Prydwyn member of Stone Breath, founding member of Green Crown, as well as a solo artist, presents a series of web-only musical releases, exclusive to The Unbroken Circle. Drawn from the overflow of years of music-making, these are songs that at least in their present form seem unlikely ever to find a home on official releases.   Something new will be appearing here every so often, coordinated with the phases of the moon, for at least as long as such material continues to surface. Be sure to check back at least semi-regularly, though, as each piece will be accessible only for that limited period of time which precedes the arrival of its successor.

:•:X.i

Maximae tempore noctis, succrescentium aestivis cantus dierum.

‘Married in May, and kirked in green,

Nor bride nor bridegroom shall long be seen’

(traditional proverb)

‘May is the month of bad luck and mischief,

and so the Mayflower was named after

the flower of bad luck and mischief’

(Marty Carthy, Oxford, March 2004)

The featured song this time around is a preview of my virtually completed second (and very likely final) solo album, ‘Solitude Owes Me A Smile’, which I hope shall be seeing the light of release not too far into 2007. I had previously explored this traditional song’s light side as ‘Midsummer Faire’ (originally released on Diana McFadden’s and my collaborative album ‘The Witch in the Well’, which is now available for download from Woven Wheat Whispers). The present treatment is much more a delving into the song’s equally present, if latent, dark side, inspired very likely by my own Whitsuntide experiences in the first year or two after I moved to Oxford.

The basic tracks were recorded live, as part of a series of concerts put on last autumn in the Sodding Chipbury village hall. Thanks to the Northwest Oxfordshire district council for sponsoring the event, and to Billy Needles, host of Oxfordshire Community Radio’s late-night ‘Where No One Knows Your Name’ program, for organizing it and inviting me to participate.

Thanks as well to the band, pressed into service at the very last minute - to Yashi, for doing things with the bouzouki that I could never have dreamed of, and thereby freeing up my own hands for the pennywhistle, and my focus for singing; and to the Jam Surfers, for returning from the loo just in time to add a bit of percussion when most needed. Finally, thanks to the Older Boys’ Choir of the Schola Disintegrativa, for coming into the studio recently to add the atmospheric vocal overdubs.

‘Come Whitsun I’ll be there

The May flower in my hair

In velvet so green I will appear’

The Curragh of Kildare

If you missed (or just couldn't get enough of) mythoughts and warblings about Harvest Moons, they have been archived and may be found by clicking here.  A special piece in honour of the sun's recent passage into Pisces may be read and heard here. An homage to the immortal Don Anon may be found at this page.  Woven Wheat Whispers has several of my recordings available, which may be accessed here .
Or if you wish to contact me with your thoughts on any or all of this, I may be reached by clicking here.