The New Forbidden: Studio album from band featuring Loyd Grossman & Valentine Guinness

Cadiz Music are delighted to announce the release of the new album ‘Songs From The Subway’ from The New Forbidden on 4^th May 2018.  The band features Loyd Grossman (guitar) and Valentine Guinness (lead vocal) and takes its name, and some of its hard-hitting intent from Grossman’s former band, Jet Bronx and The Forbidden.  In 1977, ‘Ain’t Doing Nothing’, written by Grossman, although not quite a hit, had enough impact to still be regarded as a classic of its kind; and led in recent years to performances at Glastonbury and Rebellion Festivals.

For those performances, Grossman, who originally sang as well as playing guitar, brought in his friend Valentine Guinness to handle lead vocals.  And very soon The New Forbidden were having such fun that they didn’t want to stop – and thus the album was born.  ‘Songs From The Subway’ features 10 brand new songs, written by the band.  Grossman’s deft, plangent and melodic guitar work drives things forward, ably abetted by Guinness’ crisp vocals.

The New Forbidden produce a wild, catchy sound with a modern angst-ridden edge.  The influence of the golden age of the UK/US New Wave is a rich thread through the material; shades of Blondie, Iggy Pop, The Killers, The Damned, Lou Reed, The Only Ones, Richard Hell, The Smiths and The Doors.  The album was produced by Dan Swift [Art Brut, Snow Patrol, BlueTones etc].  The Guardian described their sound as, “Comfortingly raucous, high energy pop which showcases Grossman’s adroitly effervescent soloing and singer Valentine Guinness’s ironic, neatly observed lyrics, both of which exemplify their work.” Valentine’s own art-world credentials are impeccable.  As well as having fronted innumerable bands, he is also a screenwriter and playwright – who once had his work ‘Helping Harry’ favourably judged by Harold Pinter – and was on first name terms with both Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

Though now a household name in the food world, Grossman started playing guitar as a 12-year-old in Boston, the beating heart of the US rock scene in the 1960s and 70s.  He started to write for underground magazines and ended up reviewing for Rolling Stone, often seeing four or five bands a night.  The constant, however, was performance, and he played in various bands, supporting Sly & the Family Stone and Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, amongst others.  Jet Bronx and The Forbidden were formed when Grossman headed to the London School of Economics, spending much of his time at The Marquee. With Grossman having also undertaken recent Christmas concerts with Jethro Tull and Marc Almond, ‘Songs From The Subway’ marks just the latest chapter in his musical story.

Energy, enthusiasm and a true musical pedigree [Grossman also formed The Commercials, who signed to Eat Records in 1979] mean that The New Forbidden are the real deal.  ‘Songs From The Subway’ is a statement of real intent, the album is underscored by a sheer love of the music and a satisfying Indie / Punk dynamic, there’s much to admire here.  Music with flavour and a truly satisfying bite…