Far Skies...

I'm getting ready to drive down to Aubitt in Southampton UK at the end of July to record vocals, mandolin, accordion, flute, banjo etc for Big Big Train's Far Skies Deep Time e.p. I can't believe it was a year ago when we did the sessions for The Underfall Yard.

How time flies.

So, it's time to restring the mandolin and do vocal warm ups once again. 

Daniel Manners climbs aboard the Big Big Train

I'm very pleased to announce that my old Louis Philippe band amigo Danny Manners has contributed some double bass playing to British Racing Green. A song which will feature on our forthcoming Far Skies Deep Time e.p

Danny's bass parts were recorded by Ken Brake at Regal Lane Studio, Regent's Park, London, UK. I've received glowing reports from Andy and Greg concerning Danny's performance on the track.

I first met Danny when Philippe asked me to join his band in order to play some live dates in London and Paris. 

My first album with Louis was Jackie Girl. The album also features Dave Gregory. It is where Dave and I first met each other.

Working with Louis and Danny is always an educational experience. I've learned so much about harmony, melody, musical arrangement and recording techniques.

Danny taught me to listen carefully to the harmonic details and dot the i's and cross the T's. He also introduced me to Gentle Giant. 

Danny is not only a fabulous bass player he is also a beautiful pianist. Check out the Louis Philippe Live album and also Louis and Danny's Francis Poulenc album Nusch

I'm delighted Danny is playing on British Racing Green and I think you will be too.

Big Big Thing: Part 1

We (BBT and our significant others) converged in Wales back in April to have a weekend away and discuss future plans.

I'd been listening to The Wall over the Easter period. The title of my first blog entry makes a nod towards it.

Over the past few years I've been listening in depth to classic concept albums, Thick As A Brick, Tommy, S F Sorrow, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway etc (there were many others and I'm sure you all have your own choices in mind......) and considering what it is about these albums that makes them work so well.

It was during our welsh weekend that Big Big Train decided to do something on a grand scale. A big big thing. I mentioned in an earlier blog that I would have loved to work again with Jerry Hope. Jerry would have been perfect for such a collaboration. His superb imagination, his way with words and his storytelling. Sadly not to be...

Instead I've done a great amount of thinking about the conversations Jerry and I had. The books that Jerry and I shared with each other including such gems as   Iain Banks' The Bridge, Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood, Alasdair Gray's Lanark: A life in Four Books, Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius books. (Jerry and I were both, more than a little in love with Una Persson)

The project is coming together and I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Peace

David

Accordion On!

I've recorded some accordion on Fat Billy Shouts Mine as requested by Mr Spawton. It suits it very well.

I braved the west midlands car park, lovingly known as the M6 (both ways) and set off to Hobgoblin at The Custard Factory in Birmingham UK to collect it.

Thanks go out to Mark who works there (he plays a mean accordion and you can see him on the left in the picture included in the above link ) for being so helpful and making sure I bought a suitable 'box' for recording.

It is easy enough to record and it will be heard on The Wide Open Sea and possibly Brambling too. All the above tracks will be featured on Big Big Train's  Far Skies Deep Time e.p due out later this year.

WARNING: It is not advisable to play the accordion naked! I've not tried it but it struck me as being an unwise thing to do.

Full Marks for Mr Bentley's Victorian Brickwork Drum Cover

I'd like to draw your attention to this. 

It's a drum cover of Victorian Brickwork by Ryan Bentley. Ryan did this as a piece for his Music Performance coursework and was awarded full marks for it! Good work Ryan.

Those of you who regularly read this blog will note that Ryan is a regular contributor to the comment pages and is a BBT enthusiast. If you look to the right of this post you may also spot Ryan as a follower of this blog.

Greg, Andy and I are flattered that Ryan chose to do it and we think he's made a splendid job of it.

Enjoy!

Photograph by Eloise

The Heart of Winter

In my last post I mention that Jerry Hope and I had not managed to remain in touch.

At that time I had gone through a divorce and had started a new life in Derby eventually leaving for Shropshire and fatherhood. Jerry had moved from Derby over to Nottingham. Nothing unusual about that, life goes on at a frantic pace and people do what they must.

I first met Jerry when Andy Moore invited me down to take part in a Music/Arts/Spoken Word Cabaret called The Escape Committee. Those involved included Mo Pickering, Edward Symes, Dave McNicholas, Mr Johnson (Andy Moore's fabulous band) Mark Gwynne Jones, Rob Gee, Jerry Hope and me.

The Escape Committee performed at the Lizard Eclipse Festival in 1999 and we made the Channel 4 news by being paid in sweet and savoury Cornish pasties!

Jerry wrote The Heart of Winter specifically for Wild River and the version I used for the album performance was his first take. He nailed it in one! It's full of drama and Jerry's choice of language coupled with his performance makes the piece engaging and magical.

Last night I decided to call Mo and Edward Pickering-Symes to catch up. Eventually the conversation got around to Jerry and Ed said he had bad news for me. Sadly Jerry died of cancer in 2008.

So, if you own a copy of  Wild River play Joely and at the end of it listen to Jerry recite his beautiful poem The Heart of Winter.

Something's aren't meant to last...............

Wild River

Wild River is my first solo album and it is now available to buy from the Big Big Train shop.

The album is about transition, going from one life into another and from one century into the next. It was also a reaction against the writing I'd been channeling into my band The Gifthorse. It was released in 2004 and was recorded after the demise of The Gifthorse and after the Genesis auditions.

I've always enjoyed acoustic and experimental music and Wild River showcases my enthusiasm in these areas. I was hungry to explore, create and work with some interesting people.

Wild River is intentionally eclectic by design and that's still fine by me. No apology!

I fondly recall the sessions and the many friends who contributed to the album. I am grateful for Andy Lymn's relentless enthusiasm (even now I still feel it, although he's half way around the world.) 

Check out Beth Noble and her astonishing performances. Lee Horsley's fiery Hammond Organ. Enjoy the bass playing of Richard Lymn and Andy Moore. I salute them all!


The Magic Club, in my mind  was the sonic combination  of Andy L, Beth and I. Listening back to Wild River always invokes many powerful memories of a time when my life was completely different.

The wonderful poem The Heart of Winter at the end of Joely is written and recited by Jerry Hope. Jerry and I have unfortunately lost contact so if by chance he finds this or if it finds him, I'd love for us to do some more work together.

Dave Gregory adds his liquid guitar phrases and throws bombastic/melodic Mellotron parts into the equation. We first met when we were recording Jackie Girl with Louis Philippe

Last and by no means least are the astonishing contributions by my old friend Michael Brown. I've known Michael since we were at college together. He played the beautiful layered atmospheric guitar introduction to In Essence. He also plays the solo at the climax of Wild River. Michael mixed the album and continually bombarded me with encouragement throughout the whole process until the work was completed.

Wild River defiantly wears its heart on its sleeve.

David Longdon & The Magic Club

Left to right -
Beth Noble, Tony Young, David Longdon and
Dave Walker
Photograph by Dave Shaw