‘Blood, Fish and Bone’ is a traditional plant food, it is also the title of the third album from Paul Armfield- his first since 2005’s sublime ‘Evermine’.

PAUL ARMFIELD – Folk Noir in the tradition of Jacques Brel, Nick Lowe oder Beaver and Krause

Four years is a long time between records and Paul has spent it selling books and raising a family, but in that time the accolades have kept coming- earlier this year he was hailed as the ‘heir apparent to deathless troubadours such as Tim Hardin’ by Gavin Martin in the Daily Mirror, and described by James Delingpole in The Sunday Telegraph as posessing a ‘gorgeous voice, like a richer, deeper version of Cat Stevens’, This new album justifies the praise- classic, intelligent song-writing sung from the heart.

Recorded almost entirely live over four days using mostly home-made valve equipment this is very much a departure from Paul’s first two polished albums. Only one of his band the Four Good Reasons is present here- his long-term multi-instrumentalist sidekick JC Grimshaw, joined by Joan Baez’s erstwhile guitarist Adam Kirk, and the universally respected Rupert Brown on percussion, tape-loops and production, all playing with such subtlety they are less a band, more a textured surface to lay around Paul’s rich voice. Here also are the scratches, creaks and rumbles that seldom make it to record, but here provide an integral part of the performance.

Paul loves the freedom and the danger of performing alone and all the songs here were written with that in mind as solo pieces, just him and his guitar, he says when he tours solo later this year it will be a huge relief not to be carrying his double bass and a Hammond organ around Europe (although he will still struggle to justify his musical-saw as hand-luggage).

So why Blood, Fish and Bone? Paul says that Blood is family and friends, Fish is his sense of place as he is surrounded by water on his home on the Isle of Wight, and Bone is our mortality, and together they represent growth. Themes that feature heavily on this poetic and contemplative album.

In UK „Blood, Fish & Bone“ will be released in May. Paul Armfield will present his new Songs also on some live shows.

PAUL ARMFIELD - "Blood, Fish & Bone"
Artfullsounds/Cargo

Releasedate: 22.10.2009 (Europe) & May 10th 2010 in UK
Out on CD & LP






_____________________________________________________________________________________

TOUR 2010:

30.06.10 London @ SLAUGHTERED LAMB (UK)
15/16/17/18 Juli 2010 (All Day) Wiltshire @ LARMER TREE FESTIVAL (UK)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Some Press Feedbacks:

"This is wonderful, from the Isle of Wight Paul Armfield sings as if the sun is always setting. The sea crashes on the shore and the songs come like a fine, matured whiskey. Eleven folk pieces of love, life and melancholy..." (Volly Tanner, Zeitpunkt-Kulturmagazin Leipzig)
__________

"...His timbre is unbelievably warm and the guitar tender and quiet. The loveable big man conquers the hearts of his listeners. The audience sit, are silent and enjoy his sound, somewhere between, folk, chanson and a little bit of country. Two of the strongest songs of the album are the deadly romantic ‘The Only One’ and ‘Run’. His concerts are not just recommended for fans of the gentle tones of Lambchop or Tindersticks, but for anyone who wants to experience one of the most loveable musicians in the whole world..." (August 21st 2009, 8annika8, wergehthin.wordpress.com)
__________

"...With a wink to melancholy, his delicate songs are masterpieces. The sparse arrangements with a little guitar, mandolin, ukulele and percussion allow the fragility to develop in such a way that you cannot resist. With Blood, Fish and Bone Paul Armfield and his sidekicks have created a marvelously enjoyable disc which you will want to see created live. And you can when he tours in Autumn. Recommended!"(Ingo Andruschkewitsch, MUSIKANSICH)
__________

"...Here are songs of a graceful, dark beauty as sung by a bearded giant of a man. Fragile, sad, questioning, bitter-sweet and dreamy. Small and large tales that capture you with their seeming familiarity. Crafted in a simple, economical and beautiful way, performed with double bass, guitar, harmonica, mandolin and ukulele, a breath of percussion and the ever-present gentle voice of Paul Armfield. They lead you into the darkness to a place of safety, as if viewing the world at twilight from beneath a blanket. Absolutely recommendable. The album of the Autumn...“ (Peter, October 15th 2009 in Schalltest)
__________

"The voice matches the appearance of this Isle of Wight singer-songwriter as he comes across as dark and strong in these wonderful ballads. Exuding calmness and warmth he pulls the listener into his world of double bass, ukulele, guitar and mandolin. Nothing more is needed for these bitter-sweet, folk-noir ballads...“ (Cyam, October 18th 2009, alternative-music.org)
__________

"...With his wonderful, deliberately sparse arrangements, Armfield creates a most moving experience. The beautifully dark voice of the singer-songwriter creates a feeling of blissful melancholy and sends a gorgeous shiver up the spine. Played on double bass with a little guitar, mandolin and ukulele, these dark strong ballads with their intelligent lyrics are as good as English music gets. But more than anything Paul Armfield and Blood, Fish and Bone sound absolutely unique...“ (Musix, October 2009)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

BOOKING CONTACT Daniel Zein

Homepage

MySpace

Paul Armfield - Sloe Gin

Paul Armfield - Run

Paul Armfield - The Last Boat Home

copyright Nilz Boehme