Alison Cotton - The Girl I Left Behind Me (Ltd.edition blue vinyl 10")

Elegant and sombre ambiance for Halloween. Limited edition 10" single from London's premier viola player.


One of Autumn's must-have releases is this 10" vinyl showcasing the talents of Alison Cotton. A classically-trained viola player, former member of The 18th of May, and currently one half of Walthamstow-based duo The Left Outsides, Cotton has played on a string outstanding records of records in recent years - Trimdon Grange Explosion's self-titled debut, Through Passages of Time (The Hardy Tree) and All That Remains (The Left Outsides) are just a few examples that have been much enjoyed and covered on this humble blog.'The Girl I Left Behind' is her first solo release since her debut album from last year, All Is Quiet At The Ancient Theatre.

While its release of the new single is timed for Halloween, there's a chance you may have heard the music over the Christmas period last year. Cotton was commissioned by BBC 6Music presenter Gideon Coe to compose a soundtrack to accompany a reading of a Muriel Spark's ghost. If, like me you sadly missed the radio broadcast you can now purchase the accompanying music thanks to the ever-tasteful label, Clay Pipe Music, who are set to release it on a limited edition 10" vinyl on October 25th.

'The Girl I Left Behind Me' is a haunting and mournful instrumental based on a repeated six note motif played on the viola. Slowly more lines are added as the track progresses giving way to a wordless choral section at the six minute mark. Its sombre Autumnal mood is somehow perfectly suited to soundtrack the shortening October nights.

Side two of the 10" features a new piece of music, again inspired and named after a Muriel Spark ghost story. 'The House Of The Famous Poet' begins with wordless layered vocals before Cotton plays an improvised one-take viola solo inspired by the "abstract funeral" featured in Spark's story. With its backdrop of gentle drones and shimmering cymbals, the composition comes across as a darker- themed companion piece to Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending. Inherently English, and imbued with the complicated melancholy that that entails.

Listening to the two tracks that make up this single it strikes me there's something ingrained in the sound of a viola that connects with the human soul. Perhaps its because of the viola's closeness in pitch and timbre to the human voice, though I'm not entirely sure. Someone with a deeper understanding than me could no doubt explain it in straightforward scientific terms. What I do know is that I'm content with the mystery. And I can think of no better place to explore this mysterious connection than these two emotionally moving pieces of music.


'The Girl I Left Behind' is released by Clay Pipe Music as a limited edition 10" - 500 hand-numbered copies on transparent pale blue vinyl.

Tracklisting
A-Side - The Girl I Left Behind Me
B-Side - The House Of The Famous Poet

Click here for Alison Cotton on Twitter
Click here for Clay Pipe Music

The Left Outsides - All That Remains

London folk-rock duo's ace LP! Beautifullly sung timeless songs!

It's a good few years since I lived in London. And to be honest I don't miss it that much. Well that's not entirely true, there are certain things I miss about it. Spending a lazy Saturday afternoon in a civilised London boozer, nursing a pint, reading the paper and perusing a few vinyl purchases is pretty much a perfect afternoon in my opinion. Red buses going past outside as the football results come in. Ah I'm getting all misty-eyed just thinking about it. I am at heart however a country boy, clean air, rivers and chalk hills hold just as much appeal these days. And I'd struggle to pay those London rents let alone have money left for a Saturday pint or two.

There is one thing about modern London that does make me wish it was in easier reach. There are some fantastic bands doing the rounds there right now, playing the capital's venues regularly. It seems today's London is experiencing something of a purple patch with regards to grass roots music. Thankfully I get to hear these bands via the records they put out. Recent releases from Green Seagull, The Hanging Stars and The Cold Spells have all hit the spot. Another name to add to the list is The Left Outsides. Their recent long-player All That Remains has been a Bandcamp favourite of mine over the last few weeks.

Genre-wise I'd go with folk-rock but really they're all about great songs, beautifully sung and played. There's a timeless quality to their album. The songs could have surfaced in the late '60s/early '70s and would have fitted in with the likes of Fairport Convention, Pentangle et al. Or they could be old English folk songs from a century before. Or, as is the case they're getting their first airings in 2018 and will still sound fresh as the seasons turn and the years pass. The only thing that places the songs in the here and now is a lyric that refers to taking a bus trip in the 1970s. Interestingly this is backed by electric guitar chords that echo 1976's summer of punk. That aside the lyrics have an elemental, earthy yet spiritual quality.

So who's behind these sounds? Alison Cotton (viola/vocals) and Mark Nicholas (guitar/bass/keys/vocals) were members of The 18^th Of May and are in Trimdon Grange Explosion, another fine London band who put out an eponymous LP last year. The Left Outsides recently toured supporting Robyn Hitchcock. A damn fine gig billing that. Oh and Alison also contributed to Through Passages Of Time, the ace hauntological album by The Hardy Tree that came out a year or two back. London, it always changes but always delivers.

Click here for The Left Outsides on Twitter.

Click here for The Left Outsides on Facebook.

Click here for Cardinal Fuzz Records.

Trimdon Grange Explosion - Trimdon Grange Explosion

North-east London folk collective releases full-length debut LP. And it's very good!

One album I've been listening to a lot recently is the self-titled debut by Trimdon Grange Explosion. It's the first release on their own Borley Rectory imprint. The London-based quartet make English folk-rock in the style of Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Pentangle et al. And they do it very well, mixing their own compositions alongside well known traditional songs such as 'Poor Wayfaring Stranger'. The band's use of rock dynamics, swells and repetition owe much to the work of Velvet Underground. Plenty of I-IV chord shifts and John Cale-style viola drone.

It comes as no surprise to learn then that despite this being their debut long-player, the band members have a history and a pedigree. All four were previously members of The Eighteenth Day Of May, and viola player Alison and bassist Mark also perform as a duo (The Left Outsides). The album is available as a CDR with A5 booklet and a limited edition cassette. Don't hang about though as according to their social media it's selling pretty quick!

Trimdon Grange Explosion are -

Alison Cotton (viola/vocals)
Ben Phillipson (guitar/vocals)
Mark Nicholas (bass)
Karl Sabino (drums)

Click here for Trimdon Grange Explosion on Twitter.

Click here for Trimdon Grange Explosion on Facebook.