Martin Simpson – An Introduction To .. 2LP
£21.00
10 in stock
Released 20th July 2018.
Personally selected and sequenced by Martin Simpson, this new addition to Topic’s series of introductory overviews of the label’s most renowned artists includes an exclusively recorded track by Martin, a wonderful solo acoustic version of Leon Rosselson’s ‘Palaces of Gold’ from his classic 1968 album A Laugh, A Song and a Hand Grenade.
This new selection amply testifies Martin has become a highly gifted songwriter. He first made a significant mark as a songwriter on 2003’s Righteousness & Humidity with a handful of songs that included the evocative truck stop epic ‘Love Never Dies’. Since then he has continued to deliver powerful compositions, none more poignant than the remarkable ‘Banjo Bill’ (from 2011’s Purpose & Grace), based upon the words of Banjo Bill Cornett of Hindman, Kentucky, which testifies to the breadth and scope of Simpson’s writing.
The main focus of An Introduction To… is on the albums Simpson has recorded for Topic since he returned to the label with The Bramble Briar in 2001 after a break of almost 15 years. The selection – bar one track – also draws entirely from Simpson’s solo albums opening with Emily Portman’s ‘Bones & Feathers’ from last year’s Trials & Tribulations, his 20th solo album. The exception is the debut recording by the wonderful new trio of Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr, a stunning expression of the joy of playing and singing between three absolutely intuitive musicians; featured here is Simpson’s moving composition ‘Dark Swift and Bright Swallow’.