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

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.