Avocet – Lend Your Garden (CD)
CD€10.00
Lend Your Garden is the debut album by Avocet, released 29 May on Mink Records.
Tracklisting:
- Sell Me To The Wind
- If Only
- Glarabi
- So Recently
- First Light
- Causeway
- Too Early
- Cheeks Like Jelly
- Angie’s Cradle
- Steal From The Road
- Cheating Monday
It was recorded by Michiel Mutsaerts in The Hague, The Netherlands, and mastered by Bart Schatteleijn.
Glasgow-based Avocet’s ethereal vocals, melodious harp, double bass, and intricate guitar will lull you into a deep and blissful state before you even have the chance to say “Isn’t that the name of Bert Jansch’s eponymous 1979 album?” Inspired by both the British folk scene in the 1960’s/70’s, and raw blues, they create their own compositions and explore the boundaries between trad folk and world blues.
Having met through the traditional Scottish music scene at a young age, Glasgow based trio Avocet decided to combine forces. Sam Grassie’s finger picking guitar style is indeed reminiscent of Bert Jansch and Ali Farka Touré. His long time collaborator Iona Zajac’s harp playing and distinctive vocals are best described as both soothing and haunting. They are joined by differing session musicians on double bass and percussion.
The band broke through at the 2017 Celtic Connections Festival, winning a Danny Kyle Best Newcomer Award. They signed to Mink Records, and released their first EP, Borrowed Seed, recorded at the Abbey Road Institute, Amsterdam. Numerous festival and gig performances followed, including appearances at Latitude, Eden & Doune opening for the likes of Ralph McTell, James Yorkston and Rachel Sermanni. They were featured on Travelling Folk BBC and were featured Artist on Folk Radio, as well as winning the Bert Jansch Foundation Young Artist Award. Their EP caught the attention of live agent Gail Cooke & the band toured fourteen cities in the U.K. last spring.
‘A must album for everyone’s collection.’ – Celtic Music Radio
‘They’ve built on their enchanting 2018 Borrowed Seed EP with a wonderfully arranged, impeccably played, beautifully sung, global roots kissed, swinging folk gem for Mink Records. A genuinely stunning debut LP. – The Slow Movement
‘Looking back at previous thoughts about Avocet’s music, the great interplay between Iona and Sam is better than ever. Sam’s guitar work is clean, clear, precise, but full of soul and above all, under-stated. Nothing flashy, but very, very good. In many ways, this album is a bit like a wedding. There is something old in the references and importance of the musical styles of fifty or so years ago. There is something new about the unique connection of guitar, harp and voice. There is something borrowed in the style and directly in the tunes, that is put to good use. And there is something blue in the music, in the lyrics, in the consciousness of the performers.’ – Folk Radio U.K.
