Name: Bluebird - Andy Skellam by Pear O'Legs Records in POLR Playlist
Duration: 4 min 9 s
Description: Released on the 27th October 2023 with POLR

POLR Playlist

Released on Pear O'Legs Records on 02/01/22

HYTHE - Rocket To Ride On

Written on NYE 2020, To Your Eyes is stripped right back to just Benji and his guitar. About the song, Benji says “I find this time of year truly magical, a time to slow down and take stock, to hibernate, away from the busyness of the world, the anxiety of social media. I’ve had a few occasions where songs will come to me around New Years Eve, but this one stuck and I’m very fond of it. It’s about shaking off my jaded world view (briefly), appreciating what I have, and choosing, or at least intending to choose love, kindness, and hope”

To Your Eyes (out NYD 2023) is the second single from debut album Songs to Make You Happy, coming January 20th 2023 on Pear O’ Legs Records.

Welsh singer and songwriter Benji Tranter returns with his debut album Songs to Make You Happy. With a lo-fi, DIY ethos, unembellished guitars and vocals deliver a charming, sometimes chaotic, collection of vignettes; diary entries, polaroid snapshots, throwaway poems and short stories. The influence of US songwriters like Elliott Smith, Conor Oberst and Daniel Johnston is clear throughout, with occasional elements from Scott Walker, Nick Drake, and the care-free naivety of Jonathan Richman.

Out on the January 20, 2023 on Pear O’Legs Records.
The first single from the album, 'Satellite' is out now.

Songs written and performed by Benji Tranter
Drums on tracks 3 and 9 by Ben Howarth
Trumpet on track 11 by Jovis Lane
Tracks 3 and 9 engineered by Ru Lemer at Temple Music Studio
All other tracks recorded at home
Produced by Jovis Lane
Mastered by Ed Woods
Album cover photo by Calum Lynn

To Your Eyes

Last Night Sampel Challenge 197#TPC W

Billy's Back At The Bar

Thank you for your service.

I say this not to the employees of the war machine, who in truth serve nothing besides imperial domination and the profit margins of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

I say this to the peacemakers.
To the truth-tellers.
To the defiant ones.
To those who’ve shone the light of truth upon the blood-spattered face of the empire against their own interests for the benefit of everyone.
To those who’ve stared down the barrel of the most powerful military force ever assembled and said “Do your worst.”
To the grandparents who’ve been dragged from nuclear weapons protests in handcuffs to create a safer world for their grandchildren.
To the activists whose incurable disobedience has led them to disrupt empire managers at think tank conferences or paint NO WAR across the face of the Sydney Opera House.
To the selfless martyrs who’ve exposed the abuses of the machine knowing full well that the scales of justice are weighted heavily against them.
To the hero in Belmarsh.
 To the Pentagon Papers whistleblower who today closed his gentle loving eyes for a final time.

Thank you for your service. 
For serving the highest interest over your own. 
For pouring everything you’ve got into the hope for a better tomorrow.
For betting everything on the hope of a healthy and harmonious world. 
For creating a guiding light to help humanity steer its way home.
For seizing your moment to help make things right instead of letting it pass like everyone around you.
For somehow finding the strength to swim against the current when it would be so much easier to drift along with the madness.
For somehow finding a higher calling in this wildly dysfunctional society where everything is pointed at selfishness and meaninglessness.
For somehow cultivating something profound and authentic within yourself in the midst of a civilization of the vapid and fraudulent. 
For doing your very best to get a foot on the brake pedal when everything else is accelerating toward the cliff’s edge. 
For listening to that small voice within which can tolerate no more.
For turning around. 
For taking your stand. 
For finding the courage. 
For doing what is right. 
For putting truth first. 
For lighting the way.

Thank you for your service.
We will do our best to carry the torch forward, and finish what you started.

____________________

____________________

____________________

Reading by Tim Foley.

Thank You For Your Service

Emma Gatrill has shared her new single ‘Seed’, a poignant and uplifting moment from her upcoming album featuring  stellar contributions from Rozi Plain and Kate Stables (This Is The Kit), Rachael Dadd and more. The Brighton-based harpist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s new album ‘Come Swim’ arrives 24th November 2023 via Willkommen Records. 
   
A manifesto for kindness, ‘Seed’ speaks to the challenging times we find ourselves in, suggesting ways we can all make a difference by sticking to our principles and striving to be the best possible versions of ourselves - “Help a stranger out like a friend in need…Don’t be frightened to stand up for what you believe”.

Aided by co-producer and partner Marcus Hamblett, though new album ‘Come Swim’ was produced and recorded at home (or Bear Mountain Studios, as the credits have it), Gatrill was able to call on a truly impressive cast of collaborators for the album. Along with Stables, Plain and Dadd, other guests include Conor O’Brien (Villagers), Mark Lockheart (Polar Bear, Radiohead’s Kid A), Rachel Horwood (Trash Kit, Bas Jan), and Thom Mills (Skinny Lister). 

Since 2017’s acclaimed Cocoon, Gatrill has steadily earned her place as one of UK music’s best-kept secrets. From singing on Nick Cave & Warren Ellis’ film soundtrack ‘Wind River’, to playing a remarkable range of instruments for others (including Lucy Rose, Broken Social Scene, Samantha Crain, David Thomas Broughton and more), Emma has distilled this wealth of experience into creating a captivating sound entirely of her own; a logical progression that culminates in the fervent beauty and wonder of ‘Come Swim’. 

Emma Gatrill on ‘Seed’:
“‘Seed’ attempts to represent how tough life can be. We may sow a thousand seeds but only one may survive and grow, but that one can be everything. That one idea can blossom if we nurture it. That one kind gesture from a stranger can change how the whole day goes. Stay strong, stand up for what you believe and don’t feel afraid to ask if you need help. That’s how we all learn. It was an honour to have Kate, Rozi and Rachael all add vocals to this tune. I’ve enjoyed playing music with all three of them so much over the years and learnt a lot musically from them. I really wanted this song to have a feeling of camaraderie and a sense of togetherness.  Kate's wild recorder and ocarina also sonically embody one aspect of the song's meaning for me - the continual cacophony of life perhaps! To find answers we have to ask questions. To find kindness we have to be kind. To grow we have to learn. Seed is about trying to be the best possible version of us in a world which is tough.”

Kate Stables (This Is The Kit) on ‘Seed’:
“Emma Gatrill is one of the most talented people I know. We've played together a lot in various projects and so I was very happy and honoured to be asked to contribute to this track. I especially loved having the freedom to add whatever I felt like and anyone who knows me beyond my own band knows I love adding ocarinas and recorders - which is what I did and which Emma generously left in! This track is filled with so many people that I love. Plus, I just can't get enough of "out of the dark into the light, into the light of the morning". A message we all need to remind ourselves of on a daily basis. Good one, Gatrill!”

Rachael Dadd on ‘Seed’:
“This song is like a glorious seed sprouting towards golden sunlight. I’m so happy to hear Emma bringing her third album into the world in all its harmonious joy and honoured to sing here, and massively grateful to Emma for all she’s brought to my music over the last 12 years”

Emma Gatrill - harp, clarinet, bass clarinet, mellotron

Kate Stables - backing vocals, ocarina, recorder
Rachael Dadd - backing vocals
Rozi Plain - backing vocals

Marcus Hamblett - cornet, synths
Andrew Stuart Buttle - violin
Dan Harding - drums

Seed

An Indie funk groove about the monotonous routine of the working world, feeling trapped by the societal pressure to consume, provide, and turn away from the things we’re passionate about.

IDIO

Break The Cycle

See Saw

HAUNTED

Released on the 27th October 2023 with POLR

Bluebird - Andy Skellam

Coming Up For Air

From Dean's new album, Pictures.
Featuring Neilson Hubbard and Will Kimbrough.
Recorded long distance between East Lothian (Scotland) and East Nashville (ISA)

Pictures

Dean Owens (ft Nelson Hubbard, Will Kimbrough): Dalry Cemetery

'Bloom Again' EP, released 27/10/2023. 

Doesn’t feel like once before
Left me empty wanting more 
Called it off, I called it off
Called it off, I called it off 

Recorded by Ed Meltzer at Pocketsounds and Chambers Studios, Edinburgh.

Mastered by Pete Maher

Bluebird - Andy Skellam

Pear O'Legs Records

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