Double Six Records (the label that brought you releases from the likes of She & Him, White Williams and Jon Hopkins) are proud to announce The Last Laugh, the debut album from Joker’s Daughter, featuring vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Helena Costas. This fresh folk-pop excursion reveals new facets of the renowned artist and producer Danger Mouse, who collaborates with Costas throughout.
 
Born in London but Greek Cypriot by origin, Helena Costas studied violin from ages 7 to 13, then taught herself guitar and keyboards. As she became an adult, her mission came into focus. She wrote songs relentlessly, learned the art of production, and gained confidence as a performer as she played gigs around London.
 
Like a cryptic, symbolic dream, the music of Joker’s Daughter feeds on a range of conscious and unconscious influences, from classical violin training to Arthurian legend to a certain fascination with food. The result is haunting, infectious and playful, a rich harvest from a broad psychic landscape.
 
In 2003, she began sending her home recordings to artist/producer Danger Mouse, a correspondence that continued as his career grew. The two artists discovered a natural affinity, and launched a collaboration, which they dubbed Joker’s Daughter after one of Helena’s many shifting personae.
 
Joker’s Daughter is a character who gives voice to the darkness and redemption in Helena’s psyche, often with a mischievous flair. Always evolving as a musician and performer, Helena has recently taken up the bouzouki, a traditional instrument played by the muses in ancient Greek myth.
 
Danger Mouse is a full collaborator at every stage. His verdant production and instrumentation compliments the full spectrum of emotion in Helena’s music, from grief to celebration to happy ambiguity. Together, they make music both timeless and fresh from a strange, uncharted world.
 
The project also features the horns of Neutral Milk Hotel’s Scott Spillane and the string arrangements of frequent Danger Mouse collaborator Daniele Luppi.

The Last Laugh will be available in the UK on CD and via digital download from 15th June 2009 via Double Six Records.  

Worm’s Head the single will be released as a single on June 1st via digital download. Combining Helena’s beautifully sweet vocals with swells of string orchestration, Worm’s Head is the entrancing album opener, paving the way for a haunting, infectious and playful record. B-side tracks Bouncing Liquorish Bears and Slayer are fascinating and curious theatrical treats.

Worm’s Head tracklisting is as follows:

   1.  Worm’s Head
   2. Bouncing Liquorish Bears
   3. Slayer


Tracklisting for the Last Laugh is as follows:

   1. Worm’s Head    
   2. Jessie the Goat   
   3. Go Walking    
   4. Lucid     
   5. JD Folk Blues    
   6. The Last Laugh   
   7. Under the Influence of Jaffa Cakes
   8. Jelly Belly
   9. Cake and July
  10. Nothing is Ever What it Seems
  11. The Running Goblin
  12. Chasing Ticking Crocodile
  13. Yellow T Pot