Morton Valence are a London-based band based around the vocal pairing of songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Robert 'Hacker' Jessett (ex-member of The Band of Holy Joy and Alabama 3) and Anne Gilpin. They've released eight albums over the past 13 years or so, though we only came across them with the launch of 2015's Another Country which is a good place to start if you aren't familiar with them yet "in a genre they’ve made their own – tales of the city rendered in a country idiom, their take on it suggesting that it might be the last surviving form of soul music" Louder Than War.

 

Morton Valence describe their music as “urban country”, i.e. not easy to categorise (!) but their recorded work and live performances have been acclaimed by both audiences and critics in the UK and Europe. They're noted for their idiosyncratic song-writing style, which is very much informed by Americana, but with a heart and soul firmly rooted in the UK, creating something that's not only both familiar and innovative, but also 100% authentic. In 2020 Folk Radio UK described the re-released Black Angel Drifter as "an alt-country album that puts the rulebook through the shredder and starts again. Morton Valence’s gritty escapism is far too Dickensian to wear the pure Americana badge, rather their brand of urban country is a sparring force to be reckoned with on its own terms giving UK alt-country an authentic new, dynamic voice."

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“Just about the most intriguing band on these shores”

The Guardian

“there is no one operating across quite the same terrain as they do”

Classic Rock

“One of the great mysteries of the 21st century is why Morton Valence aren’t better known”

Mojo Magazine

“delicious burlesque pop”

Q Magazine

“elegant outlaws”

Rolling Stone Magazine