Paul Simmonds & Naomi Bedford – I’ve Got A Fever EP
Self Released – Out Now
The pairing of English roots singer Naomi Bedford with The Men They Couldn’t Hang mainstay Paul Simmonds has proved to be a musical match made in paradise, a premise confirmed by this, their latest E.P. release, a track from which has already featured here at Folk Radio.
With the title track opening proceedings, the lyrics of I’ve Got A Fever suggest the recall of some sort of dystopic nightmare suffered by Paul. Whilst musically the song is redolent of the very best of 60’s Phil Ochs/Bob Dylan/Pete Seeger, with added Grace Slick, the strength of the lyrics is an equally powerful pull. With an unnerving prescience that gives more than a nod to our current pandemic situation,
‘cover your mouth, better stand still,
If the germ don’t get you then the government will’,
a profusion of figures of speech that would give Dylan a run for his money, and intriguing references to a Green army and Thomas Paine, there is also ample scope for personal interpretation in this gem of a track.
Meteorological references abound in High Winds, Clouded Hills, with its shimmering acoustic and slide-guitar figures in a song which possibly portends the inevitable consequences of global warning, or worse – a musical offering analogous to 1982’s When The Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs maybe?
‘some people say its going to be all right, I know its wrong’
The chugging blues of Opposite Days provides tonal variation, and is a cracking track. Further allusions to natural disasters,
‘Floods in the valley, fire on the hill
If the wintertime don’t get you, summer will’
are accompanied by what seem to be howling winds or sirens, and, (although almost certainly not), rhythmic beats of electronic jaw harp or didgeridoo, alongside further genius lyrics, including a clever twist on an children’s nursery rhyme, along with phrases which seem to be unerring comments on 21st century mores.
‘Let me ask you a question, On which it all depends
Does a patriot start, Where a traitor ends?’…
…’One man sees a reason, Where another sees a treason’
The weather leitmotif underpinning the release appears on the final track, The Wind Brings The Rain, although the clear-cut demolition of the US President here means that the listener hardly has to worry about spending time on an interpretation of the lyrics.
Recorded in April during lockdown by Noah Bramley, who also features on backing vocals alongside Luca and Xan Tyler, together with Ben Walker, this is a musical delight, and hopefully a foretaste of another full album.
Order via Bandcamp: https://naomibedfordandpaulsimmonds.bandcamp.com/album/ive-got-a-fever-ep