aaamusic | On 10, Jan 2011

Gruff Rhys presents ‘Sensations In The Dark’ a feel-good, mariachi-tinged ode to the joys of falling in love with music. The song will be available to download from 17th January, with the full Sensations In The Dark single – including exclusive B-side called Follow The Sunflower Trail (Theme Tune For A National Strike) and soon to be unveiled video – following on 7th February.

Sensations in the Dark is taken from Gruff Rhys’ heartwarming new album, Hotel Shampoo. “I thought that as I’m getting on a bit, the time had come to buy a suit and record an album of piano ballads”, Gruff explains. “However, I got bored, the record diversified and evolved – things turned out a bit differently…” The end result is Gruff’s most ambitious, fully realized album yet. As well as the intentions above, Hotel Shampoo is inspired by, and takes its title from, the raw material used to construct Gruff’s recent art installation of the same name – disposable, wasteful complimentary hotel products acquired whilst touring the world over 15 years. “Having never kept a journal these items have become like diary entries, triggering memories of all those buildings and random people I’ve met and inspiring songs on the album”.

In addition to the new single and album, Gruff will be checking in and out of hotels and venues across the country next monthAdd an event for next month for his first UK tour in over 3 years. Gruff will be joined on the road by North Wales’s instrumental surf rock quartet, ‘Y Niwl’ – pronounced “uh nule” and translated as ‘The Fog’. In addition to playing support, the band will be putting in a double shift and helping out on some of Gruff’s songs too.

The shows – which are onsale now – kick off the same day Hotel Shampoo opens to public.

FEBRUARY//

14 // SHEFFIELD, Memorial Hall

15 // GLASGOW, Oran Mor

17 // MANCHESTER, St Phillips

18 // LIVERPOOL, The Kazimier

19 // CAMBRIDGE, St Paul’s Church

20 // NORWICH, Arts Centre

21 // NOTTINGHAM, Glee Club

22 // LONDON, Cadogan Hall

25 // BRIDPORT, Palace Theatre

26 // BRIGHTON, St George’s Church

27 // BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club

28 // BRISTOL, St George’s Hall

Keep up to date with The Gruffington Post: @gruffingtonpost / www.gruffrhys.com