audio
Click on a track title to play or download an MP3 file. You can also hear a different selection of tracks on my MySpace page. Tracks are rotated round every so often, so come back to check for updates.
album previews
Ghost of a Town
Strings by Kathy Whitaker, Giles Lewin, Jane Griffiths and Barney Morse-Brown.
Windfall
A very old song (written in the margin of a school exercise book). Harmonium by Kate Garrett.
live recordings
A Sailor's Life
Not to be confused with the traditional ballad of the same name, this song is notable for being the only time I've used the word "thee" in a song, and played bouzouki and harmonica simultaneously. Recorded at the Port Mahon, Oxford October 06, Colin F on bass, Jane Grittiths on fiddle
Black is the Colour
My own version of this old chestnut is inspired by Taj Mahal's version of Catfish Blues with Toumani Diabate on the album Kulanjan which interestingly has more or less the same tune. Recorded at the Port Mahon, Oxford October 06, Colin F plays bass.
Willow Song
Live version of the song from the album, recorded at the Port Mahon, Oxford October 06, Colin on bass, Jane Griffiths on fiddle.
Swallows
Another song from the album, here performed solo. Recorded at the Red Lion Folk Club, Brimingham, April 07
demos etc
Slip Away
Vocal/ guitar demo, recorded live in the studio.
Route of Least Resistance
Vocal/ guitar demo, recorded live in the studio, March 08
instrumentals & tunes
Thirteen Bends
Still a work-in-progress, this twisty-turny tune is in alternating bars of 6 and 7 beats, and is named after a notorious accident blackspot on the A4074, The Thirteen Bends of Death. Played on mandolin, harmonica and guitars.
Lucy Sunshine & Little Jay
Written for my children when they were very little. Lucy Sunshine is a gentle waltz played on guitar, mandola and chromatic harmonica, if you listen very carefully you can hear a blackbird singing at the end. Little Jay is the result of an afternoon with a 16-track and every instrument I could lay my hands on, and is as relentless in its perkiness as a child jumping on your stomach at 6am.
Sophie's Tune
I wrote this tune on fiddle, which if nothing else taught me to stick to things with frets, hence this guitar arrangement. Thanks to Ella for naming the tune.
Parsley Parsley
A pretty little guitar tune, made out of bits of other tunes. The title refers to a mid-90s soft drink TV ad portrayed a group of kaftan-wearing 70s folk singers chanting "parsley parsley parsley" in the moments before being crushed by a giant training shoe (thanks Kate!)