This album has a fat retro sound because it was recorded on 16 track 2 inch tape using absolutely no digital instruments or plugins. Taking advantage of old and rare equipment in the studio, and recording tricks from the 70's, the hands have taken modern pop songs and given them a kind of motown/stax treatment. Featuring special guests stars, the likes of Jade Macrae, Mahalia Barnes and Kara Grainger. All succsesful solo vocalists in their own right, lending thier distinctive styles to create a purely australian soul masterpiece. These days the modern pop quartet is one dominated by guitars. There's the occasional keyboard but a band that features only bass guitar and drums, an old style Hammond organ and a Hohner D6 Clavinet is definitely the exception. When "duelling" keyboards are played by brothers Clayton and Lachlan Doley then it goes without saying that this band is unique. It's the Hands and their all original repertoire is designed to reinvent the genre of "Soul Music" in the modern context. The Hands formed out of a mutual love of classic soul, from Bobby Womack and Curtis Mayfield through to d'angelo and Jill Scott. It was Jackie Orszaczky's regular Tuesday "soul and funk" school at the Rose Of Australia in Erskineville that introduced Max Intensity and Tim Curnick to the Doley brothers. Clayton and Lachlan of course had been playing music since their early teens, both self taught musicians on the family piano in Adelaide. Growing up together it was not unusual that they both shared common tastes in music, particular a love of Hammond greats like Booker T and Jimmy Smith. When Clayton moved to Sydney it was only natural that Lachlan would follow him years later, often substituting for his brother in his regular bands when Clayton was not available. With a core of four musicians The Hands set about incorporating a floating lineup of guest vocalists - singers of the quality of Jade MacRae, Mahalia Barnes and Kara Grainger. Using remarkable collection of analogue instruments and tape machines they set out to make the warmest recordings possible. The result is "Live and Breathe", their debut album which sounds like it was written only yesterday but recorded back in the halcyon days of Stax and Atlanic studios. The songs have a distinct modern pop feel and have been composed to make them as accessible as possible to a wide and varied audience. Clayton Doley (Hammond Organ/Vocals): In 1999, after touring with the The Whitlams in Canada, Clayton moved to New York where he decided to try his luck amidst the highly competitive local music scene. Whilst there he played & recorded with established bands such as "Those Bastard Souls" (featuring members of Jeff Buckley's band) as well as Nina Pearson the lead singer of The Cardigans. Inspired by the wealth of great music he was exposed to in the US, Clayton returned home in 2001 playing with bands such as Disco Montego, The Badloves and the Legendary Jackie Orszaczky to name just a few. Lachlan Doley (Clavinet): Likewise younger brother Lachlan has been in constant demand as both a session player and a sideman playing and recording with the likes of Jimmy Little, Powderfinger, Good Buddha and the Groove Lounge. Tim Curnick (Bass): A founding member of The Hands. Tim has been one of the most in demand bass players from acts such as Brooke McClymont to Tracky Dax. Max Intensity (Drums): Max has featured with bands such as Paul Capsis and Andy Clockwise and combines with Tim to form the perfect rhythm section for this dual keyboard combo. "Duelling keyboards, soul originals with the swagger and the spirit of Donny Hathaway" Tim Freedman (The Whitlams)