Darren Hanlon - Hello Stranger (Remastered)

After hearing the first album by Sydney band Sun Darren Hanlon sought out its creator Chris Townend (producer of Portishead) to work on his latest travelogue of songs. Luckily he agreed and the friendship was stretched enough to let the recently homeless Hanlon sleep in the studio for the duration as well.

Hello Stranger would herald the beginnings of the working relationship between Darren and drummer Bree Van Reyk who would tour and record together, in Australia and internationally, for many years from then on. Other songs saw collaboration with some of Sydneys experimental music luminaries: harpist Clare Cooper (founder of the Now Now Festival) and Oren Ambarchi. Primarily a renowned electronic guitarist, Ambarchi was persuaded to jam unrehearsed drum tracks to Operator...Get me Sweden and Punks Not Dead that brought to life both songs. Swedish folk singer Frida Eklund (Alma, Little Eiffel) took lead vocals for a tender reading of Cast of Thousands.

After the success of Falling Aeroplanes from Hanlon’s debut EP Early Days radio were quick to choose Punks Not Dead as a follow up single which saw Hanlon’s popularity double seemingly overnight. It catapulting him into a career he never planned, but one which continues to this day.