@elljott: the lyrics are all on the bandcamp link!

A small selection of some of my favourite songs I've written/co-written over the past 30 years, gives you a flavour of what I do. 
I can help you craft songs, get in touch!

My full Discography is here https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/

Bandcamp Discography

Nigel Parrington - A Song Portolio

An uptempo electric version, recorded sometime somewhere, I don't remember...
Glad I did though!

Shrub Hill - electric version

Played on BBC Radio 6 Music http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ft8jz November 2013

"The One Who Got Away has a traditional feel and is a song of loss made with subtle beauty and sadness, and it's little more than acoustic guitar and voice" The Sound Of Confusion

"The One Who Got Away...leans on acoustic simplicity to deliver its sad, wistful message" Ralph's Life 

Track 2 - the last song to 'write itself' - if only more would aspire to the same.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-invisible-ray/id707632346
A new video https://youtu.be/MOdAMq3CaS0

The Invisible Ray

The One Who Got Away

Purchase on Bandcamp

‘Like a lost track off Abbey Road’ @coffeehopper 

‘(The Low Countries)...revisiting an older number with considerable aplomb, it bodes well for their forthcoming self-titled album’ Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine  

‘Excellent live, and if you think indie folk can't do a BIG sound then think again’.. @BigJimCambo

‘Sonic bliss’  Ola’s Kool Kitchen 

‘Rousing delivery’ Unsigned and Independent 

‘Such a shaggable voice’ (anon)

Lyrics:
In a City like this, it's easy to miss, just what I'm not.
The future's tomorrow, to beg steal and borrow and tomorrow's all we've got.

But if you still need me, there's one place we can meet: Sun Street (X2)

Yesterday's done, today's what we've won, who would've thought?
When I saw you last you struggled to grasp, how I was caught.

But if you still need me, there's one place we can meet: Sun Street (X2)

If you're hunting me down, well I'm, well I'm still around.

But if you still need me, there's one place we can meet: Sun Street (X3)

In a City like this, it's easy to miss, just what I'm not.
The future's tomorrow, to beg steal and borrow and tomorrow's all we've got

The Low Countries, until 2013 an indie-folk duo, are now resurrected as a five piece band. They're currently recording a 6-track EP (out early 2016) and 'Sun Street (2015)' is their first band single, released September 25th 2015.  It features the harmony vocals of The Kitchen Collective choir.
Please enjoy/stream/purchase. Thank you loves.
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/album/we-weathered-the-storm
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/track/1BcvC4tKceoQ10sTJwei4J
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/…/sun-street-2015-sin…/id1036723009
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015NDMH9K
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1EQtUhS
A kind of comeback for Nigel and his songs, assisted by a band of great musicians, people and friends.  Betty (the arranger of the choir vocals) told me recently she has 'a real emotional attachment to the song'. I think we all do. 
Here's the official video by Adam York Gregory https://youtu.be/SwL2-cSlNy8
'If you still need me...'

Recorded, engineered and mixed by Mick Armistead at Space Sound Lounge Studios. Lancashire. March-July 2015. 
Written by Nigel Parrington. 
Rob Daniels - drums, vocals, percussion. 
Els D'hooge - vocals 
Darren Leadsom - bass guitar 
Marc Nellis - electric guitar 
Nigel Parrington - lead vocals, guitars, melodica, piano, percussion 
Kitchen Collective vocals: 
Ann Brookes, Rowan Brook-Thompson, Rosa Coriander Grace Cooper-Davies, Kate Heathcote, Betty Manson, George Moran, Nigel Parrington, Maria Piacentini, Jilly Sumsion. Arranged by Betty Manson. 
Additional percussion by Maria Piacentini.

An Extended Play

Sun Street (2016)

Sun Street

Take me away...

https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/track/train

Summer's Last Hurrah

Train

Buy on Bandcamp

'Has the listener both bleary eyed and stamping feet with wide grin at one and the same moment' Indie Bands Blog
'The moment the Dylanesque harmonica launches alongside jangly guitar, descending bass and solid drums, the song springs to life and what follows does not disappoint' Fresh On The Net listening post
Lyrics:  
You can read me like a book you can get yourself immersed
You can even take a look at my last page first
Tonight I'm a slave, to your pheremonal glands
I'm putty in your hands

Tie me down or tie me up I won't put up a fight
Give my heartstrings a pluck you can pluck me when you like
To hell with the righteous and blessed are the damned
I'm putty in your hands

You've got me crawling the floor
Got me begging more, begging more

I'm lost in your orbit, so bring me in to land
I'm putty in your hands

'Putty' has always been a favourite of Nigel’s and was written with a band in mind way back in 2004, so this was bound to be one of the first to be band-tested in rehearsals.  Rob and Darren helped Nigel transform the song from its lo-fi bedroom home-tape vibe to an altogether more power pop arrangement.  It’s a true band achievement with glorious harmonies, jangle riffage and a George Harrison inspired slide solo.  Mick the sound engineer was even inspired to sing a harmony. Karma.

Available on Bandcamp https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/track/putty-2  
                      iTunes https://apple.co/2DCb52M
                     Amazon http://amzn.to/2GjBcxx
                     Google Play http://bit.ly/2G4win5

We Weathered The Storm

Putty

The title track to our new band album, a sepia infused ballad for a buddy.  

https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/album/we-weathered-the-storm
Purchase on Amazon https://amzn.to/2HOmUFn
Google Play http://bit.ly/2HN6v3W
Apple Music  https://apple.co/2FyUI7B
Rob Daniels - brushes & glockenspiel
Nigel Parrington - vocal & guitar
Maria Piacentini - double bass
Recorded by Mick Armistead at Space Lounge Sound, Lancaster.

A sweet old chestnut lovingly unearthed, dusted off and lightly roasted.
Recorded live and remixed/rejigged by Neil Manson
Part of a new four song EP available on Bandcamp, NOW!
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/album/bettys-boudoir-sessions-ep

Betty Manson - banjo
Neil Manson - baritone electric guitar/samples/sounds
Nigel Parrington - vocal, acoustic baritone guitar

Betty's Boudoir Sessions

Hole In My Heart (2018)

The Low Countries's contribution to a fab compilation:

"...funny, sad, well crafted and wise, more of a hymn to low wits and high values." unpeeled.net

"The Low Countries una impagable Carry On Christmas donde juegan con ingenio y mala baba con los dobles sentidos de cada uno de los versos para denunciar el interminable escándalo de los abusos a menores dentro de la iglesia, algo que, verdadaderamente, no es para celebrar." (a priceless Carry On Christmas, where they play with all second meanings in each verse to show with underlying anger how child abuse carries on within the Church and this is no topic to rejoice in.)  http://es.paperblog.com/cuanto-me-quiero-the-pocket-gods-wanking-for-christmas-372278/

"The Low Countries offer "Carry On Christmas," in which St. James is looking down on the proceedings from heaven eating crackers while the vicar prepares a holiday dinner, or I think that's what they're on about, anyway." http://www.mistletunes.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=old%20site


We get it out once a year. Prominently featured on Fresh On The Net http://freshonthenet.co.uk/2012/12/six-degrees-7/

and Cherryade Records's 'A Very Cherry Christmas Volume 8'  
http://www.cherryademusic.co.uk/buyavcc8.html

Also a small splash in The Guardian https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/52a74e93e4b0f49f8dbe28d8/698836

'Come over to the dark side with X mass – a compilation of songs by nub country records artists celebrating the alternative side of Christmas from songs about the shape-shifting Royal Family, festive solo sex, the pagan solstice, kissing the bishop’s ring, and A Clockwork Orange.
It’s the complete antitheses of all things X Factor, Cliff Richard, Roy Wood, and that fuckin cartoon The Snowman. Come and get pissed, take all your clothes off lay, down by the fireside and prepare yourself for a good rodgering by the pocket gods and friends.

As well as the pocket gods it features tracks from: the low countries, uber dram, Bert M. D’ hooge, Kirk, Grae J Wall, Eddies Brother, Martin Bradford Gago and The Electric Pheremones.

 

 

NUB2512CD – Release Date 01/12/10

Tracklisting;

 

 

 

X mass - the pocket gods and friends

 

1.      Carry on Christmas – The Low Countries

2.      Supernatural Bread – Eddies Brother

3.      Wanking for Christmas – the pocket gods

4.      They cancelled Christmas – Grae J Wall & The Young Trash Lovers

5.      We Three Kings – Martin Bradford Gago

6.      I killed my parents on Christmas day – uber dramm

7.      It’s Christmas but you’re still a cunt – the pocket gods

8.      All I got for Christmas was this clockwork orange – the electric pheromones

9.      Last of Summer, burned in Midwinter fire – Bert M. D’hooge

10. Silent Night – the pocket gods

11. Acacia Avenue – Grae J Wall

12. Xmas blues – Kirk

13. the queen’s speech impediment – the pocket gods

14. Santa Claus is comin’ to town – the pocket gods

15. Auld Lang Syne – the pocket gods & friends

 

 

Distribution by IODA - available from Amazon, ITunes, HMV, Spotify, E music, Napster and all major download sites worldwide.

Contact; thejacula@hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/nubcountryrecords

Tel: uk 07791985813'

x mass the pocket gods and friends

Carry On Christmas

Purchase

What will it take, your heart on a plate?
Recorded towards the end of the last century in Flanders.
Nigel Parrington - guitars, vocals
Raoul Lenders - bass
Piet Pentecost - drums
Els Nicasy - piano
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/track/at-the-end-of-the-day-2

A Prize Every Time - The Greatest Bits

At the End of the Day

Everything to Me (demo)

A very Happy Birthday to 'A Brown Cafe at 3am' - released 10.years ago today! You've probably read about it this already or seen the Google Doodle? If not then head over to our Bandcamp, purchase the classic album and receive 8 new bonus tracks, 3 videos, pics, lyrics etc. Cheers.
Here's one of the bonus tracks, a live version of 'Low Country' from 2011 (I think) at the Spotlight Club, Lancaster.
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/album/a-brown-cafe-at-3am
"Hell's teeth! The new Low Countries album is excellent. Really excellent" @idiotjohnson (in 2010)

Low Country live @ Spotlight

One of eight bonus tracks when you purchase our classic album 'A Brown 
Cafe At 3am' which turns ten years old today.  
A live version of the jaunty anti-love song recorded with Wes Martin on banjo (and on the recording)
"Captivating to a fault"  Folk and Roots
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/album/a-brown-cafe-at-3am

Purchase Album

Heartback (live)

We've virtually reunited the band for a new lockdown song - a mildly infectious song of the Summer, better late etc. Bindweed for your brain.
Only a pound on Bandcamp https://bit.ly/2ZpIwCI
It features our old guitar botherer Marc Nellis and the current furloughed line-up of: Rob on drums and vocals, Darren on bass, Dom on electric guitar and Els on vocals. Plus Nigel on vocal, acoustic guitar and cubase. Recorded across Europe in various back rooms and damp garages. 
Accompanying video by Rob on Youtube: https://youtu.be/zdNyAGyrlMA

The Song of the Summer (lockdown song)

An alternate version of my ode to the old band and reunions in general, now available on Bandcamp!
https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/track/reunite-alternate-version

Reunite - alternate version

A cover of the Manics' song that they recorded on their Lifeblood album.

Solitude Sometimes Is (Manic Street Preachers cover)

I can now offer my services and 30 years experience as a songwriting tutor and/or collaborator - links here https://linktr.ee/nigelparrington

All my albums (2007-2018) and a plethora of bonus tracks are now available to stream/purchase via Bandcamp https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/

'indie-folk at its best...' Folk Radio UK

'They make literate, clever music that makes Belle and Sebastian look like a bunch of thugs' Popshifter

‘this is indie-folk music from the heart and I say give it a go’ Johnno Casson, Fresh On The Net

The Low Countries are an Anglo-Flemish indie-folk duo based around the songs of Nigel Parrington.  Occasionally a five-piece band depending on babysitters. https://thelowcountries.bandcamp.com/

Nigel started writing songs during the great war (Blur won) in a remote Mental Hospital in Hertfordshire.  He escaped to London and formed The High Ones with Mark Lee (The Pocket Gods)- Nigel wrote most of their indie-pop style songs and tours of Belgium and the home counties ensued.  A double A-side single ‘Sunny Day/Northern Skies’ was a hit in Belgium and Nigel toured Studio Brussels placing their EP in random drawers, where they remain. Nigel changed his name to Niels and moved to Antwerp - The High Ones had one last gig in The Borderline after drinking several Antwerp bars dry and conversing with dEUS.
Nigel worked briefly for Warner Bros Belgium and through this contact The Low Countries were born, going on to win valuable studio time in a few swanky Flemish studios, all of which boasted that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was recorded on their sound desk. During this ‘Flemish blue period’ Nigel soaked up Flemish sounds & smells & wrote some classic songs - witty lyrics with a rich skein of melancholy. 
Moving back to the UK in 2006 Nigel was signed to Nub Music and began releasing 7 albums over a period of 8 years. In 2014 Nigel & Els formed a 5-piece band with Rob Daniels, Darren Leadsom and Marc Nellis  - they recorded an EP in 2016 and in 2017 Marc left the band but returned for guest guitar on the band's 2018 album.
Nigel’s songs have been played on BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Lancashire, Amazing Radio, Unpeeled.net, Folk Radio UK, Dandelion Radio, Beyond Radio,Studio Brussels, Radio Centraal and Sky TV. 

Some reviews:

'Blissfully wonderful music' Beehive Candy

'Like a lost track off Abbey Road' @coffeehopper (on Sun Street (2015))

'making music that makes the world a better place' @indiebandsblog

'Beautiful...'The Invisible Ray' will most likely become a lost treasure. We just hope that in a few years it's uncovered and given the respect it deserves' The Sound Of Confusion

'I'm...struggling to see how they've not found greater recognition for past works and could 'The Invisible Ray' be a seminal album?' Ralph's Life

'Parrington's son has apparently predicted that his dad's songs will be famous after he dies. Pennyblackmusic readers would be advised not to wait that long' Pennyblack Music (The Greatest Bits)

‘captivating to a fault’ Folk and Roots

‘indie-folk at its best, I love it’ Folk Radio UK

’English psyche pop folk masterpiece - syd barrett meets nick drake with glorious beatles harmonies and northern wit - album of the year’ MBop Magazine

’..The Low Countries: splendid melancholia which sounds like a North Country version of Golden Smog or Josh Rouse. Nigel Parrington is definitely onto something’ Howard Byrom, The Lancaster Guardian 4 05 07

’Really tasty stuff - a little beauty!!’ Peter J Brown aka toxic pete (www.toxicpete.co.uk)

‘Beautiful South meets Richard Thompson…really fine mellow tunes’ Fresh Air FM

’shades of Ryan Adams…Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris…elsewhere Tell Her could be lifted from the Beatles’ back catalogue…’ www.folking.com

Hole In My Heart (2018)

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