With the first album by their duo, Under a Western Sky (2025, ZRP), James Eleganz (Success) and Goulven Hamel (Celtic Social Club, Philippe Pascal, Santa Cruz, Les Nus, Miossec) set out on a contemporary exploration of the complex and often overlooked territories of country music. They seek a balance between folk, pop and psych, through a series of variations and detours built on skilful, impeccable songwriting. A concept album at once cosmic and Lynchian, lost in its reverberations and sonic fictions, sliding through a reality of hidden compartments to tell the story of a woman in flight, in constant transformation, slowly descending into madness.
With the first album by their duo, Under a Western Sky (2025, ZRP), James Eleganz (Success) and Goulven Hamel (Celtic Social Club, Philippe Pascal, Santa Cruz, Les Nus, Miossec) set out on a contemporary exploration of the complex and often overlooked territories of country music. They seek a balance between folk, pop and psych, through a series of variations and detours built on skilful, impeccable songwriting. A concept album at once cosmic and Lynchian, lost in its reverberations and sonic fictions, sliding through a reality of hidden compartments to tell the story of a woman in flight, in constant transformation, slowly descending into madness.
BIOGRAPHY
> HANKY XX (FR)
Although both active on the Rennes scene, Goulven Hamel and Yann Chéhu, aka James Eleganz, met only relatively late, through social media and a shared interest in country music. They began writing together remotely, between Nantes and Dinard, on a duo album paying tribute to a music that Yann had already explored on his two solo albums produced by drummer Larry Mullins (Iggy Pop, Swans, Nick Cave), and Goulven on his own solo record (Halven / Country Code volume one). Through a cover of Taylor Swift’s The Last Great American Dynasty and a reinvention, via John Fante, of the figure of Rebekah Harkness, the concept album found its axis. Goulven plays almost all the instruments, while James sings and co-produces the album with sound engineer Olivier Bastide, who lent his family home in the heart of the Auvergne for the recording sessions. Under a Western Sky was released in November 2025 on ZRP. Hanky XX have notably performed as a trio at the Swim festival (La Sirène, La Rochelle) and Saint-Malo Rock City (La Nouvelle Vague).
