This is a tweak of the earlier Sail On. I am playing around with the song, because its about the sea and starting afresh. It hear it being sung on the boat of an old sailing ship. As the mood darkens the ships is battered by a growing storm. The storm is defied and challenged. Hey, haven't we seen so much, we can get through it now? At the end the ship gets through the storm. It still makes my hair stand up at the end. It would be good to record this with a band and strings and choir. Ha ha dream on. All rights reserved.

Sail On (rough demo/Alt Mix) - by If Wen (All rights reserved)

For some reason my lyrics often describe events before they happen. This song finally made sense when I sat in a pub opposite a woman made even more attractive by the soft light from a tall candle.  It was our final night and I had realised the relationship was doomed and hoped she would fade away like snow, but the candlelight scene suddenly changed my mind. Of course, it made no difference and it hurt like hell but my heart is strong, and hearts are strongest when hearts belong. This is a rough demo. All Rights Reserved.

Babe you have to go
Like the morning snow
But you never know
You never know
A candle glow
Could save the show
Somewhere, somehow
Life goes on
Somehow, some where
Hearts are strong
Hearts belong
Its all been lost to time
The best the worst of lines
But you never know
You never know
A candle tall
Can stop a fall
Your heart is strong
Yes I'm falling for
A candle tall
A mercy song
The sails are strong
The lovers wrong
You're strolling on
Yes, stroll along
And you're gone
You know I can't come back
The place is full of that
My heart is strong
Hearts are strong
Hearts belong
And I'm falling for
A candle tall
A mercy song
The lovers wrong
I'm strolling on
And you're gone
Babe I won't be back
My heart is strong

Not yet released

Hearts are Strong

"Hearts are Strong" by If Wen - demo/first take

This is a song I play live a lot. I think it should recorded with a band and strings. For now, here is the potter version. This was recorded in a barn, and has the amazing Atma Anur in drums. This is the whole session, and really it needs an edit to get it to 4 minutes or under. Anyway its a song I like. When I played it at Exmouth Festival I saw a man in the audience start weeping, so it may also hit a seam for others. All rights reserved.

I wish that you would say you're coming back
But tarot cards and dreams
They don't see that
Who'd blame the summer rain?
When the sunshine comes out again
When songs of love
Are not enough
You just have to be
There's blue behind the clouds
It's over there
That angel walked off proud
And shook her hair
Who'd blame the bee that stings?
When it dies over just one thing
Send a lifeboat
And be

Lifeboat - rough/demo session mix ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is a song for Graeme, a friend and a great bloke who died young who loved sailing. It is a rough mix/demo, but the song is pretty much finished. It would be be good to record this with a bunch of musicians. Download is free to all who knew him, and all might have enjoyed his company, which is the entire world. All rights reserved.


Have you seen that boat?
Somehow still afloat
Sailing on when..

That Boat (demo/Rough Mix) If Wen - All Rights Reserved

This is what I do. Chase them. Keep looking. Keep hoping. It never seems to work out. But don't let that get you down. Keep chasing. Rinse. Repeat.

Chasing Rainbows (demo/rough) All Rights Reserved

This is a live performance of my song Sail On, with the brilliant Atma Anur on cahon. I was on the main stage at the Falmouth Festival. Amazing experience.

Sail On - live at the Falmouth Festival

Finally I know what this song is about. The barley tree/sea is a beer induced fug that is suffered alone the night after a relationship ends. The barley is medicinal. The ghost in the hall is the woe from the litany of exes that life leaves for many. The chorus is about the barley fugged memories of the behaviour of that now ex and the pointless negotiations of, that final pathetic evening. This demo has the super talented American singer songwriter Audrey Ryan on guest All rights reserved.

Lyrics:
I sit and watch the barley tree
Are you the one for me?
Last night you were singing
But you didn't have a tune
So bright for the others
Who were laughing in the room
Its alright
The ghost is in the hall
I looked across a barley sea
The waves were breaking free
Last night saw the honey 
As its falling out the moon
So bright for the others
Who were rolling down the dune
Its alright
The Ghost is in the hall
And lately I've been hoping for winter
Back on solid ground
Lately I've been dreaming 
Of rainbows 
They're always coloured brown
Still you're not around
I sit and watch the barley tree
You're not the one for me

Barley Tree (Demo) with Audrey Ryan - All Rights Reserved

This is just me and a mic in the shack on the moor at Ding Dong in Kernow. One take. Raw, Like the song

Sail On Live

This song was recorded in a barn. It's about getting stuck in melancholia. The beach and the horse referred to exist. It's all based on real events. This version comes from a reel of tape which was twisted and had to be re-spooled by hand.  I can hear a different version in my head which has a beat. In my head this version sounds commercial! No....

This is a song about my psyche and my family. It's saying no matter what happens none of it matters. It happened so keep on keeping on. This track was recorded in a cliff top house in Sennen, Kernow, where a rainbow appeared just outside the window right next to the cliff edge. And as this final version was being mixed in an attic, rainbow colours appeared on the attic wall in the sunlight.  Maybe its a special song. It certainly seems to calm me. All Rights Reserved.

Brooding songs that can be heard if wen you tune out of the mainstream. Whatever you do, don't call it commercial..

Recorded in a barn or a shack. Available on Apple Music and Spotify. Limited edition CDs.

Bookings via ifsongs@hotmail.com

Reviews:

“Standout tracks include the uplifting folktronica of the opener, the anthemic Loveletters, and the hookladen It Always Hurts.” - Gareth L Powell, Acoustic Magazine

“..the most overtly catchy of if wen’s anthems, like Love Letters, have something of the opulent feel of Paris-1919-period John Cale – which should be taken as quite a complement.” - David Kidman, Folk and Roots

“..not only a selection of natural, soothing acoustic tracks but a celebration of nature and its beauty…brings to mind comparisons to artists such as Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. This album is a definite for anyone who plans to spend this summer relaxing in a peaceful, pastoral place, away from the busy city and the worries of life.” - Nicholas Benson, Folk Music, Suite 101

“Delicate, awkward, endearingly intimate, this is an album to savour, to mull over…A bedsit album for the modern age.” - Paul Kerr, Blabber ‘n’ Smoke

“Beautifully played and recorded….it’s an album that harks back to the folkie idealism of the late sixties and Donovan, Al Stewart and Nick Drake in particular….if ‘classic’ late 1960’s style English singer songwriter folk is your bag, then Take A Look At Sea is an essential purchase.” - Pete Whalley, Get Ready to Rock!

“Take a Look at the Sea” opens the album on a high note, delivering well-crafted hooks and gives you that pensive feeling that comes from listening to a good piece of melodrama. “Nothing Means Nothing” is a terrific song, purposefully strummed behind fragile vocals.” - Bradley Hartsell, DOA

“Fine folk from the far beaches of Cornwall..that’s the title track from If Wen’s masterful and subtly understated album Take a Look at the Sea.” - BBC DJ Tom Robinson

“..genius..one of best things heard in last ten years..could be the English Elliot Smith.’ - Shaun Belcher, Flyin’ Shoes Review

“A quite charming and fulfilling debut release’ - David Kidman, NetRhythms

‘‘..a really great album..’ - BBC DJ Sean Rowley

“..songs that go far deeper than many song writers are capable of going..’ - the acoustic/folk fanzine Fatea

“Simple, pastoral, but breathtaking folktronica.” - Radio Caroline TV

“..an impressive album..” - BBC DJ Gary Crowley

“The title track sets off the record at a mellow pace, which resonates throughout, shining like early Death Cab or a trumpet-less Get Cape.’ ‘Wind Blows’ is this album’s most sweet of sweetest moments though, if anything ideal for one of those iPod-ready summer nights on the beach.” - Adam Silverstein, Subba Cultcha

“Sublime multi-tracked vocals soar over earthy fingerpicked guitar with a melodic pop sensibility whose closest comparison is an extroverted Elliott Smith circa Figure 8. The vocals at times bring to mind Nick Drake, without the intensity and melancholy but just as breathy and lovely…I enjoyed Take a Look at the Sea very much.’ - Alex Cleary, Folking.com

If Wen

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