OK. So here it is, finally, after nearly ten years. Songbook #1 - Fourteen songs by the enigmatic, English producer, The Vicar - a persona "discovered" by David Singleton.
And what do you get? The Vicar´s unique string and chamber arrangements, played by some of the world´s outstanding musicians - Cathy Stevens (Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Everything but the Girl), Tony Levin (John Lennon, Paul Simon, King Crimson), Theo Travis (Gong, Soft Machine Legacy, Steven Wilson Band), Steve Sidwell (Robbie Williams, George Michael), Chas Dickie (Van der Graaf Generator, PJ Harvey), Karen Wimhurst (Zaum, English National Opera), Nigel Barr (Michael Nyman Band), Horacio Pozzo (Argentine Big Time Guitar Trio) . And what don´t you get? Well-known singers from The Vicar´s rolodex. By contrast, in one of those moves designed to delight the curious, The Vicar throws the spotlight on emerging and lesser known singers, from those spotted at small venues - Steve Porter (steveporter.org), on the internet - Paul Ibberson (paulibberson.com) & Mutch Katsonga (darkjam.com/Mutch_Katsonga), Mercury Prize nominee - Tim Elsenburg (sweetbillypilgrim.com), and cult favourites who deserved centre stage in any gathering of fine singers - Andy Yorke (allmusic.com), Lewis Taylor (allmusic.com) & David Scott (pearlfishers.co.uk. All were willing to sing simple melodies "as if for the first time".
Songbook No. 1
DGMSP1
5/31/2013