Martin Simpson has released a second single from his highly anticipated new studio album Rooted which is set for release on August 30 via Topic Records. While the first single ‘Neo’ tackled all that is wrong with neoliberalism, Born Human tackles environmental conservation. A timely song…
Born Human was written by David L Grimes, a fishing boat captain based in Alaska who, rather contrarily, liked fish as friends. He was devastated when the Exxon Valdez oil spill did massive damage in Prince William Sound in 1989. Conservation and music became the focus of David’s life and this song was written in response to the environmental damage he had witnessed and fought against. It is more timely now than it has ever been.
The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster resulted in the spillage of 10.8 million US gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska, of which, only 10% was recovered in the extensive cleanup operation causing devastating and immediate loss of wildlife (as many as 250,000 seabirds and at least 2,800 sea otters were among the numbers quoted). There was also extensive damage and destruction to the microbial populations on the shoreline as a result of using high-pressure hot water during the clean-up operation. Some of the organisms destroyed could have helped in the oil’s biodegradation over time. 30 years later oil is still present in the sand along certain beaches (more here in Hakai Magazine).
Rooted features an array of stellar guest musicians, including Nancy Kerr (fiddle and viola), Andy Cutting (melodeon and diatonic accordion), Liz Hanks (cello), John Smith (electric guitar and vocals), Ben Nicholls (string bass and electric bass guitar), Julie Matthews (vocals), Alan Barnes (clarinet), Max Simpson (vocals), Amy Smith (vocals), Chris While (vocals) and Tom A Wright (drums and percussion). Richard Hawley and Dom Flemons contribute backing vocals and bones respectively to first single ‘Neo’ (out 21st June). As well as vocals, Martin himself plays banjola, 5-string banjo, 6-string fretless banjo, electric bass guitar and electric and resonator guitars!
Also via: http://smarturl.it/martinsimpsonrooted
Martin will tour extensively in support of Rooted. See full dates here: http://www.martinsimpson.com/gigs/
Photo Credit: Elly Lucas