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Release date: May 11th 2018

Format: lathe cut edition seven inch record with CD

I wonder if everyone remembers the first time? The first time they entered a mobile library. The first book? Whether or not the library would come back for it? I remember. It was a book about the great British Countryside. It must have been because it had a memorable section on what to do if you were ever bitten by an Adder. This seemed like a distinct possibility at the time. We encountered them on a regular basis in the field. Writhing under corrugated iron sheets or passing under us slowly as, from the branches we watched. This book was a survival manual! You have to walk not run. You have to tie something tight around where you’ve been bitten. I think you can suck the poison out too if you like. There was a photo of a boy walking slowly through a field holding his arm. 

The guitar is the central point of reference on this record. There are no overdubbed guitar parts. It is music for solo guitar. Some of these pieces are loosely based on tales/stories  (Shark with monkey heart) or memorable days out  (Brighton in Sunshine)

I proceeded to dress the pieces in synthesisers and piano instruments. It was a case of bringing out the melodic lines or harmonising them with different textures. I find old synthesisers and pianos do a good job. It was then that I thought to add drums. Sam Kelly played for ‘Circlulus’. I love his playing and we share similar musical tastes and a particular interest in 1970’s folk rock and mid 70s drum sounds and production.

The name of the record is linked to memory but is also a reflection on our society and how we access knowledge. Most of us carry around a ‘mobile library’ or ‘device’ and I liked the image of this. I find that the limited function of something can really focus your ideas. If you are in a mobile library you might gravitate to looking for a book that interests you. If you have a four track recorder you really think about what is going to go on those tracks. Working within a set of rules is key. If you have a mobile device that holds the answer to every question, you ultimately end up looking at the football news or a cat falling off a hedge. Limitations seem to produce interesting results or art. 

I have a new band called Oort (Trans Neptunian Objects) with Andrew Burge on electric bass and electronics and Paul Bullock on drums and tape effects. They are both great and free players and I feel connected to them when we play. The band contributes two tracks on the B side of the Vinyl.  It acts as a fitting bridge to what we do now which is pretty much noise, jazz/rock, drone stuff. My friend and fellow guitarist Peter Philipson called it Weather Report on steroids but we come down too….

Two track 100 edition lathe cut by Phil Macy in a sleeve designed by Ben Javens with full album CD.

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REVIEWS

"There's a dusty sadness to these pieces which combine John Fahey-esque guitar compositions with nice post rock-ish, jazzy drumming which brings to mind both Jim O'Rourke and Ryley Walker." [Norman Records]