So I have a new collection of songs recorded for your listening pleasure coming soon. I’ve decided not to call it an EP, LP, or Album. Oddly enough, if you upload a collection of songs on Bandcamp or Soundcloud, they call it an album anyway. The truth is, six songs of my average length wouldn’t ever fit on a classic 10″ EP format – but it also feels rather “grand” to call this collection of songs an album or LP. So a collection of songs it is.

First Acknowledgements

We started recording in July, during the middle of a heatwave, and while building work was underway. And it felt odd to be singing a Christmas Song and a Winter Songs – but I wanted to give myself the extra months for my collaborators (which sounds oddly politically sounding as if we are an underground resistance movement) plenty of time to do their magic. Plus, this time the recording has been professionally “mastered” by Sam Proctor at Lismore Mastering. Sam comes with some excellent credentials, having worked with many of the musicians whom I have seen live and have their CDs. Providing a superb fiddle – Gillian Frame – has laid down some wonderful supporting strings. Of course, two other people added their magic: Ben Haynes, who contributed loads of instrumentation, including bass and electric guitar, and also handled the final mix. I also want to thank my friend, and musician with a voice to die for, Bex Fawn Johnstone. She stepped in at the last minute to help me finish a song that couldn’t be completed on my own. And I guess that the point is that none of this recording could have been possible without Ben, Bex, Gillian, and Sam. I’m eternally grateful for them adding their talents to my songs.

About the Helm Winds

I don’t want to pre-empt the digital booklet that will accompany the collection. Still, the title track was written during a song retreat with Katie Spencer and Iona Lane, as part of their “Humankind” event in October 2024. I almost didn’t go – as the ‘fraud complex’ nearly got the best of me – I’m so glad I did because I met some charming people at the event, and this song came out because of it. I went up there with an idea and a desire to incorporate the “Helm Winds” into the music. The song is all about trees and how the winds shape the trees – and then again, it’s not about trees at all.

Release Dates (Provisional)

I have a Christmas Song coming out in early December, and it’s my sincere hope that it will reach No. 1 and get me on Top of the Pops. No mean feat considering they only show reruns on BBC4 these days. So watch out for that. I hope to put together a very simple lyric video for that.

The Helm Winds will be available for pre-order shortly and is scheduled for release in early January. There will be a launch party/gig – as well as a Bandcamp “Listen Party” – and the collection will be launched by my the first professional video created by Marry Waterson. Thank you so much, Marry! 🙂