prisoner who fled that country when Castro gave dissidents a short window of opportunity to escape. They eventually got to California where other family members had settled during the sixties. Hiram, still bilingual, spent some time at Otis Parson's School of Fine Art studying illustration and has worked as both an artist and designer.

An avid collector of books and vinyl, he spent most of his time on the road in Kittens For Christian. They self-recorded and released several albums and EP's on their own indie label until their final full length release on Columbia Records through the Serjikal Strike imprint. His band toured extensively and was chosen to open the Raveonettes and Stellastarr on a two-month North American tour to support the Columbia release Privilege of Your Company.

Lynnae is of Mexican and Irish decent. She attended an all girl Catholic school in her youth creating a rebellious and unquenchable curiosity about the world outside. She threw herself into acting, music, and all around debauchery. Lynnae is not only an amazing drummer, but she plays piano, accordion, and has a beautiful singing voice. Lynnae is the former drummer for 3-piece band, Relish which toured the United States extensively, including the Warped Tour. She also released a record through Volcom.

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The Human Value - The Human Value