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LittleHorse

Strangers in the Valley - The New Album!

About Me

LittleHorse Behind the Music: The Making of Strangers in the Valley
The Flight of the Bumblebee (Piano 4 hands, with drums)
Running Just Ahead of the Devil Live 10/12/07 NYC
Jupiter - Live on Next Big Hit
LittleHorse has been described by critics – ranging from National Public Radio to Keyboard Magazine - as "over the top," and "inspirational." Perhaps more descriptively, Boston Globe likened the duel-piano rock/pop group to "Manhattan Transfer dueling with Queen in the Latin quarter." To the brothers, E. and Jo (yes, "Yo") Horsley, who lead the group, LittleHorse’s eclectic sound is a reflection of what they grew up with, who they are now, and who (and sometimes where) they want to be.
"We were surrounded by a wide range of musical and artistic influences in our developing years," says Jo, "So naturally, we wanted to combine the best of what we heard." Their mother insisted on a well-structured classical music training, while their father corrupted them with boogie-woogie pianists Dr. John and Professor Longhair, as well as Chuck Berry, The Beatles, and many jazz artists.
"Eventually," says, E., "I spent more time transcribing Oscar Peterson records than learning Chopin. Next thing I knew, Jo would literally sit next to me on the piano bench improvising on top of the music. We played like this for years." As teenagers, the brothers became proficient in other instruments, such as drums, bass, guitar and voice, but piano remained their true passion. During their music studies in college, they immersed themselves in Cuban and Brazilian music, as well as jazz vocal groups such as Vox One and Take 6. "We were determined to make our band a total experience. Everything beautiful and virtuosic from a broad range of cultures and traditions."
Indeed, if one listens to a LittleHorse album from beginning to end, one might distinctly hear echos of Santana, Supertramp, Billy Joel, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jellyfish, Ben Folds Five, Tito Puente, Ibrahim Ferrar (Beuna Vista Social Club), Carlos Jobim, Earth Wind and Fire, Take 6, not to mention Liszt and Chopin, just to name a few. But the layered sonic experience is also tightly wrapped in punchy (danceable, actually) melody-driven rock grooves, which the brothers sometimes refer to as "adventure rock." Lyrically as intricate as the music is rich, the themes tend to center around the exotic extremes of life, with the occasional self-deprecating humor thrown in. The listener will be immersed in vivid scenes of life that seem to overlay the most poignant moments from epic tales such as Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, George Mallory, Bonnie & Clyde, The Odyssey, and more. Not that the music is academic, merely, the lyrical and musical content is designed to support a second (and third, fourth, etc.), more careful listen.
It’s not difficult to see the brothers’ personalities reflected in the music. Jo, the singer and front man of the band, says "I typically like to push the envelope of creativity and my brother will reign in the wild ideas and help define the core artistic element." The result is that each unique song seems to pull from the best of each brother’s dynamic personality to create music that innovates while retaining classic instrumentation and sounds.
So what is missing here? Angst, depression and a spinal-tap-esque sense of self-importance that is often peddled as "deep art" in some of today’s pop/rock music. You won’t find songs about the the misunderstood soul and other acute ailments of modern self-absorption. Oh, and, of course, you won’t find heavy guitars (after all, LittleHorse brands itself as "America’s Only Double Piano Rock Band"). The music has an imbedded optimism that is just plain refreshing. E. puts it best: "We want you to feel like you’ve just climbed Mt. Everest without breaking a sweat, and then base-jumped in to the valley below, giving yourself a chance to take in all the wonders around you. And you might have a couple of Red Bulls on the way down." <br
The new album, Strangers in the Valley, begins with a pop epic, “I Want Your Love,” which is loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey. Songs such as "Tell Me What You’d Say" and a cover of Louis Jordan’s "Is You Is or Is You Ain’t (My Baby)?" demonstrate the group’s strong vocal harmony skills, while the more reflective ballads "Jupiter" and "Soldiers Lullaby" show a side of LittleHorse that we haven’t much seen on the group’s previous two records. The 15-song album, which includes two remixes from the previous album, finally leaps into thin air with "Birlstone," the first of three songs alluding to one of the Sherlock Holmes novels, The Valley of Fear, a true-to-form LittleHorse over-the-top, spy-rock closer. LittleHorse’s commitment to strong lyric writing comes through particularly in the charming "2nd Rate Sweetheart." Overall, the record delivers the promised breathless experience of a LittleHorse album, but Strangers also distinguishes itself as the most mature and consistent LittleHorse record yet. If you are secretly longing for melody-driven rock without the angst, LittleHorse may your greatest guilty pleasure.
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Join the LittleHorse Lodge!
Hi everyone, Jo and E. here.This is our mailing list, where we keep you current on upcoming events, discount tickets, and exclusive content. We write it personally, and really enjoy keeping in touch with people who like our music.
We send out emails once a month, and sometimes a bit more when we have a lot going on. We won't overwhelm you with emails, we will not share your email address with ANYONE, and you can always unsubscribe. As always, you can email us at directly at lhfans at littlehorsemusic.com
if you have any questions.

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Member Since: 11/2/2006
Band Website: Littlehorse.net
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E. puts it best:
"We want you to feel like you've just climbed Mt. Everest without breaking a sweat, and then base- jumped in to the valley below, giving yourself a chance to take in all the wonders around you. And you might have a couple of Red Bulls on the way down, too."


Record Label: LittleHorse Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

2 days left to vote!

There are just 2 days left to vote for "I Want Your Love" for the "Lennon Award" in the John Lennon Songwriting contest. Please cast your vote through the link below:http://www.jlsc.com/vote.phpThank ...
Posted by LittleHorse on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:58:00 PST

Don’t forget to vote today!

Hi there - Don't forget to vote today for us in the John Lennon Songwriting contest:http://www.jlsc.com/voteRemember, you can vote everday, so please do! Voting is only open until April 26th, so pleas...
Posted by LittleHorse on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:15:00 PST

2 weeks of voting left! Please vote everyday!

2 weeks left of voting for LittleHorse!Hello Everyone - Thank you for continuing to vote for LittleHorse for the "Lennon Award" in the John Lennon Song Writing Contest. This round of voting will be cl...
Posted by LittleHorse on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:27:00 PST

LittleHorse wins John Lennon Grand Prize - please vote for the Lennon award!!

Dear LittleHorse Fans, We have some very exciting news: Our song "I Want Your Love" from our latest album Strangers in the Valley has won the GRAND PRIZE in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the ...
Posted by LittleHorse on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:36:00 PST

Stocking Stuffers and New Video: "The Making of Strangers"

Hey there Everyone!STOCKING STUFFERS!**********************You probably heard of LittleHorse because a friend shared the music with you, so here's your chance to spread the word yourself: We worked ou...
Posted by LittleHorse on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:34:00 PST

Live on Sirius OUTQ 109 This Sat., Dec. 1

Hope the beginning of your Holiday season finds you well!Just wanted to quickly remind you that LittleHorse is appearing LIVE on Sirius Satellite Radio on OUTQ (Sirius 109) this Saturday, Dec. 1st, fo...
Posted by LittleHorse on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:18:00 PST

It’s tonight!

Looking forward to meeting and seeing everyone tonight! Stay for the afterparty!
Posted by LittleHorse on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:51:00 PST

Concert in 2 days!

*****************************Strangers in the Valley CD Release ConcertThis Friday, Oct. 12th, 8:30 PM*****************************It's finally here: The Strangers CD release concert! We look forwardt...
Posted by LittleHorse on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:02:00 PST

Longtown Sound plays LittleHorse all week!

Various LittleHorse songs from the new album are featured on the podcasts from Longtown Sound all this week:http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/801along with some other great music. Check it out!...
Posted by LittleHorse on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:15:00 PST

"I Want Your Love" on the Longtown Sound

"I Want Your Love" is featured on this weeks podcast from Longtown Sound:http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/801along with some other great music. Check it out!...
Posted by LittleHorse on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:32:00 PST