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The Big Eyes Family Players 'Do The Musiking' CD
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 61CD)
'Do the Musiking' is an album curated and created by Big Eyes captain James Green,
along with his co-pilot David Jaycock over the past 3 years. After the last Big
Eyes album, 'We Have No Need for Voices...', they decided to call it a day with
the 'group' dynamic, and plough their interests into experimenting with
classical/folk arrangements and collaborating with artists they admire.
The new album, under the moniker 'The Big Eyes Family Players', is a 29-track album,
featuring contributions from numerous musical talents including James Yorkston,
James William Hindle, Rachel Grimes (Rachel’s), Jeremy Barnes (A Hawk and A
Hacksaw, Bablicon) and Suzy Mangion (George, and occasionally Piano Magic).
"This pool of talent allows the songs to really take-off and become fully realised, often
taking on a classical persona, no more so than on 'Die Nacht' which is a gorgeous piece of
music that makes you listen, and is followed by the brief but lovely 'Shanty For Darty'.
An almost hallucinatory feel is conjured up by the drone-folk of 'A Dream Of Fires', which
at 3 minutes 20 seconds is one of only three tracks to break the three minute barrier,
meaning that the songs pass by like dreams half remembered, something which gives the album
a magical feel, the sound of woodlands on a summer day" [The Ptolemaic Terrascope]
"With this 29 song/78 minute album it seems like Big Eyes - now The Big Eyes Family Players -
set out to quietly astound and perhaps confound. An album so sprawling, it makes the Beatles
'White Album' sound downright cohesive; but it’s also got something else in common with that
album - it’s almost all excellent. Woozy Gypsy laments for sleepwalkers, the perfect theme to
a remake of The Third Man, an almost lo-fi gauzy indie-folk pop squeezing sunshine out of
eternity through acts of melodic compassion. One track sorta reminds me of Alasdair Roberts.
There are some of Cluster's miniature universe theories, and a moment or two reminiscent
of Neu, icicle windchimes, and warm cool softspoken intimacy. Lots of old European sorrow,
nocturnal jazz grooves, a dash of discordant angst, and some surrealistic lullabies slowly
passing like elevated Fahey extrapolations meandering down a glacial riverbed. Some haunted
hallucinatory personal folk songs, and an expansive sense of mystery, of something only
partially revealed, perhaps glimpsed only in passing" [George Parsons, Dream Magazine]
'For Cognac' (MP3)
'Die Nacht' (MP3)
'The Printmaker's Dilemmas' (MP3)
Download
Do the Musiking
 from eMusic
Listen to Do the Musiking
on Last.fm
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UK: £10.00
EU: €15.00
US: $18.00
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'We Have No Need for Voices when Our Hearts Can Sing' CD
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 49CD)
Perhaps the most musically varied of all their releases, ‘WHNNFVWOHCS’
sees Big Eyes loosening their belts somewhat, with a collection of full-on
chamber pieces, country mules, polkas and plainsongs. There are the precise
baroque arrangements of ‘Spidersong’ and ‘On Twigs’, the American folk of
‘David’s Lovesong’ and ‘At Claydon Point’, the graceful string fugues of
‘Podsley’s Lullaby’ and ‘A Second Heavy Heart’, and the atonal meanderings of
‘Wash Me Upstream’ and ‘Drunken Ghost Dance’. The album also includes a
collaboration with the multi-instrumentalist Terry Edwards (ex-Tindersticks,
Gallon Drunk), in the form of ‘Bugle Junior’, on which he plays flugelhorns.
'David's Love
Song' (MP3)
'Bugle Junior'
(MP3)
'Podsley's
Lullaby' (MP3)
Download
We Have No Need For Voices When Our Hearts Can Sing
 from eMusic
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UK: £10.00
EU: €15.00
US: $18.00
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'I See Creatures' 7" EP
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 45)
"A really stark and swirly instrumental blend of psychedelic influences held in
check, as they might have been on a classic Elektra LP (or maybe a Nick Nicely 45).
The way they weave the acoustic guitar into the arrangements, really reminds me of
mid-period Love (if they had been into doing movie soundtracks), but not in a way
that I could easily explain" [Byron Coley, The Wire]
'Gentle Neck' (MP3)
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UK: £3.00
EU: €5.00
US: $7.00
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'Love is Gone Mad' CD
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 36CD)
Second full-length album from the Leeds/Sheffield ensemble, explores the
theme of love songs in all their many manifestations. Perhaps less
experimental than its predecessors, but more visceral. "Big Eyes make
music that's perfect to smudge your mascara to: velvety instrumentals
streaked with unfurling string glassandos, droplets of Spanish guitar and the
tears of a million broken hearts.
"Love Is Gone Mad comes on like a morphined-up Ennio Morricone, yet charms
it's way into the inner ear with a beguiling beauty all it's own"
[Amber Cowan, Sleazenation]
'Fast, Loose
& Lovely' (MP3)
'Lament for
the Lost Ones' (MP3)
'The Victim' (MP3)
Download
Love is Gone Mad
 from eMusic
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UK: £10.00
EU: €15.00
US: $18.00
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'Love is Gone Mad' LP
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 36LP)
"This 3rd album (though the first could have been called an EP), finds
this string, acoustic (or turned down low) multi-instrumental band
growing in their own singularly lovely, mostly instrumental (one track
features spoken narrative, and there are wordless vocals on others) way;
into something more soundtrack-like as they mature. Richly emotional,
like folk songs played by an empathetic orchestra. Insular too, with
circular costructions that spiral inward like the chambers of a
nautilus. 16 songs that sound as good with breakfast as they do at 3:AM.
Bright watercolors that feel like fresh air, or the darkest night of the
year depending upon the mood. There’s a lot of Morricone in the air, but
there’s easily as much mid-Euro folk, and the atmospheres are as vivid
as any dream in real life or sleeping. I want to resist; but I must
insist, this is the best Big Eyes effort yet" [George Parsons, Dream Magazine]
'Fast, Loose
& Lovely' (MP3)
'Lament for
the Lost Ones' (MP3)
'The Victim' (MP3)
Download
Love is Gone Mad
from eMusic
|
UK: £9.00
EU: €15.50
US: $21.00
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'Clumsy Music' CD
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 29CD)
Big Eyes first full-length offering takes a darker direction than the
debut mini album, 'Big Eyes Songs', treading a peculiar path through modern
classical, eastern European traditional music, surf-sleaze, country, noise,
experimentation and folk.
"This is a wonderful album, running down a path of great beauty"
[Steve Hanson, Ptolemaic Terrascope].
'Threeleftfeet'
(MP3)
'Sleep' (MP3)
Download
Clumsy Music
 from eMusic
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UK: £10.00
EU: €15.00
US: $18.00
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'Clumsy Music' LP
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 29LP)
"Clumsy music? This is anything but. In a complete reversal of the titular accuracy
of Big Eyes Songs, Clumsy Music deceives to flatter. James Green, the Big Eye,
reckons that Clumsy Music is more grown-up than Big Eyes Songs which was naively
short and sweet. Does that mean we should expect cynically long and sour? It's
certainly longer - about twice - but the basic template is the same; to take the
very essence of a tune, the heart of the hook, wrap it in the merest wisps of
gentle music and set it free on the breeze from your speakers. Green brings
classical instruments and unusual arrangements to pop music, with the spirit early
Wire had (innovation, minimalism) but without all that shouting. 'The Chattering
Lady' is slow gypsy folk, 'Samba Sedation' more of a lazy brass seduction and
'Don’t Be Shy' a weird fleeting nightmare that could be The Black Swan Network.
Just as a book of short stories never quite sates the reader's curiosity, so
'Clumsy Music' leaves the listener wanting more, unsatisfied by the teasing beauty
of the tunes. That's not clumsy, that's a great skill" [Jimmy Possession, Robots
& Electronic Brains]
'Threeleftfeet'
(MP3)
'Sleep' (MP3)
Download
Clumsy Music
from eMusic
|
UK: £9.00
EU: €15.50
US: $21.00
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'Big Eyes Songs' CD
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 21CD)
Debut release from Leeds/Sheffield-based quartet. Twelve short, achingly
beautiful pieces of naïve, classically-influenced music, featuring guitar,
accordion, violin, bass and spoken vocals.
"A dozen tracks in less than 19 minutes: starts out with 'Red Tricycle',
all hauntinggypsy violin and bouncy folkish mystery. 'The Boo Girl' is like a
sadder Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Dog Eared is like a more concise Rachels doing
an instrumental Tindersticks. Mostly it's like a series of bittersweetly
evocative instrumental sketches in acoustic guitar, violin, accordion,
auto-harp and bass. Entirely dreamy and excellent, without trying too hard at
all. Maybe next time they could stay a bit longer?" [George Parsons,
Dream Magazine]
'Gin Head' (MP3)
'Feathers' (MP3)
Download
Big Eyes Songs
from eMusic
|
UK: £6.50
EU: €10.75
US: $14.00
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'Big Eyes Songs' 10" mini LP
(Pickled Egg Records Egg 21LP)
"Twelve tracks and 18 minutes in length, so criminally short and each song so
brief that if you dare to pause for breath they’re gone in a flash. An
irresistible melange of violins and accordions give this at times a feel of
L'Augmentation's Bergerac-like soirees, especially on 'Boo Girl' and 'Dog Eared'.
'Big Eyes', the first of only two vocal tracks has a cinematic flavour with
Francophile whispers that are strangely 'Allo 'Allo. Traces of God Speed You
Black Emperor can be found being cajoled within 'Ginhead', the track producing a
haunting melody that wouldn't be lost on Morricone's Once Upon a Time in the West
soundtrack. 'Brain Cell' stretches the influences further with it's love for 60's
TV spy themology, distantly reminiscent of Vendetta, and always threatening to go
all out surf without a moments notice. The deadpan tragi-comedy tale of Albert
the daydreamer in 'Curled Lip' adding a touch of comic pathos to the proceedings"
[Mark Barton, Losing Today]
'Gin Head' (MP3)
'Feathers' (MP3)
Download
Big Eyes Songs
from eMusic
|
UK: £6.50
EU: €10.75
US: $14.00
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James Green 'Tempers' CD
(Early Winter Recordings EWR1)
Delicate and gentle as a passing breeze, the first solo record from James Green
is a graceful assemblage of instrumental sketches that will appeal
to all who appreciate the plaintive beauty of the classical guitar. Those familiar
with Big Eyes' discography will recognise James' unmistakeable grasp for simple,
affecting melody, here presented with an honest, confessional simplicity, which
commands attention. All pieces are first or second take and are either solo guitar
or two tracks maximum. By consciously limiting himself to this instrument and
these techniques, James has developed a sound that might complement the New Folk
troubadours currently emerging from the US such as Jack Rose or Ben Chasny
(Six Organs of Admittance), but with a lightness of touch almost absent in any
of those guitarists' work. Let it be said that this is closer to the work of
Mick Turner (Dirty Three), John Williams, Bert Jansch, Eric Satie or Debussy
than Fahey, Kottke, Basho or other names so often paraded but rarely equalled.
Packaged in a tasteful hand-printed slip case and limited to 250 copies, this
release serves a beautiful companion piece to the most recent Big Eyes album
'We have no need for voices when our hearts can sing'.
Track 2 (MP3)
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UK: £6.85
EU: €11.50
US: $14.50
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The Broken Blackbird Ensemble 'Gadzooks!' CD
(Early Winter Recordings EWR2)
‘Gadzooks!’
is the first album by new 6-piece experimental group ‘The Broken Blackbird
Ensemble’. It features James and David from Big Eyes, but there the comparison
ends. TBBE feature players previously and currently immersed in noise/sound
experimentation, klezmer, folk, classical and acid-rock, but this, their first
album, contain nothing that could be specifically classified under any of these
‘categories’.
The album was recorded and improvised in one day (in September 2004), with some
tracks from the vaguest principle, others conceived from scratch. Theirs is the
sound of creaking wood, gothic ragas, horrored drones, a choir of pipes and
oh-so hushed melody. Is’ free-folk’ the right term? Who knows, but there is
definitely some music common ground between the ‘New Weird America’ artists and
TBBE.
Bambino (MP3)
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UK: £6.85
EU: €11.50
US: $14.50
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