I Remember You is the first single to be taken from singer-songwriter Jason McNiff‘s forthcoming double CD retrospective anthology Rain Dries Your Eyes.
The track was originally recorded for his second album Nobody’s Son (2003). Lilting and upbeat, the song showcases McNiff’s simple-yet-powerful acoustic guitar work partnered with an enticing folk-pop melody that makes it an instant classic. With nods to Bob Dylan and the Band, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Wizz Jones, McNiff is often touted as one of the UK’s most precious musical treasures – a great songwriter and top-notch finger-style guitarist.
Rain Dries Your Eyes spans more than 15 years and includes brand new tracks, previously unreleased material and songs from Jason McNiff’s six studio albums. A modern day troubadour, he started recording in the early 00s, but he has a sound that harks back to the great folk-rock pioneers of the late 60s/early 70s.
Of “I Remember You”, McNiff explains: “I remember thinking why don’t you write the best song you possibly can write and see how good it is, or if it’s any good at all. And that’s what I tried to do here.” The album, Nobody’s Son, was his second to be produced by Andy Allen of the Hank Dogs (who was one-time bass player with the Sex Pistols for their “Silly Thing” single). The record included contributions from members of both the Hank Dogs and South London country rockers Grand Drive.
Weaving inspiration from classic American songsmiths with strong roots in English folk, McNiff serves up astutely arranged ballads imbued with warmth and beautifully crafted imagery.
Rain Dries Your Eyes is released 31 March 2017 via Tombola
Photo Credit: Bennicarol Photography