August 2010

It's been a pretty quiet couple of months inside our little musical bubble. Other events in the rather interfering 'real world' have resulted in our instruments remaining locked in their cases more than I would of liked. This is set to continue for another couple of months, but I hope to start work on writing some new songs in the autumn.

I was a bit slow off the mark in realising it, but we picked up lovely review in the July/Aug edition of Shindig magazine. For those unfamiliar, it's a bi-monthly publication concentrating on retro and psychedelic music and happenings... (with a page of folk reviews :-) ). Further info on their site.

Last weekend saw us play a one off gig at the Worcester music festival as a trio with Tom Collison. Mr C, who travelled up from Hastings just for the event, played bass (and guitar on one song) in a short set of Farewell, No White Rabbit, Blackleg Miner, Jack The Mommet, Goodwin Sands & Trapped at Sea. I would of liked to of got a recording of the set, as our sound was greatly bolstered by Toms presence, but sadly the technology proved too much bother. The rest of the day, which was curated by myself featured excellent sets by Jimm Zorn, George Clarke, Bombdog, Paul Jeffery (whom I played bass with), Zim Zim and the lovely Rose Hannat.

June 2010

Ivy Behind The Plate Glass, my new solo 'single' is available for free download by saving the target from HERE. The CD E.P. which was due to be released on the same day has been shelved for the time being. The track features a brief bit of backing vocals from Tash and some pipe organ from Tom, the rest is me.

Radio: Tash & I are due to play 3 songs live on 105. something FM 'The Bridge' on July 7th (9pm onwards). I think this is streamed live online, and can be picked up locally on the wireless. If possible I'll try to record the performance and stick it up on here for download... unless we balls it up!

May 2010

R2: I'm absolutely over the moon that we've received a 4 star review in the latest edition of R2 Rock N Reel magazine (the same number as the new Tunng LP no less). This is the first time that I've ever had a mention in a national publication, let alone a glowing review.. so yeah, I'm dead pleased. It's available, as usual, from all decent news agents and online www.rock-n-reel.co.uk Snap it up and get a free Lau track on the cover mount CD too.. well worth a punt.

The Second Edition of the Stories For Emily CD/book is now available in the web store. We made 26 copies bound in a lovely floral fabric from a skirt picked up in Sue Ryder Malvern. They're only £6 +P&P from the webstore.

New EP: Unless there are any unforeseen delays, on June 22nd (the summer solstice no less, how very pagan) I’m releasing my new EP/Single ‘Ivy Behind The Plate Glass’. This is gonna come out in 2 formats; the seven minute title track will be released as a free download from this here site. For those wanting something more tangible, a CD backed with 3 other tracks will also be available in a strictly limited run of 25 copies. Why so many? Well, my music is getting pretty popular these days you know! I’m still working on some inventive packaging for this, but whatever I do come up with will be available to pre-order from June 1st for a very reasonable price.
As mentioned previously, this marks a distinct departure from the Emily record. The title track is a melancholy trip into nostalgic psychedelia, while the other tracks are both musically and lyrically very dark. More info soon.

April 2010

Viddy: In a world where virtually everyone who has so much as looked at a guitar has a whole library of performances on youtube, it’s a tad strange that up until the other day we didn’t have any footage of us playing live. However, thanks to resident Worcester gig documenter PJ this has now been rectified in the form of a rather scrappy version of ‘Trapped at Sea’. Taken from a last minute gig we did in March, it’s perhaps not us at our best.. but it exists, which is a start. So until such time as a better clip emerges, this will be embedded on our shows page as a token example of us ‘live and unleashed’!

Sideways Through Sound is a very well respected Australian weekly radio broadcast focusing on qulaity folk, psychedelic & alternative artists. I'm absolutely chuffed to bits to hear that Stories For Emily is going to be the weekly featured album on the April 7th broadcast. It plays live on FM in the local area and is streamed via the net for 7 days after. www.sidewaysthroughsound.com.au

Since February this year STS has also revamped their web site to offer high qulaity digital downloads from the artists who feature on the shows. This will be the ONLY place you can download our new record.. so if yiou don't have the CD book version, why not head over there and flash some Ozzy dollars. Please note if you're downloading them in the UK the files will be upside down and will need rotating 180 degrees before playing! ;-)

We've also had a track featured in a streaming monthly radio show called The Snow Globe which showcases acts of varying genres from the local(ish) area. There are also lengthy debates concerning the Wombles.. a regular feature I believe. Listen here.

The Second Edition of Stories is now in contruction featuring alternative photos and a bound in a slightly differernt fabric courtecy of Sue Ryder. This will be as limited as the first run (i.e. less than 30) and will once again be numbered. I have 3 copies of the first edition left, so once they're gone the shop will change to pre-orders for mkII, which will be shipped as and when they're ready.

March 2010

Reviews For Emily I’ve Just updated the reviews section of site with some lengthy post mortems of Emily from the likes of Mick Mercer, FATEA Magazine, F.A.M.E, and Folkwords. I’m expecting a few others to be published at some point, so they’ll be added to the section as and when.

Stock There are a few copies of the first run left on the webstore, and if you're local, Emerald Grove in Malvern now also have a handful to sell.. but when they’re gone they’re gone. I’m keeping an eye out for some suitable fabric for a short second run, but assuming we go to effort of making them, there will be a few weeks gap before they’re ready to ship.

Fractures I’ve started work on an E.P. of rather dark moody songs and soundscapes (more so than my usual output). There is a rough early version of a track called Fractures on my myspace..

February 2010

It’s been incredibly labour intensive (and I don't mean that lightly!), but our 30 little handmade CD books are now complete and looking for some loving homes. Available through my webshop.. which incidentally now has the debut album ‘Trapped at Sea’ at a reduced price (I’ve got a small stack left and frankly I want shot of them). The first review of 'Stories For Emily', penned by Mr Tim Carroll of Folkwords.com, has just been published... he seems to like it, but don’t take my word for it, have a read yourself.

January 2010

Stories For Emily

CD’s are dead, or so I keep being told. So I’ve decided to release my new album ‘Stories For Emily’ in book format. Each handmade pocketsize book features complete lyrics, illustrations and glossy photos, all bound in a hard fabric coated cover. The first run is of just 29 numbered copies in a lovely floral print, a second edition will no doubt be made when we find a suitable material to cover them in. The music will OF COURSE be available for download (heaven forbid I don’t keep up with the times), but for those who aren’t quite ready to throw their CD players in the bin I’ve included a FREE disc with every purchase of the ‘book’!

The 10 track album took 6 months to record, and I personally feel it shows a huge leap forward in my songwriting. Most of the tracks are built up around the duo of Tash & myself, but many also feature some extremely talented guest musicians. John-Joe Murry (aka Worrisome Ankletrout - who is busy touring with Worcester singer Robinson at the moment. You may have heard the debut single 'First Time' on Radio 2) adds some amazing fiddle to 5 songs, Holly Jeffery’s beautiful vocals grace 4 tracks and Tom Collison peppers the whole record with double bass, harpsichord, melodica, percussion and anything else he could lay his hands on. ….And as if that wasn’t enough, Craigus Barry & Andrew Keith-Lucas guest on ‘Jack The Mommet’.

Tracks are:

Farewell
Leaves & Twigs
Emily, Where Have You Gone?
A Gift From Doctor Forrest
Jack The Mommet
Goodwin Sands
The Coaching House
No White Rabbit
A Sorry Tragic Tale
To Dream Of Death

The release date is set for February 22nd at the moment, and If you fancy getting your mitts on a copy visit my online shop, www.Sawmilldiscs.com or drop into The Emerald Grove in Malvern after the aforementioned date.

The Cuckoo Project: With the recording of my second album out of the way it's now time to focus on the next project. I know very little of traditional song, but ever keen to explore new territories, I dreamt up The Cuckoo Project. In a nutshell I want to record a vast number of folk songs and tunes, each as a collaboration with a different musician or group. As a result I'm looking for people to get involved... more info on this new dedicated page.

December 2009

Snow Day: Like most of the country we've had blankets of snow land in our locality in recent days. It's all mighty pretty as you might expect, but nothing compared to the freezing fog hovering over the low lying areas around the Severn. From our vantage point on the side of the Malverns we can see dark silhouettes of trees, spires and hill crests peeping above the mist.. looks like middle earth. I would attach a photo, but our camera doesn't really do it justice.

Mick Mercer: Legendary goth & post-punk writer Mick Mercer has included a lengthy interview with me in his monthly PDF magazine 'The Mick' (issue #50). Download it for free from his website, and look out for the glossy pin-up poster of our cat Monkien. My music (and image) is neither goth nor punk, but I really appreciate the interview. Mick once described Barney Sumners' vocals as having 'the charm of a vomiting barmaid', so he's alright by me (a friend found it in an old Melody Maker)!! You can also read Mick's review of 'Trapped at Sea' in the reviews section of this here web site.

Have a tip top Christmas/winter break one and all.. Phil & Tash xxx

November 2009

General Update: It’s been a while since I’ve updated this here page, the reason being that in October we found ourselves moving into lovely new apartment on the leafy fringes of Malvern. I’m pleased to report everything went to plan and that we’re now well and truly settled into our new home. I have a lovely spacious home studio which I’m hiring out to local acoustic musicians, and have some had time to reflect on the recordings for album number two. Seven songs are pretty much finished and mixed.. I just need to find a cello or double bass player to add some organic low frequencies. In the mean time I’ve set to work recording the final songs for the album, which will probably be called ‘Stories For Emily’.

After a two month break Tash & I will also be back out playing live (at some of the local folk clubs) from this week.

September 2009

Quiver: In August I recorded bass guitar on a track called 'Quiver' by The Retinal Circus. This excellent eccentric track (Zappa meets Roger Waters IMO) is now streaming from his myspace page. It was produced by Hywel Payne (who also plays drums) and also features John-Joe Murray, Becky Rose & Flo Rowland. It really is mighty good.. check it out! I'm also gonna be producing some tracks on the forthcoming Retinal CIrcus album which will feature Quiver.

John Barleycorn Reborn: In 2007 Norfolk based Cold Spring Records released an excellent double CD of ‘dark folk’ under this name. I’m very excited to announce that my track ‘Jack The Mommet’ is going to be included on the second volume due out later this year. I’ll post more info on this as and when I get updates.

Trio: Holly joined us on stage for the first time recently, adding a dose of mandolin and some vocals to ‘Jack..’. Hopefully from next month onwards she’ll be a regular fixture in the live line-up, switching between fiddle and mando while adding some much needed vocal harmonies. There aren't many dates on the calender at the moment, but we'll no doubt sort that out soonish.

SawmillDiscs.com: My label Sawmill/Steelmill Records has just opened a webstore dedicated self released music from around the area. You can pick up limited albums & EPs from all your favourite groups, whether they be folk, rock, blues or electronic. You can of course also get my own music at bargain prices via the site! Go have a look!

August 2009

New Song: I've just uploaded a brand new track onto our myspace page called 'Jack The Mommet'. It's a ridiculous story about a supernatural scarecrow that abducts young girls and transforms them into his straw brides (yeah, I'd had a nice wild mushroom rissotto before coming up with that idea)!! I have to admit we're mighty proud of this little psychedelic number which is the first to be completed for the second album. Along with myself, Tash & Tom it features Craigus Barry (The Retinal Circus) on balalika & backing vocals. The rest are coming along nicely, and follow a similar vibe... although being perhaps a little less of the wall in lyrical terms. 'Jack' might be released in the near future on a 'dark folk' compilation, but I've yet to hear whether it's been accepted by the label.

July 2009

Recording: July has mainly been spent working on new recordings in a deserted basement flat in Malvern. We set up for a week at the beginning of the month and started tracking six songs for album number 2 with long time collaborator Tom Collison in the producers chair. Since then I've been filtering our the rubbish and adding extra bits and bobs. It's been slow progress, but so far everything has gone to plan with some beautiful natural reverb emanating from the bare wooden floors and high ceilings. I don't imagine the record will be complete until the end of the year... but we are trying to finish one particular song in August for inclusion in a very exciting project. I'm not saying much at the moment though! ;-) Until then we've put some photos up in the images bit as evidence that some work was done!

WMF: The good folks at the Worcester Music Festival have seen fit to include 'To Fly a Plane' on the 2009 'quiet' compilation CD(volume 3 of 3). We're playing a grand total of 3 gigs at this years festival which runs from August 21st -23rd at 30 different venues across the city (check out our dates on myspace). The CD along with the other 2 'noisy' volumes is available via their site www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk now! I've yet to get my copy, but there's some cracking stuff on there including the excellent traditional folk accapella trio 'Foxtail Soup'.

I-Tunes: My debut album 'Trapped at Sea' is now available on I-Tunes. I can't imagine why you'd want to buy it from there when you can get a lovely LTD edition CD for less money, but it's nice to see it up there none the less!

June 2009

June’s been a bit of a quiet month for us, we’ve done a couple of gigs and seem to be slowly improving as a live unit (and receiving some very generous comments along the way, which is always encouraging!). Here’s a run down of what else has been going on….

Fiddle: The lovely Holly Jeffery of Worcester Llama Lounge fame is now jamming with us on fiddle. Initial practices have gone pretty well with the violin slotting in nicely with the accordion. If all goes to plan hopefully Holly will be able to do some live dates with us from August onwards. We’re also planning some recording in July which will benefit from her talents!

Riverbanks: We have a track appearing on a forthcoming compilation album called Riverbanks. The CD which will feature acoustic acts from the Worcestershire/Herefordshire area, is being released in August to help raise money for the County Air Ambulance Trust. Other artists include Andi Skellam, Ragtime Ewan, Jimm Zorn, Ruby Stone & many more.
Our contribution is a re-recorded upbeat version of Rising River (originally on Trapped at Sea) with a new arrangement. There’s more information on the release at www.sawmillsteelmill.co.uk

May 2009

New Download: Ever keen to get some accordion down on tape we knocked out a rather rough cover version of the Bowerbirds song 'In Our Talons' a few weeks ago. This can be downloaded for your enjoyment here

Live Debut: Last night Tash made the decision to bite the bullet and come along to a gig I was playing at the Dog in Bearwood (Birmingham way, yeah I hadn't heard of it either!). This rather nice Harvester type pub played host to 'Philip Gibbs' and the feeding back accordion mic...! Still, despite these issues Tash did remarkably well on accompanying me and the nice folks eating their meals didn't boo us off. So from now on in she'll be tagging along with me.
In other exciting news we might also have a fiddle player lined up to join us from next month onwards… more on this soon.

April 2009

Reviews: Being pretty new to the folk world I was at a bit of a loss as to where I should send my album to get it reviewed. There don't seem to be many sites out there specialising in low budget semi-folk semi-indie semi-prog albums! None the less, a handful made their merry way out into the world courtesy of Royal Mail, and over the last few months some reviews have trickled back in. So far they've all been very positive, which is both pleasing and slightly surprising at the same time! All critiques to date (that I'm aware of) have been posted on the reviews page on this very site.. so go have a read!

Photos: Always looking for creative ways to enhance our lacklustre daily lives, Tash & I decided to do another photo shoot. Why you might ask? Well, partly for promotional 'requirements' and partly just for the sheer hell of doing it. The highlighted fruits of this session can be seen in the images section.
Now that the sun is out more regularly, and the trees are springing to life we're planning a slightly more professional* outdoors shoot to coincide with our next planned release:- an EP of new material I hope to have completed by the middle of the summer. More on this soon...

* eg - get someone else to take the shots rather than setting the 10 second timer and running back to position!

Sawmill/Steelmill Duo: Dom and I have a couple more gigs left on the calendar before he moves away to start his new life in Brighton... come check us out if you can. We're very rough around the edges, but its worth watching just for comedy value! ;-) Tash's live debut will probably be in June at the Llama Lounge in Worcester, unless we attack an open mic first.

March 2009

New Website: For the past few months I've had a functional, if somewhat ugly site built using googlepages. I'm no web design wizard, but I decided that it would perhaps be a wise move to construct something a bit more eye catching from scratch. So here it is....

New Lineup: It's all change this spring. I've made some tentative steps onto the live circuit over these past few months. Although I've knocked out the odd song on my tod, these 'performances' have mainly been with Dom Huxley by my side, trading songs and helping each other out with some layered guitar parts. Sadly times change, and Mr Huxley is planning a migration south this summer.. so it seems that the Sawmill Duo's days are numbered. In place of this I am going to launch 'etc'.. a theoretical group of punters who'll holler and bang dustbin lids (or similar) behind me on stage. So far this 'group' features my Mrs Natasha on accordion and backing vocals. With a few months until launch I hope to bolster the line up with at least one other lucky musician... anyone interested??!