Rev Simpkins

https://revsimpkins.bandcamp.com

Rev SimpkinsNotorious sinner-songwriter, folk symphonist & Anglican priest.The Rev’s unique psychedelic gospel and gritty folk owes as much to the Old Testament, & the dark folk tales & barren landscapes of Essex & Suffolk, as it does to his musical heroes Bert Jansch, Captain Beefheart & the Kinks. He comes from a long line of priests whose fiery performances characterise his own style.Saltings, released 25 March 20221. Hail to the New King of England2. Plough Sunday3. A Ballad of John Ball4. For Every Number5. Gathering Grounds6. Ghost Harmonies7. St Runwald's Preachment8. Song of Songs9. In the Marsh a Desert10. John Henry's Prayer8/10 Vive le Rock'[amid] the tender country strains of Saltings...the intensity builds between the notes...his vocals are magnificent, as is the production...with an outstanding book by Tom Knight that will take your breath away''Saltings' is a close collaboration between Matt Simpkins and the Mersea Island artist, Tom Knight, who has created a stunning work of art for each song on the LP.It is a loving portrait of the mystery and beauty of the salt marsh wildernesses of Essex, and a meditation on the human cost of the wilderness time of the pandemic.Like Rev Simpkins's last LP, 'Big Sea', 'Saltings' is most of all a record of unblinking realism amidst darkness, and of a hope grounded in human experience. The album weaves together tales of the legendary and mysterious figures of the saltings, such as John Ball (leader of the peasants’ revolt) and Saint Cedd (whose Saxon chapel stands at Bradwell), with reflections on the wilderness’s ever-changing tides, skies, and seasons. Saltings is an attempt to share the atmosphere and history of this remarkable place in picture and song.Matt writes, "I wrote these songs walking the saltings during the pandemic, pondering the tears of exhaustion, anger, fear, frustration and mourning that I’d seen in others. So the songs are themselves saltings: little tears. Instead of weeping, I wrote and I sang. But these aren’t sorrowful songs. I hope they speak of the hope that resides in the saltings, and of real life and real compassion."Art prints of Tom's illustrations for 'Saltings' will be available to purchase from tomknightillustration.co.uk

Category: People & Society

City: Bures

State: England

Country: United Kingdom (GB)

Currency : GBP

Platform: Bandcamp

Technologies used: Fastly CDN