We have a beautiful premiere from London based progressive folk trio James Edge and the Mindstep which we’ve also chosen as our Song of the Day. Becoming is a unique and moving song with the exquisite string arrangement masterminded by the legendary Robert Kirby (Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, Steve Ashley), who conducted the live recording just one week before his untimely and unexpected death in 2010.
https://soundcloud.com/folkstock-records/06-becoming?in=folkstock-records/sets/james-edge-and-the-mindstep-1
Folkstock Records are delighted to introduce this talented trio headed up by James Edge and Becoming is one of a brace of tracks from their 2010 debut album for the first release on their label, as a double A side single. When you listen to the music, it is evident that James Edge is already a studious musical maestro and a top drawer composer. The Kent-raised musician studied composition to master’s degree level under Joe Duddell – arranger for the likes of Elbow and New Order. After moving to London and starting to gig in 2006, he formed James Edge and the Mindstep to record 2010 debut album ‘In The Hills, The Cities’. The working relationships he built around this time would provide him with some dependable collaborators, including regular engineer and occasional co-producer Tom Aitkenhead, best known for his work with Laura Marling and Bloc Party. A core jazz-folk trio of Edge, double bassist Andy Waterworth and drummer Avvon Chambers materialised.
Robert Kirby was best known for his work with Nick Drake but also features Linda Thompson, Vashti Bunyan, Steve Ashley, Elton John, The Magic Numbers and Ralph McTell in his stellar discography. Robert was approached by James Edge at a tribute night to Nick Drake, at which James was playing Nick’s ‘Three Hours’ and Robert was so impressed that he agreed to arrange the strings on this track creating a recording to be savoured at leisure, reminiscent of John Martyn and Danny Thompson sweetened by the unmistakeable beauty evident in Nick Drake’s works.
The digital double a-side single Where We’re Going To / Becoming is released today and available via Bandcamp here: folkstockrecords.bandcamp.com
More here:
www.jamesedgeandthemindstep.com
www.facebook.com/jamesedgeandthemindstep