It is also a CD of original compositions and contemporary grooves with a pervasive blues twist in the same vein as Spantronics. Eleven tracks, developed and recorded in Australia, mixed and mastered in the UK. It is an international collaboration that explores the diatonic harmonica intertwined with 'new' sounds, grooving guitars and visual lyrics.

The dynamic finishing touches are provided by some renowned British musicians, including Simon Clark Des Welstead, Steve Baker, Carmen Daye, Gil Cang and Joe Cang.

(Click the iTunes link above to visit the iTunes site and download the music!)

http://www.waterfrontrecords.com/releases/releases.asp?Action=DisplayArtist&ArtistID=15836

DOC SPAN & MATTHEW CANG

Groove Blues: The musical relationship between charismatic 21st Century blues singer Doc Span and maverick multi-instrumentalist/producer Matthew Cang is one of the most unusual in contemporary music.

Their separate experiences cover smokey Chicago blues, classic Brit-rock and cinematic soundscapes. Span & Cang create unique music which breaks musical conventions at every turn: gritty, lyrical and groove-laden combining funk, rock, electronica and blues.

Forging a transcontinental sound, crossing time zones and generations, Doc and Matthew have worked together over recent years to produce two albums, developed and recorded in both the UK and Australia, mixed and mastered in the UK and over the internet. The Treatment and Something For The Pain , each with 11 original compositions, is choc-full of contemporary grooves mixed with the blues.

Both albums were created under circumstances as unusual and engaging as the individuals involved.

UK-based Matthew’s track record extends from teenage membership of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, (when he played on such renowned stages as the London Palladium and the Glastonbury Festival) through a spell managing London's legendary Jam Studios to his current status as a highly respected writer and producer of soundtrack music for TV and film.

Matthew first encountered Doc on a visit to Queensland five years ago.

Originally from Sinatra’s hometown Hoboken, New Jersey, Doc had arrived in Australia to tour in 1987 via an adventure-packed route including in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman and work as a paramedic at Illinois’ notorious Cook County Jail providing a wealth of life-changing encounters, not least when the facility hosted gigs by blues legends such as BB King and Muddy Waters. He learnt blues harmonica first hand from Big Walter Horton and Eddie Newell and toured the USA relentlessly for a decades with his own band. Doc’s reputation bought him a place in the prestigious Hohner Harmonica Calendar.

Such experiences have inspired much of the singular lyrical content of Span & Cang’s work. Writing, recording and production meanwhile has been similarly unorthodox, divided as it was between Doc's back porch in the middle of the Queensland rain forest and Matthew’s studio in rural England.

With finishing touches courtesy of the cream of British musicianship - including Hammond organ player Simon Clark, guitarist Des Welstead, Steve Baker Piano, vocalist Carmen Daye and bassist Joe Cang and drummer Gil Cang – The Treatment and Something For The Pain provide the formula for an equally unique live show.