It may come as no surprise to some of you that Eliza Carthy has teamed up with Tim Eriksen to release a new album called ‘Bottle’ which will be released via Navigator Records on May 18th. The duo performed together in 2013 in both the Czech Republic at Folkové Prázdniny and at Sidmouth Folk Festival since then they have been finding time to record together.
For me this is a joining of forces that has me jumping for joy. As it says in the PR they have ‘mixed hardcore ‘Americana’ with hardcore ‘Anglicana’ and the results are inventive and thrilling.’ They actually met back in the 1990s which is inevitable when you consider the circles they perform in. There is a nice quote that’s worth repeating from Eliza Carthy on this joining of forces:
…this is a friendship that has been around, despite miles of distance and long times not speaking, punctuated by little cards or tapes, albums in the post, random nights in Massachusetts involving chicken wings.. or in Whitby or Bath, bottles of whisky and vans and caravans, petroleum-powered ships passing in the night. It really was time we did something with all of that.. and now this album is in its little bottle backwards and forwards over the sea.
https://youtu.be/__kM-T8Tqo4
Tim Eriksen should need no introduction to most long-time listeners / readers of FRUK, like Eliza he has been one of our lynch-pin artists…the ones that help shape our playlists. Last year I recorded Tim in session at Sidmouth, you can hear him performing Gabriel’s Trumpet below…what you maybe won’t hear is Norma Carthy, Eliza’s mum, singing along in the audience. There is a story about the song first from Tim.
https://soundcloud.com/folk-radio-uk/gabriels-trumpet?in=folk-radio-uk/sets/session-tim-eriksen-at
It was through Tim that I first heard Sacred Heart singing (already mentioned today by Sam Carter) and he broadened my love for music of New England and Southern Appalachia…once you dip your toe in those waters there ain’t no going back. But don’t forget his background which is massively diverse making him and Eliza such a perfect match. As you can hear Tim’s band Cordelia’s Dad the range of influences is huge from hardcore punk to old time. He also worked as a consultant for the award-winning soundtrack of the film Cold Mountain which as well as featuring Tim also included performances from Jack White, Riley Bagus and Alison Krauss.
Likewise Eliza Carthy is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and engaging performers of her generation. Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize and winner of innumerable other accolades, over a twenty-six year career, Eliza has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf and Joan Baez. In 2014, Eliza recorded an acclaimed duo album with her father, the legendary guitarist, Martin Carthy – and at the 2015 BBC 6Music Festival, she performed live with rap/poet Kate Tempest. Eliza was recently awarded an MBE, is an Artistic Associate of The Sage in Gateshead and vice president of the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Like Tim her musical influences are huge and she really did turn British folk music on its head with albums like Rice and Anglicana. Something she continues to do today.
There’s plenty of reasons above to mark this album one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2015 and FRUK will be brining you lots more on this release so watch this space. And there’s the tour….
ELIZA CARTHY & TIM ERIKSEN ‘BOTTLE’ TOUR 2015
21 May – Edinburgh House Concert, EDINBURGH
22 May – ARC, Stockton Arts Centre STOCKTON ON TEES
23 May – Hexham Gathering, Queen’s Hall, BARDON MILL
24 May – Waterdale, DONCASTER
25 May – Fruit, HULL
26 May – Guildhall Arts Centre GRANTHAM
27 May – The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, SALTAIRE
28 May – The Met, BURY
29 May – St Pancras Old Church, LONDON
30 May – Chipping Norton Theatre, CHIPPING NORTON
31 May – National Centre for Early Music, YORK
Tracklisting
1. Buffalo
2. Logan’s Lament
3. Castle by the Sea
4. Cats and Dogs (You Seamen Bold)
5. May Song
6. Prodigal Sun
7. Sweet Susan
8. Bottle
9. 10,000 Miles
10. Whitby Lad (Botany Bay)
11. The Sailor’s Wedding/Swiss Boy
12. Traveler
13. Love Farewell
Bottle is Out 18th May on Navigator Records
Pre-Order via Proper Music