ANALOGUE TALES: SOUNDS FROM ARDEN
MUSIC BY JAMES SUMMERFIELD | WORDS BY DARREN CANNAN
“I didn’t have writer’s block: it was more of a musician’s monotony. I needed a new perspective.” – James Summerfield, May 2015
Celebrated Birmingham singer-songwriter James Summerfield will release his fifth studio album Analogue Tales: Sounds From Arden on Monday 22 June 2015, via Commercially Inviable Records.
The record, a rich and vivid exploration of city of Birmingham and surrounding areas of the English Midlands, features the words of friend and poet Darren Cannan set to James Summerfield’s striking yet elegant take on Americana.
Lyrically, Analogue Tales: Sounds From Arden covers ground familiar to most residents of the city, with the Jewellery Quarter, Longbridge Rover car plant, the M42, Ladywood, Birmingham city centre and Sutton Coldfield featuring in the allegories, observations, asides and stories that make up the album.
The extraordinary pictures of the region’s people, landscapes and identity has further detail added by the voices of guest narrators The Beat frontman Ranking Roger, broadcaster Robin Valk, James Summerfield’s grandmother Marjorie Summerfield, authors Mike Gayle and Catherine O’Flynn, and songwriter and actor Paul Murphy.
Stream ‘Beryl Doesn’t Give A Toss’ (feat. Catherine O’Flynn) via Soundcloud now
At only 33, James Summerfield could well be considered as something of an experienced musician. A favourite of legendary broadcaster and disc jockey the late John Peel, the Birmingham-born singer-songwriter played with Buick 6 (later The Toques) throughout the mid-2000s before self-recording his acclaimed debut solo album ‘Hailah, Hailah’ aged 21. Since then, he has gone on to produce a further three solo albums and tour with Ivor Novello award-winning artist Scott Matthews.
“Paced like Gillian Welch at her Bible-black best” – Uncut
“One of the finest exponents of moss hung backwoods Americana you’ll find in the UK” – The Scotsman
Recorded in the intimate surroundings of Birmingham’s 100% analogue Highbury Studio, Analogue Tales: Sounds From Arden is, in the eyes of James Summerfield, the best work he’s produced to date.
I’d never previously wanted to do a concept album, but the opportunity to use Darren’s intriguingly crafted poems with themes emulating my own social and cultural background works – it’s a concept which feels of importance. – James Summerfield, May 2015
James Summerfield – Analogue Tales: Sounds From Arden is released on vinyl, CD and download from Monday 22 June 2015, via Commercially Inviable Records.
Pre-order the new album now via Commercially Inviable Records.
www.jamessummerfieldmusic.com
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