UK debut album for Rochdale born singer songwriter

Date published: 21/11/2007

Will Tang, singer songwriter and harmonica maestro from Rochdale, took the long way round to get into the British music scene, making a name for himself first in Hong Kong before returning to Manchester to launch his UK debut album "Everything Changes’ in a small private members club in central Manchester in front of his appreciative band of followers.

There are not many North West based blues rockers that can boast an oriental element in their fan base but it is par for the course at a Will Tang gig. His journey from Rochdale to a Manchester album launch came via a root-finding expedition to Hong Kong that peaked with him playing his blues-guitar and trusty harmonica in front of 10,000 strong crowds.

Tang may not enjoy such high attendance figures in the UK but there are more than enough reasons on his new album to keep him here. "Everything Changes’ could be the gem that pops up in the record collections of those who love the genre. There are times for relaxing, reflecting, loving, laughing or just plain rocking and here these feelings sweep across you in the space of a single album.

From the optimistic opener and title track to the travelling off into the sunset style of closing ballad "Love Bites’ the full range of blues-rock possibilities are explored. Stand-out track, "The Other Side’ pays homage to influences The White Stripes and Led Zeppelin and tells us that here is a simple man who just wants to live his way - the fact that after leaving Rochdale living his way became a little out of the ordinary is what gives this album such an interesting flavour.

Each track portrays an aspect of Tang’s experience-rich journey through life. That is what gives the album such an eclectic mix. It swaggers with passion – the perfect blueprint for a UK debut.