PAUL ARMFIELD - Folk Singer/Songwriter | ArtfullSound Production

PAUL ARMFIELD - Folk Singer/Songwriter

PAUL ARMFIELD
plays Tennyson

Paul Armfield’s fourth album is a rather unusual collaboration...

The lyricist with whom he has chosen to work with is Alfred Lord Tennyson, the famous poet who died in 1892. Not only does the dead Victorian provide lyrics he also contributes vocals.

One of the biggest celebrities of his day Tennyson spent most of his life on the Isle of Wight where Paul now resides. Paul, who by day manages a local bookstore, says that he decided to set these poems to music in an attempt to better understand his fellow Islander.
‘Like many people I had always thought of Tennyson as pompous, overly-dramatic and out-dated, but on closer inspection I found a very direct and relevant voice. I hope that listeners will be surprised at how contemporary his poems sound in the settings I have given them’. With the likes of Andrew Motion in the front row of recent performances Paul seems to have achieved his aim.

The first song on the album is a deliberate attempt to wrong-foot any preconceptions, it being a trite nursery rhyme torn completely out of context from a much greater poem ‘Sea Dreams’. Elsewhere Paul has reset the much parodied music-hall favourite Maud, with double bass as the lonely accompaniment to the deranged ramblings of a stalker as he hides all night amongst the flowers awaiting a glimpse of his quarry.

Tennyson’s voice can be heard loud and clear on ‘Charge of The Light Brigade’ an account of an incident in the Crimean War where, due to an error of communication, a whole regiment of 600 men were sent needlessly to certain death. Recently a wax cylinder of Tennyson himself reading the poem recorded by Thomas Edison was found behind a radiator at the poet’s former home. On it’s own this recording is harsh and unintelligible, but Paul has chosen certain well known phrases that follow his own singing like a ghostly echo.

The only other voice on the album is that of Norwegian songstress, violinist and arranger Mari Persen. Bonded in mutual appreciation via Myspace Paul didn’t hesitate in asking her to be the voice of the mother singing the lullaby ‘Sweet and Low’. In this song the father of the baby is away at sea and thus we are introduced to three other poems of the sea, firstly the shanty ‘Sailor Boy’, leading into the atmospheric epic of circumnavigation ‘The Voyage’, and lastly ‘Crossing The Bar’ the seafaring meditation on Death that Tennyson asked be always last in any collection of his writing.

Apart from the wonderfully playful fiddling of Donal O’Riain on the first track and some percussive bodhran by Doug Lang on Charge of The Light Brigade, everything else is played, recorded and produced by Paul in his modest home studio, including the operatic saw playing that closes the album.

Hailed as the ‘heir apparent to deathless troubadours such as Tim Hardin’ by Gavin Martin in the Daily Mirror, 43 year old Paul has received much critical acclaim for his ‘hobby’ especially for his self-translated renditions of lesser know Brel numbers. His song ‘Flagbearers’ is soon to be included on the next Folk Against Fascism compilation.

PAUL ARMFIELD - Tennyson

Released on Artfullsounds/Cargo
Release Date: 26. August 2011
on CD & Download

Paul Armfield - Little Birdie (from 'Sea Dreams')

Paul Armfield - The Poets Song

Paul Armfield - The Charge of the Light Brigade

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Other releases on Artfullsounds

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

Releasedate: 22.10.2009

Buy on AMAZON

Paul Armfield - Sloe Gin

Paul Armfield - Run

Paul Armfield - The Last Boat Home

Paul Armfield

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)
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"...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)
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"...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)
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"...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)
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"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)
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"...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)

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PAUL ARMFIELD - Folk Singer/Songwriter