Lovely Joan is a traditional tale, a classic situation of a woman minding her own business when a man comes along and starts hitting on her. It happens a lot in traditional songs, same as in life today, where the man won't take a hint or won't take no for an answer. But Joan is smart and bold and manages to escape by tricking him and tearing away on his horse.

When I sing “Lovely Joan” I think about all the women and girls today that have been in a situation where they feel uncomfortable at best and are trying to figure out how to safely get out. Men and boys are expected to 'make the first move' and this leads to pressuring and persuading. Women and girls are taught not to kick up a fuss, to oblige and not to offend. The parallels between this 100+ year old song and life today make it clear how deeply rooted these problematic gender expectations are.

Listening to the track you'll hear glitchy manipulated vocals, heavy distorted riffs, striking war-type drum and soaring fiddle:


Lovely Joan

Barbara Allen is one of the most re-told songs in the English language, and it’s about a mean, cruel-hearted woman (irony there). It’s 350+ years old but is dripping with the same expectation that’s laid onto women today.

Pressure and Persuasion

Barbara Allen

Elsie Marley is a North East icon. She was a well loved landlady who had all the gossip, all the booze and knew how to have a good time. She’s someone I look up to because she knows her worth and isn’t gonna fall into that neverending grind of work: ‘Elsie Marley’s grown so fine / she won’t get up to feed the swine / lies in bed til 8 or 9’. You go, Elsie

With this tune I wanted it to be a really satisfying slow-head-nodding track, which is a bit of a palette cleanser on the EP. You don’t need to stress, just sit back and let the deep plodding bass and tinkling fiddle wash you along.

Produced and Engineered by Frankie Archer and Jim Moray
Mixed by Jim Moray
Mastered by Piper Payne assisted by Colby Gustafson
Artwork by Rob Irish

Elsie Marley

Footprints, by Ivor Game, is a short tuneful winter themed song about the snow.
Words and Music copyright 2024 Ivor Game

Footprints

I've a long standing love for old style dub, the likes of King Tubby, The Scientist, Sly 'n' Robbie, Lee 'Scratch' Perry to name but a very few. The musical textures that ebb and flow just make my head fly. Here is my nod at that vibe.

Salutations Dub

Beware the siren.. she is bad, she is dangerously tainted bad

Dangerous Attraction (Seduction Mix)

The Strays

Close

We all ride ever forward with expectations and uncertainty not knowing which side things will land on

Hopes and Fears (The Unknown)

The Slip

"In The Woods" by Ivor Game
Words and Music by Ivor Game
Words and Music copyright 2018 Ivor Game
www.ivorgame.com

The Strays

Nick Moran

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