Jo Swan - Hootchi Cootchi (2007) / trip-hop, electronic

"Hootchi Cootchi is a new album from Ilya members Joanna Swan & Nick Pullin, who live in Bristol in the south west of England.

The album has been released under the name of Jo Swan so as not to confuse fans, as it is not a typical 'Ilya-esque' album.

Hootchi Cootchi is a move into big beat grooves and organic and electronic sound experimentation, with Jo's powerful and luscious vocals seizing the moment with unbridled passion and soul.

Jo and Nick write incredibly strong and memorable songs and then arrange and produce them into the most unexpected pieces of uncompromising pop entertainment. Always following their hearts in a project and never following fashion, the music is bold and theatrical

and Jo's voice slides effortlessly from sensuous velvety tones, to feral, bellowing blues. ( Like the love child of Tom Waits and Bessie Smith ! )

The production on the album fizzes with raw electricity and a strong presence of real and electronic drums, which make up the bed for this eclectic hybrid of sounds. Percussion tracks have been made up by Swans vocals, ( as well as neighbouring birds who work on the 'cheep' from outside the studio window) and along with anything else that could be thwacked or shaken to desired effect."