Simon Godfrey - Motherland

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   Simon Godfrey's new solo album has just been released: -
Bad Elephant Music is proud to announce the release of Simon Godfrey's album Motherland – the first record to be released under his own name.

After the ground-breaking Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed, released last year under the Shineback moniker, Simon returns to his roots as a songwriter with a collection of eleven very personal songs recorded over twelve weeks in Philadelphia and London.

To quote Simon:
“This is a travel record, made between two countries on a laptop, some stringed instruments, a USB keyboard and one tiny microphone. This is NOT a production. It's personal, close, natural - and deliberately so.

“I could have spent months and months editing, adjusting and honing the sounds to perfection but this was something that needed to be recorded and released without the usual studio gloss. You'll hear some bum notes, but you'll also hear the honesty, heart and above all else, the songs in the form they came to me.

“I could give you a host of influences that inspired me to try this approach, from Andy Partridge's home demo series, PJ Harvey's 4-Track mini album, the early works of Todd Rundgren and 10cc, through to Bob Mould and Fink. That, however would do nothing to help describe the sounds I've made.

“The only other individual to contribute to the record is my long time writing partner Robert Ramsay. In the early days he and I used to rock up at the open mic nights of London, me with a guitar, Rob with a harmonica and play our little hearts out to about three people and a dog. Nobody minded because it was all about the songs. It was like old times working with Rob that way, and hopefully I’ve captured a little bit of that feel on the record.

“Some of the songs featured are nearly 20 years old, but for one reason or another, I never got around to recording them. Others are so new, they have been in existence for less time than it took to record and release this record. Yet somehow, they all sound like they belong, like an extended family coming together for giggle and a knees up after much too long apart. It was only after I commenced recording them that I realised that in some way or another, they were all about leaving something behind. This resonated with me in a profound way as I’ll be leaving the UK to go and live in the USA for good in May 2014. The record is my thank you letter to Britain for taking care of me all these years.”

Motherland will be available on CD in retro vinyl-style packaging from the end of March at the Bad Elephant Music store - http://music.badelephant.co.uk/ - where pre-orders and the download version are already available. The CD will also be sold from other quality outlets, including The Merch Desk at http://www.themerchdesk.com/.

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chopper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20031	Topic: Simon Godfrey - Motherland Posted: March 14 2014 at 15:11
	Simon Godfrey's new solo album has just been released: - Bad Elephant Music is proud to announce the release of Simon Godfrey's album Motherland – the first record to be released under his own name. After the ground-breaking Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed, released last year under the Shineback moniker, Simon returns to his roots as a songwriter with a collection of eleven very personal songs recorded over twelve weeks in Philadelphia and London. To quote Simon: “This is a travel record, made between two countries on a laptop, some stringed instruments, a USB keyboard and one tiny microphone. This is NOT a production. It's personal, close, natural - and deliberately so. “I could have spent months and months editing, adjusting and honing the sounds to perfection but this was something that needed to be recorded and released without the usual studio gloss. You'll hear some bum notes, but you'll also hear the honesty, heart and above all else, the songs in the form they came to me. “I could give you a host of influences that inspired me to try this approach, from Andy Partridge's home demo series, PJ Harvey's 4-Track mini album, the early works of Todd Rundgren and 10cc, through to Bob Mould and Fink. That, however would do nothing to help describe the sounds I've made. “The only other individual to contribute to the record is my long time writing partner Robert Ramsay. In the early days he and I used to rock up at the open mic nights of London, me with a guitar, Rob with a harmonica and play our little hearts out to about three people and a dog. Nobody minded because it was all about the songs. It was like old times working with Rob that way, and hopefully I’ve captured a little bit of that feel on the record. “Some of the songs featured are nearly 20 years old, but for one reason or another, I never got around to recording them. Others are so new, they have been in existence for less time than it took to record and release this record. Yet somehow, they all sound like they belong, like an extended family coming together for giggle and a knees up after much too long apart. It was only after I commenced recording them that I realised that in some way or another, they were all about leaving something behind. This resonated with me in a profound way as I’ll be leaving the UK to go and live in the USA for good in May 2014. The record is my thank you letter to Britain for taking care of me all these years.” Motherland will be available on CD in retro vinyl-style packaging from the end of March at the Bad Elephant Music store - http://music.badelephant.co.uk/ - where pre-orders and the download version are already available. The CD will also be sold from other quality outlets, including The Merch Desk at http://www.themerchdesk.com/.