Alabaster DePlume 
“Peach”
Debt Records
2nd Oct 2015

A peach is a sweet and soft and good thing with a stone in the middle, and this is an album about being a person. Smartphones, analogue tape, valve microphones, computers, group games and a grand banquet were used to create this collection of songs, tunes and monologues, that use a series of contradictions to talk about being alive. 

Long-term collaborators John Ellis (piano) and Paddy Steer (percussion, bass, lapsteel, synth) join Angus Fairbairn (vocal, tenor sax) along with eleven other musicians and nearly a hundred other voices in presenting sounds likened to Ethiopian jazz and Japanese folk music. Scripts and vocal delivery evoke Ivor Cutler, Emo Philips and Leonard Cohen, for this combination of theatre, live-captured music, songs, humour and philosophy.

It is a unique collection, made by unusual means designed around the artistry and conveyance of its many contributors. Created over three years in London and Manchester, it’ll be celebrated in those two towns on the dates below, following its vinyl and digital release on Manchester label Debt Records, on 28th September 2015.

A composer, musician and performer, Alabaster DePlume (Angus Fairbairn) has toured northern Europe, appeared on UK national radio and developed theatre for Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin. His many combined arts projects are based around music, and personal inclusion. In this, his third album, he has employed as many voices as he can, in conveying a method of survival he’s been taught, he says, by everyone he’s met.

Hope grows naturally, like a
dandelion between the bricks.
I feel good…

Manchester launch: 4th October at The Wonder Inn 
London launch: 31st October at The Total Refreshment Centre, Dalston

Personnel:
Will Calderbank – cello
Rioghnach Connolly – flute 
Ellis Davies – electric guitar
Lorien Edwards – bass guitar
John Ellis – pianette, clavinette, piano
Leonie Evans – backing
Angus Fairbairn – vocal, tenor sax, acoustic guitar, yanquin dulcimer, synths
Dominie Hooper – backing 
Philip Howley – drums, percussion
Mikey Kenney – violin 
Pascal Makonese – m’bira
Kirsty McGee – bass flute
Tim Vincent Smith – violin
Paddy Steer – drums, percussion, bass guitar, double bass, synths
Rick Weedon – drums, percussion 
With selected vocal delivery from – Rioghnagh Connolly, Ellis Davies, Julia Foster, Katarzina Jablonska, Sally Jenkinson, Kasia Wlaszczyk, Oliver Conway. 
And with a chorus of attendees of the ‘Excuse Me’ studio feast, 9th September 2014, Antwerp Mansion. Meal by Samuel Buckley.

Engineered by Paddy Steer, John Ellis and Karl Sveinsson. Recorded at Limefield Studios Middleton, Madwaltz Levenshulme, Antwerp Mansion Rusholme and the Total Refreshment Centre Dalston, with additional field recordings at various locations. 
Mastered by George Atkins at 80 Hertz.
Artwork by Liz Greenfield
All songs and scripts written by A. Fairbairn. 

14 - Strange

This special album is on one hand the second part of my City Light album and on the other hand an imaginary journey and finally an arrival to ourself.

Ramble

Experimental instrumental album, filled with ambient and industrial vibes. Every song is a journey from beginning to end, and most of all I hope this is nothing like anything you have heard before!

Bandcamp

in the space between

It was supposed to be an official remix for the sound track record... But sadly it wasn't the best fit, but I'm proud to bring it to you.

Donnie Darko (Daedelus rmx)

Essaouira

Recorded/Mixed by James Goldsmith
Cover photo by Russell Kleyn

Perfect Body

Sunstone

Made this 10 days after i finished circle, with the mighty BoomBip...the Man behind MUSH, made the beat...in the apartment where we recorded this and all of circle, there was a hairless cat named Tyrone, who knocked little panes of window out with his bear head...

Inventors Cry

New Vanitas

Time Indefinite

You heard him first on WIZZZ Vol. 2 with the explosive “Maintenant je suis un voyou (Now I’m a hoodlum).” Here he is again, with his full EP never released before.

But, let’s go back in time… In early 1967, Bruno was attending medical school in Paris. Driving back to the university with a friend, Bruno sang along nonchalantly with the songs on the radio. His friend was surprised to discover his lovely voice and encouraged him to audition for a group composed of friends from the university who were looking for a singer. Bruno was not selected for the group, but became friends with one of its members, Emmanuel Pairault.

Emmanuel had been studying economics, but decided to enter the music conservatory instead, to learn the drums and the use of the illustrious “ondes Martenot,” a primitive electronic musical instrument.

He composed a few solo numbers, remarkable for their use of that instrument. Looking for someone to write lyrics to go with his instrumental tracks, he asked Bruno to try a few. Bruno and Emmanuel thereby put together a small repertoire, with no ambition other than to have fun. Although the details are now forgotten, they worked hard to bring their song to the attention of Nicole Croisille (a singer and actress), who suggested sending the demo to her friend Norbert Saada, who headed a label called La Compagnie.

This unprecedented use of the ondes Martenot in a pop song attracted Saada, who offered to make a record. Emmanuel quickly assembled a small team to make the recording. The sessions took place at Dominique Blanc Francart’s studio on rue de la Gaîté in Paris, with Bernard Lubat on percussion, François Rabath on stand-up bass, Jimenez and Jean-Pierre Dariscuren playing guitar, Emmanuel Pairault and Sylvain Gaudelette on the ondes Martenot, not to mention Bruno on vocals. Four tracks were recorded for the EP: “Maintenant je suis un voyou,” “Eve,” “Hallucinations” and “Galaxie.”

With the sessions completed, Bruno left for his obligatory military service and thus lost control over things. Saada pressed a promotional 45 in an attempt to find a licensing deal in Canada, to no avail. A real collector’s item, this 45 includes “Maintenant je suis un voyou” and “Galaxie.”

Back from his military service, Bruno learned that Saada had gone out of business and sold his catalog, putting an end to any hope of issuing the EP (1969). “Eve” has never before appeared on a record.

A1 BRUNO LEYS - Maintenant Je Suis Un Voyou

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys: camelfunk
Mixing and mastering: camelfunk

Mountain Caravan

Elektric Trills of a Nightingale

Recent comments

William Barber

Myco Molassi

The New Sound Machine

Related tracks