Album: Every Valley (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Every Valley is a concept album that documents the progress and decline of the coal mining industry in South Wales. This song features Tracyanne Campbell from the Scottish band Camera Obscura repeating the line, "I believe in progress," over a musical background inspired by Kraftwerk, the electronic German group who were renowned for celebrating all things industrial.
  • During an interview with HMV.com, the comment was made that "the vibe is very much one of hope and optimism" despite taking place after the demise of the Welsh coal mining industry. Frontman J Willgoose Esq responded:

    "Well, the thing with that song is that, on the surface, it does kind of fit into our set in terms of believing in progress and the progress of mankind generally, which is what our previous albums have been about, in a way. But in the context of this album it's asking whether it really is progress for the people whose jobs have been lost and who have been kind of swept aside by the relentless march of human progress, so there's a kind of double-edged nature to it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.