Twister Valley Records

BBC Radio 6 Music Vinyl Special with Andrew Weatherall

2012-01-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Eclectic record collector and victorian policeman look-a-like Andy Weatherall spins a vinyl only mix for BBC Radio 6 music. My personal highlight 'The Fang' by Nervous Norvus.

Enjoy.

Test Transmission No.6

2011-11-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

Douglas E Powell's new song Nash's Tower, a homage to sculpture David Nash is now playing at Keith Seatmans, Test Transmission No.6

Douglas E Powell and The Central Casting Band, The Landmark, Illfracombe, 12th November

2011-11-06T04:18:00.000-08:00

If you are coming along to my next show at The Landmark Theatre, Illfracombe, Devon on the 12th November , can you please pre-book your ticket on the theatres on line box office at THE BOX OFFICE as a lack of pre-booked tickets is threatening to cancel the show. Come on It's only £2.00!

** Douglas E Powell and the Central Casting Band, with DJ support slot from the Hippy Cowboys, The Landmark, Illfracombe, 12th November **

Douglas E Powell and the Central Casting Band, The Kings Arms, Georgeham, 30th September

2011-09-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Douglas E Powell and the Central Casting band will be bidding a fond farewell to the summer with a set of acoustic folk with a dash of Americana at the Kings Arms, Georgeham, Devon on Friday the 30th September. Playing some old songs and some brand new songs from the forth coming album The Crooked Black Highway. Live music from 9.30pm.

In Her Palace........

2011-08-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Mr CP Mandrake for posting his footage of Douglas E Powell's song 'In Her Palace' on Youtube. Filmed at Pilton Village Hall, 11th June 2011.

BBC Radio Devon, Introducing Session, Aug 10th

2011-08-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

Douglas E Powell will play another BBC Introducing session on the 10th August at 18.30 (gmt) on BBC Radio Devon. He will be playing songs from his forth coming album The Black and Twisted Highway. You can listen to the session live on line or on digital here.

Test Transmission Archive Reel No1; Keith Seatman

2011-02-12T04:43:00.000-08:00

Fellow musical archivist and all round specialist in the sonically odd, Keith Seatman, has pieced together a collection of musical curiosities as part of series of transmissions entitled Test Transmission Archive Reel No1. This gold mine of strange can be found at mixcloud. Keith tells us that he is already working on his next transmission which is due to be aired in early March. I encourage you to take listen.

Central Casting on Soundcloud

2011-01-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

You can now listen to 2 new demo versions of In Her Palace and England's Great Waterways by alt-folk band Central Casting at Soundcloud. The band are busy in the studio recording their first album which is due for release on TVR in the summer of 2011 (we hope).
Central Casting's first live show of 2011 will be on the 26th February at the Pilton Hall, Barnstaple supporting Peter Bruntnell also on the evenings billing; Owls, Small Town Jones and Job on Robot.

EX33 on The Music of Douglas E Powell

2010-12-11T01:16:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy couple of years since EX33 last caught up with songwriter Douglas E Powell. In 2009 Douglas got married to his wife Tamsin. In 2010 they bought a house together in Devon and soon followed the birth of their first child Joshua. “It’s has been a whirlwind year for us all and it’s amazing I have found the time to fit in the music”, says Douglas, but somehow he does. “It has all been made a lot easier with the piecing together of a home studio to record my latest musical project with new band Central Casting. I wanted to put a band together to record my third album after the success of my last two albums The Still and West in 2006 and The Iron Coast in 2008. Both albums were mostly recorded with vocals and acoustic guitars. I wanted to experiment with percussion, strings and electric guitars on this new project but still stay true to my folk music roots. Fiddle player Jason Pratt and I had been talking about a musical collaboration for ages but we just didn’t seem to get around to putting anything into action. I gave Jay some acoustic demos of the new songs I had been working on and he started writing fiddle parts. Once Jay and I had the basis of songs worked out I sort the talents of other local musicians. Life long friend and bass player Andrew “Tizz’ Tizzard was more used to playing distorted electric guitar in front of a stack of vintage valve amps in grunge bands back in the 90’s rather than a bass player and backing vocalist in a folk band but he gladly rose to the challenge. Percussionist Will Greeves was borrowed from fellow songwriter Jim Jones’s band”. Line up complete, in March 2010 they stared rehearsals as the band Central Casting, “a name usually associated with the casting agencies in the American film industry but it seemed to fit with the concept of a musical collaboration between like minded local musicians”, says Douglas.
Douglas had already been booked to perform solo sets at various folk festivals and shows around the country over the summer of 2010 so Central Casting was billed to perform along side Douglas. For the record the first ever Central Casting gig was at the Holmfirth Folk Festival, Yorkshire in May 2010. “It was a bit of a baptism of fire for us in front of a tough northern crowd who had never heard of us, but we survived unscathed and played a second set the following day at the beautiful Victorian Picturedrome Theatre to a sell out audience”. Other standout shows over the summer included headline slots at the Goldcoast Oceanfest, The Hatherleigh Folk Festival, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, Lilicos, Barnstaple, The White Lion, Braunton, Pilton Village Hall playing support to American songsmith Forest Sun and a live session on BBC radio Devon, Central Casting described by the BBC Introducing Session as “classic English folk with a hint of Americana”. Once their busy schedule of gigs over the summer had been completed the band set their sites on recording an album in Douglas’ home studio in Knowle. “We hope to have the recording process completed by early 2011, and once all the tracks are mixed and mastered and the cover artwork is sorted we can release the album on my label Twister Valley Records in the spring/summer of 2011”. Central Casting are booking shows around the UK for 2011 and I am sure that they will be performing live at the usual local venues in the not to distant future. Douglas is also working on the score for the long awaited surf film One Day directed by filmmaker Richard Gregory.

For more information on the music of Douglas E Powell, Central Casting and Twister Valley Records visit their web sites at www.douglasepowell.co.uk, www.myspace.com/centralcasting and www.myspace.com/twistervalleyrecords.
To win a CD copy of Douglas’ last album The Iron Coast simply add your name and the word WIN to the mailing list at www.douglasepowell.co.uk and we will randomly pick a winner before the end of the year.

SHNDG5 - The Loft, Portsmouth, Dec 3rd

2010-11-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

Line Up:

The Magic Horns (live Av remix)- Jez Stevens has been asked to re/deconstruct the drone rock track "The Morning Haze". Originally recorded by a mysterious duo from Devon. The remix will serve as a soundtrack to found footage of Hilsea Lines Ramparts and environs...

Dangerous/Poindexter (live soundtrack)- Dangerous (Tom Day) / Poindexter (Jez Stevens) will be improvising a set comprising live electronics, guitar and effects. Heavily influenced by motorik/kraut beats and swirling psych P/D will provide a soundtrack to highlights taken from Peter Sykes The Committee(1968). (starring Paul Jones).

Black Powdr Engine (live AV set)- A shndg stalwart, Black Powdr Engine continues to develop his post-breakbeat, psyche dub. The only real AV/VJ in town - imagine Meat Beat Manifesto playing live with mangatronic visuals by a VJ out of a William Gibson novel...

The Random Scarves (DJ set)- Shndg bumped into these trilby wearing, scarf flinging nut jobs at Hospitality - funkalectic dubstep...in their words: "The Random Scarves – purveyors of the finest weirdno and circus of sounds around. These creatures can be heard, here & there, sticking some indiscriminate beats and funky bass to various congregations of the electronic way."

Simon Heartfield (live AV set)- Will be previewing new material from the as yet untitled forthcoming album of music based on the extraordinary 1970 novel Bomber by Len Deighton, which was nominated this year for the Lost Booker prize. The album is due for release 2Q 2011 and this will be an exclusive glimpse at work in progress.

Geodesic (DJ set) - Keith Seatman playing kraut rock oddities.

Dr. Lighthouse (VJ)- A figurative blend of mashed up films and incandescent images.

Shed Dweller (VJ)- Offers a geometric onslaught of monochrome patterning.

Location:
The Loft
Above the Kings, Albert Rd
Southsea, United Kingdom

£4 on the door

The Iron Coast re-issued on itunes

2010-11-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

It's not only the Beatles who are issuing their back catalogue on itunes. The Iron Coast by Douglas E Powell has now been re-issued on itunes. So get your copy before the Christmas rush.

The Office Top 10 Play List October 2010

2010-10-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

1. Broadcast & The Focus Group - Investigates Witchcults of the Radio Age (Warp) - Hauntology is still alive and being practiced in a village hall near you.

2. The Great Lake Swimmers - The Legion Sessions (Nettwerk) - Canada's finest live in one of their favorite venues.

3. Otis Gibbs - Grandpa Walked A Picketline (Wanamaker Recording Company) - Another slice of country soul from the bearded one.

4. Sleepy Sun - Fever (ATP Records) - Stoner rock from San Francisco.

5. Money Mark - Push The Button (Mowax) - A classic from the prince of lo-fi.

6. Forest Sun - Walk Through Walls (Painted Sun) - A group of friends rent a cabin in the wood and a beautiful record is made.

7. Hot Rod City - Compilation (Sundazed) - Songs about custom cars and girls from the 60's.

8. Rough Trade - Country Sampler 1 (Rough Trade) - A must have benchmark in Americana.

9. Songs of Witchcraft & Magic - Compilation (Wild Goose Records) - Before Hauntology there was this.

10. Dillard & Clark - The Fantastic Expedition / Through the Morning Through the Night (A&M) - Two for the price of one from this under rated duo.

Visit our myspace site for more of our favorite bands and music

Forest Sun with support from Central Casting, Pilton Village Hall, Devon, 20th August

2010-08-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Douglas E Powell will be playing a support slot with his band Central Casting for Americana song smith Forest Sun at the Pilton Village Hall, Barnstaple, Devon on the 20th August. Forest Sun is an award winning songwriter based in San Francisco and he is spending a few days in the West Country as part of his European tour.

Tickets are on sale for £7 and are available from Wild West Country or simply email us to reserve your tickets and pick them up on the door. It's a BYO evening making it a very cheap Friday night out!

Doors at 8.00pm, DJ sets from the Happy Cowboys, live music from 9.00pm to 11.30.

Here are a few things the American press have said about Forest Sun:

‘The music of Forest Sun radiates warmth and enthusiasm. It catches. You can't possibly listen to his music without feeling good. I have had the good fortune of presenting Forest Sun and his music to the listeners of my radio show, "In The Spirit." Pick up and listen to any one of his many CDs and go for a joyride.’
Gary Goldberg - WRPI - In the Spirit.

‘Artists that he recalls include Ryan Adams, Jack Johnson, John Gorka, Todd Snider, even Van Morrison and Lyle Lovett. But I think it's more of an attitude; his songs are jaunty, timeless and spirit raising, even life-affirming.’
Mac McDonald - Monterey Herald.

‘Forest's performance Saturday night reminded us of the good old days when the San Francisco folk music scene happened in small and intimate venues – where you felt like you were part of the music.’
La Tienda News.

We hope to see you there.

Central Casting play live session for BBC Radio Devon

2010-05-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Central Casting travelled to Plymouth last week to play a live radio session the the BBC. The full session can be heard on the BBC Listen again Iplayer and a review of the session can be read at BBC Radio Introducing.

Home Sweet Home Concert

2010-04-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

Odd things happen when you go for a hair cut at Ken’s in Braunton, North Devon. Ken’s salon is a place not only of inspired hair sculpture but a place of cultural diversity and good vibes. So it came as no surprise that whilst getting my bi-monthly quiff I was introduced to Joel a world-class singer songwriter from Switzerland that just happed to passing through Devon visiting long time friend Ken. It was suggested that Joel should play some gigs whilst he was in Devon but sadly Swiss time was running out for and Joel as he had to hit the road in his camper and head off into the sunset on Monday morning.
So Ken decided there and then to put a show on in the salon. Text messages were dispatched emails were send and on a sunny afternoon on Sunday 11th April the first Home Sweet Home Concert took place. Too many folks show up to fit into the salon itself so the event spilled out into the sun filled garden.
First on the bill Douglas E Powell a regular on the Southwest music scene playing his blend of 60’s inspired folk with moments of Americana.

Visiting travelling musician Joel followed with a set a self-penned gospel inspired acoustic ballads including a tear-jerking version of a French acoustic pop tune accompanied by Douglas E Powell on the harmonica.
Another local song writing standout Brendon Taylor played a set of finger picked acoustic beauties from his soon to recorded studio album and Sarah Cox strummed and sang through a few tunes bringing a country lilt to the whole affair.
Brendon Taylor and Will Greaves also kept perfect time by dropping a few beats on the Cajon (a sit on drum from Latin America). In short a fantastic afternoon of spontaneity and beautifully delivered music. Thank you to Ken and Becky for providing such a fitting venue.
The next Home Sweet Home Concert is in the planning stage. We will keep you posted on its location as soon as we here.
If you are interested in performing at the next Home Sweet Home Concert or if you would like to offer your home as venue. Please send Twister Valley Records your details and we will pass them onto Ken and Becky.

We're on the road to Holmfirth

2010-04-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Central Casting will be performing at this years Holmfirth Folk Festival, Yorkshire, 8th and 9th May. Performers from all over the UK and Europe will desend upon the town of Holmfirth where the bars, pubs, restaurants and even the local cinema become live music venues for the weekend.
Central Casting will be performing a set at Herveys wine bar on Saturday night, 8th May, and a second set at The Picturedrome on Sunday afternoon, 9th May.
Festival organizer James Munroe talks to local radio station Two Valleys Radio about the festival and Central Castings song Hawks and Larks gets some airplay 51 minutes into the show. Click here to listen to the whole show. Hit the North!

A few more dates for the diary:

Central Casting, Douglas E Powell, Robin Courtnage - Lilicos, Barnstaple, Devon, 27th May
Central Casting, Douglas E Powell - Tobacco Factory, Bristol, 30th May
Central Casting - The Hatherleigh Festival, Devon, July 23rd

Welcome aboard Central Casting

2010-03-14T05:07:00.000-07:00

Twister Valley Records are proud to present their latest signing Central Casting.
Central Casting is a four-piece band, based on the West coast of the United Kingdom, which was formed during the long winter of 2009 by songwriter and guitarist Douglas E Powell. Citing as their musical influences bands such as Pentangle, Neil Young, Iron and Wine, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Ryan Adams making Central Casting an eclectic mix of alt-folk, vocal harmony and Americana.
The band will be touring the UK in the spring/summer of 2010 and will be releasing an album in the autumn of 2010.
For more information on the music of Central Casting or to book them to perform at your venue, contact CP Mandrake at twistervalleyrecords@gmail.com or visit their myspace site.

Devon Music Scene gets a big mention in Devon Life

2010-02-01T05:43:00.000-08:00

Songwriters and performers Douglas E Powell and Amy Newton and Goldcoast Oceanfest organizers Warren and Shaun Latham get a very complementary write up in the February edition of Devon Life. The article was penned by author Tim Kevan, the writer of the newly published novel BabyBarista and the Art of War.
All of us here at TVR would like to say a big thank you to Tim and Devon life for taking the time to recognising that there is a diverse and immensely talented 'local' music scene here in Devon.
You can read the full article here on Tim's blog.

Vic Chesnutt dies 25th Dec, 2009 aged 45.

2010-01-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

On Christmas day 2009 another great songwriter died. A man very close to my heart. A man who sculpted the way I write songs, after he gave me a copy of his album, Is the Actor Happy as payment for a support slot at a club in Portsmouth, England in 1995. That man's name was Vic Chesnutt. A name not ceremonious with world wide acclaim or stardom. The very opposite. He wrote the songs that others emulated. Artists such as REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna even.
Vic was a true poet and song-smith of the highest order. To say that his songs were morose, maudlin and down beat would be a considerable under statement. That was the man's gift. Writing songs about the dark ironic comedic side of life. Often served with a healthy dose of impending doom.
His untimely death leaves a cavernous void in the world of song writing.
Vic leaves us a legacy (give or take a few side projects) of 15 studio albums spanning a 19 career.

Douglas E Powell

A weekend filed under 'difficult music' - ATP, Minehead, UK

2009-12-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

A few close friends of TVR (Mr Jupp aka Belbury Poly/Ghost Box and Mr Stevens aka French Canadian Bean Soup) joined Mr Powell and Mr Mandrake in the town of Minehead for a weekend of alternative music appreciation. Here are some of my personal high points.

Pictured here J Masscis surrounded by his wrecking ball wall of noodlin noise. This shot was taken during his three song sound check. We watched the show from the relative safety of the rear of the auditorium wearing the ear plugs supplied.

Spectrum gradually built a sonic drone assault from the ground up as we all gazed at our shoes. Meanwhile later that evening Mr Stevens and Mr Jupp where told to keep their opinions on how to re-boot a Power Book G4 to themselves. They duly left the auditorium with their pride still intact.

Lee Renaldo lining up here for one of his songs from the Eternal set plus Death Valley 69.

Thurston Moore about to dispatch yet another vintage Fender Jaguar. Sadly no Jaguars where harmed during the show.

Now play nicely together Sonic Youth and please try and use your inside voices. Think of the neighbours.

Sometimes it's not all about the music

2009-11-25T13:42:00.000-08:00

We pride our selves here at TVR on our diverse and eclectic cultural tastes. So when by chance we happen upon something a tad left field or just plane odd. We feel duty bound, obliged even to share it with you. So please enjoy the world of Entrances to Hell.

Eirlys Rhiannon - Sleep (Unlabelled Label for Irregular Records)

2009-11-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

It starts with a Crazy World. It’s is a lovely drunken lurch of a song, that put me in mind of the taste of cider on a late night hay ride. Whatever one of those is. The backing for the smiling sleepy vocals is sparse and loose – Eirlys on guitar and Rowan Armes on fiddle. Rowan's playing is excellent. She starts by plucking a counter melody and it’s a great sound: fuller than a banjo and less irritating than a mandolin. Then she picks up the bow and lets loose, but without swamping the tune. So nice to listen to an accomplished musician who listens as well as they play. She also adds simple piano accompaniment on the tracks plot and come home again this works well

The plucked fiddle absolutely perfect on Fahrenheit. This is a bit of an epic that starts with a gentle kind of menace that builds up and up wonderfully. Sorry but the djembe freak-out at the end is like a waiter’s dreadlock dangling in your soup – unnecessary and lacking taste.

The more upbeat songs such as Chasing Hope and Packer’s Field missed me a bit. They sound a little overplayed and compared to the other tracks, they’re just a bit too strident and earnest. There’s definitely an element of old fashioned radical mung bean politicking going on here but it generally doesn’t detract from the music. Apart from the Djembe.

I try not to read lyric sheets. It's much better to catch odd phrases and put them together gradually into a jigsaw of familiarity. Eirlys rewards this method but when I got to Calon Lan, sung beautifully unaccompanied, I was forced to look at the lyric sheet, as it's all in foreign. Happily there's a translation and the meaning is as lovely as the sound.

I really like this album even though it’s not the sort of thing I usually go for. It lies somewhere in the space between Natalie Merchant, The Be Good Tanyas and a Reclaim the Streets Demonstration. That’s not a bad place to be at all.

For more information on the music of Eirlys Rhiannon or to buy a copy of her album Sleep visit her web site or her myspace page.

Reviewer: CP Mandrake

Lewis Wilson - Lift You Up (Rip Roaring Records)

2009-11-07T10:04:00.000-08:00

Comparisons with the summer time is blindingly obvious from the get go with opener Holiday in the Sun and from then on the tone is set.
However, despite the fluffy theme running through the album it actually brought out my cynical side. Although opening our minds and taking care of the homeless are very considerate and noble gestures, lyrically at times it does tend to feel like a skit from Sesame Street. That’s not a criticism as such, more of an observation from someone who prefers a touch more pessimistic content amongst the unrelenting jollity.
Cynicism aside, musically it’s tight. Early on there’s a baggy feel which isn’t at all unpleasant but it’s when the sugar is diluted on tracks Postcards and Super Place when Wilson’s strengths come to the fore with the former reminiscent of that famous scouse foursome.
Those of you who like your pop music a little edgier you'd do well to steer clear, however those seeking a dose of audio sunshine now that the nights have drawn in, Lift You Up could be right up your street.

For more information on the music of Lewis Wilson visit his myspace site. To purchase your copy of Lift You Up visit Rip Roaring Records.

Reviewer: The Country Bear Jamboree

Sweet Williams

2009-10-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

You can hear a warm analogue hiss on the first few seconds of this recording if you're listen to this album on headphones. The kind of warm comforting sound that you find on home or field recordings. It’s a sound that studio engineers fear and may spend wasted hours and money trying to remove. This hiss is not a bad thing, in fact it’s the very opposite. It’s reassuring and comforting it makes this recording sound that extra little bit real. You really get the feeling that brother and sister duo Ben and Sadie Warner are both present in the room with you. It’s a very odd, but not an unpleasant, experience.
We are greeted by the opening track Falling Apart. Vocally, slightly disjointed and out of phase harmonised voices accompanied by a gentle touch upon a plucked nylon string acoustic guitar. All served with subtlety and a perfectly understated delivery.
There are so many elements of classic English folk music mysticism alive here. There is a blend of male and female vocal harmonies, which are not over done or milked, and no obvious choices of folkish vocal pitches or tonal values. The sparseness of the guitar works well with the structure of these beautifully and basically crafted songs. The use of deadpan percussion with a mere hint of flute and electronica on tracks such as The Moon You and I, Where to Begin and Icarus and the Sun all bring to mind pagan ritual dances and memories of 1970’s Hammer House of Horror movie scores. The whole work is surreal and dream like.
If I must be critical on a couple of points, some of the lyrics do tend to air on the side of fist attempts at heart felt 6th form college love poetry. But even this can be excused, as it gives a twist of playful innocence.
I’m not sure if this is an official release for Sweet Williams, so lets refer to is as a CDR release. With that in mind the production is on the agricultural side of recording. I mean this as a complement to its minimalist approach to recording techniques. However, with a bit more loving care at the mastering stage this could have made the difference between a potential folk classic and an eight track recording. This still doesn't take anything away from its beautiful resonance. A truly inspired body of work.

To find out more information on Sweet Williams and to get your copy of this CDR visit their myspace site.

Reviewer: DE Powell

Douglas E Powell needs a drummer

2009-10-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

Twister Valley Records stable mate Douglas E Powell is on the search for a drummer.
Douglas is working on album number 3 and feels the need for some light percussion on the recording sessions and for live work to accompany his folk and alt-country style.
Realistically he's looking in the southwest (UK). Just for logistical reasons but may consider looking further a field if the boots fit.
He used the term 'cocktail kit'. I take this to mean a stripped down drum kit consisting of bass drum, snare and high-hat played with brushes. Almost with a skiffle vibe.
If you are interested or know of anybody who is please contact us via myspace or mail us at twistervalleyrecords@gmail.com

Otis Gibbs plus support from Douglas E Powell, Pilton Devon 3rd Oct

2009-10-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

Twister Valley Records stable mate Douglas E Powell was lucky enough to play the support slot for the legendary American folk singer Otis Gibbs at the Piton Village Hall, Devon, last Saturday night, 3rd October.
The sell out audience were first treated to a set of brand new material and some older classic songs from folk singer Douglas E Powell. Douglas was joined on stage for three songs by life long friend and bass player Andrew 'Tizz' Tizzard. Could this new combination of harmonized vocals, electric bass and acoustic guitar herald a new direction for Douglas? We will just have to wait and see.

Headliner Otis Gibbs is a master of the song link. Every tune masterfully entwined with the next with tales from his travels around the worlds stages, drinking holes and anti-war demos. Often tongue planted firmly within his cheek and sometimes with his political and religious views proudly on show. His songs where delivered to an appreciative audience who sat in total silence for over an hour and a half, breaking their silence only to applaud and occasionally heckle in the right places. This is all part of an Otis Gibbs live experience.
Promoters Matt and Shaun tell us that they have a full rosta of artists from all over the globe lined up to play at the the hall in the coming months. A great boost for the Devon live music scene.

Otis Gibbs new album Grandpa Walked A Picket Line (Wanamaker Recoding Company) is available to buy from www.otisgibbs.com

Forest Sun - Harlequin Goodnight

2009-09-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

What do Americana songwriters write and sing about these days?
Is it their political or religious proclivities? Or could it be the classic loves labours lost?
In the case of Forest Sun and his latest album Harlequin Goodnight it would seem it consists of several points of reference skilfully captured and turned into melodious verse as they drifted by. As if held upon the warm off shore breezes that roll down off the mountains and gently fan the waves along the coastline of California's many beach breaks. Or is it just the way these tunes make me feel?
My So Cal fantasies to one side for a moment. This is a fine collection of such captured thoughts.

Ok, as you may have gathered I’m hooked. This is a very well presented work. Forest Sun is a well-presented fellow. I would go as far as saying that he looks a tad clean cut. Not a country soul beard, plaid shirt or trucker hat in sight. Even his name Forest Sun, some may say is a bit on the side of twee. But placing all this stereotypical bull to one side. I’m glad I pursued this musical hunch and found this gem of an album.

Its opener Be Kind To You just flowed out of my speakers with a tingling grace and an almost horizontal vocal lilt.
This recurring theme continues throughout the entire album including the title track Harlequin Goodnight. We skip from the straight up Americana of High and Low, draped in slide and skillful picking. To Gurus and Rock Stars, which found me, dancing a waltz around our living room with my wife. A sight not seen since we first listened to Her Rocky Spine by Great Lake Swimmers. With lines such as “hell is just heaven still learning. So we might as well sing whilst we’re burning” showing there is a wicked yet whimsical side to Mr Sun’s lyrics.
I can even forgive him for the crucifixion of Bob Dylan’s, She Belongs To Me. Which just left me posing the question, why Forest, why?

Forest’s completes his successful mission with the down beat track, Your Horizon. This gently plucked guitar and vocal piece proudly sits at the end of album. A perfectly executed grand finale to this ‘you just don’t want it to end’ album. As I find my self once more reaching for the play button.

For more information on the work of Forest Sun or to buy a copy a Harlequin Goodnight and other albums from Forest Sun's back catalogue visit his web site at www.forsestsun.com

Reviewer: DE Powell

Daylight and Stars - Jim Jones

2009-09-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

After the brief but wonderfully titled opener The Underwater Orchestra, Winter Song gets us going steadily and softly builds, finishing with a nice outro, but it’s not until the subsequent Road to You that this album truly begins. It’s a very accomplished song with echoes of contemporary bands currently doing the rounds and without question the highlight of the album. “Am I a passenger or just a visitor?” enquires the songwriter. Emphasised even more so by this track you can’t help but feel that the listener is the passenger on Jones’ soulful journey throughout the album.

There is a very personal theme running through his work, but Jim is no tortured soul. No tales of heartbreak or desperation here, thank you very much. Far from it. Tracks like Find Me Out and Evelyn are testament to this with the latter conjuring images of summer love, maybe lost, maybe not, but upbeat nevertheless.

The mid-section of the album continues in a similar vein with One Step Away and Treading Water which are supported nicely by Severn, a folk-infused one-minute instrumental which could possibly do with being longer.

A Cornish Western is pure indulgence on Jones’ part and probably an unnecessary filler but given the quality of the material surrounding it, we’ll forgive him this time. After this experimental interlude the album finishes strongly and beautifully with Daylight Breaks and another stand out number Illuminate, and as the title may suggest with slightly spiritual overtones.

Jim is obviously a guy with a positive outlook on life and it’s well reflected in his lyrics and musical style. The inclusion of a number different instruments makes the album feel more polished and never feels overdone, always keeping the formula simple, and is admirable considering that it could be tempting to over indulge.

In an industry saturated with successful solo artists with arguably little more than style over substance there’s easily enough here to stand up against and even surpass them.

For more information on the music of Jim Jones and to buy Daylight and Stars visit his web site at www.jimjones.co.uk

Reviewer: Country Bear Jamboree

and now for an intermission............

2009-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Twister Valley Records office top 10 play list.........

1. Joe Volt - Derwent Water Gaint (Bootleg) sorry Joe, send us a copy please!

2. Pete Coe - In Paper Houses (Backshift Music)

3. Sonic Youth - The Eternal (Matador)

4. Forest Sun - Harlequin Goodnight (Painted Sun)

4. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm (Pias)

6. Bon Iver - For Emma, forever ago (4AD)

7. Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara (Nettwerk)

8. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)

9. Neil Young - Mirrorball (Reprise Records)

10. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegen - Sunday at Devil Dirt (V2 Records)

Snaps - An article by Forest Sun

You know what I like about cowboy shirts? Snaps. Snaps are far superior to buttons. Elegant. Attractive. Practical. And most importantly-easily accessible. When I was a kid I wore shirts with snaps. (I had a pair of red cowboy boots, too.) With snaps you can pull your shirt open like your superman getting ready to fly or the incredible hulk, muscles bursting out of your shirt. Or even better have someone else pull your shirt open and off. And toss it recklessly on the floor while they kiss your newly exposed clavicles and fondle your love handles. Buttons don’t have that going for them. You rip a buttoned shirt off a body you can’t put it on again in the morning. Snaps you can. Plus the word snap has an inherently musical quality to it. It’s a verb. A rhythmic action. A percussive event each time you put on that shirt. That satisfying pulsation betwixt thumb and forefinger that buttons just can’t provide. Snaps are about speed. They’re streamlined. Aerodynamic. They may lack the propriety and ubiquitous homogeny of the more widely accepted buttons, but they more then make up for it in personality, relaxed attitude and sexy, pearlescent shine. And for that I am grateful. Forest Sun

Twister Valley Records will be reviewing Forest Sun's new album Harlequin Goodnight soon. Keep posted.

9c from Benelux - Jinder

2009-08-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Jinder, Jinder, Jinder… a very pleasing moniker that just rolls of the tongue. So much so that I spent a while doing just that. Then I started trying to make little rhymes, but that proved to be difficult. Try it yourself. Here I’ll start you off:

“There once was a tunesmith called Jinder…”

There will be a prize for the best one.

But I digress. You want to know what I made of “9c from Benelux” don’t you?

Jinder is a very assured singer and guitar picker. The production is on the button with a soft warm sound and tastefully sparse use of slide and banjo here and there. The songs ache with longing for a world of long dusty trails, big skies and dumb gas station attendants.
He is at is best with intimate and heartfelt subjects such as “Aimee” which is as sweet a love song as you’ll hear this year. I’ll say nothing about the cover of “Vincent”. You probably don’t associate the song with a childhood holiday in Morecambe and it would be unfair to burden you with the detail.

Also there’s another problem.

Songs that couple “slide guitar” with “whisky bar” are fine when you’re from Austin Tx, but Jinder is from rural Warwickshire UK. That knowledge just grates on me and I can’t help wondering why pubs, pedestrian shopping precincts and cheap cider aren’t worthy of Jinder’s impressive songwriting skills.

Maybe I’m being unfair. After all, no one ever criticised Zep because they didn’t actually come from Middle Earth and Dr Octagon probably wasn’t born on Jupiter. This is a good little record from a class act.

You can buy 9c from Benelux and other titles from Jinder's back catalogue at www.jinder.co.uk

Reviewer: CP Mandrake

Do you know "Mrs Partridge passed away today"

2009-08-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

We have a pub next door the TVR HQ. It's called the Agricultural Arms or the Aggi as it is known by the locals. The bar itself is nothing much to shout about. In fact I usually avoid the place. But it does have one redeeming factor. It as a big back room. More of a hall really, for gigs and functions. It also has a stage a decent PA and a lighting rig, a rare thing for a pub gig. The reason for last nights visit was to see Devon's very own answer to The Yardbirds, The Devil Delta Blues Band. As usual TDDBB delivered a faultless set of both blues standards and their own classically crafted vintage blues tunes. It was a shame that harp player Joel Squire couldn't make the show. I was told he had taken to his bed with a bout of the ill's. After the show I got talking to the drummer, Mr Keith Giles, and the conversation turned to previous bands he had performed with.
Keith, it turns out, was the drummer for the 60's psych-pop band Fortes Mentum. Not a band I knew anything about, but I do now with a lot of help from the web. Now I know that there are certain folk out there who get very excited over such things and are willing to part with large sums of cash for such vinyl gems. Especially when it comes to rare psych/rock/pop and folk bands from the 60's. So before I get inundated with mail asking for Keith's contact details, he assures me that he has not got any Fortes Mentum LP's or singles for sale.

I found a couple of tracks online but as expected the web is peppered with bits and pieces about the band but their website is far the best place to glean any information you may require about the band.
I found their 1968 single release on Parlophone Records entitled Saga of a Wrinkled Man and a download on Rhapsody and their web site has some classic photos and an up to date band biog. Well worth a look if you want to experience some classic English psych-pop from the 1960's. Hope you enjoy and thank you Keith for unlocking the doors to your psychedelic past. Keith's next appearance with the with The Devil Delta Blues Band will be 5th September at The Pier Tavern, Illfracombe, Devon.

Is this Summer? The P4R Live Music Night

2009-08-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Paddle4Relief will be holding another fundraising music gig at The Aggi, Braunton on Friday 21st August 2009! Founder, Tim Tanton is heading back to Sri Lanka in September, for three months, to complete a number of projects before the East Coast Monsoon Season hits!

. . . . . . featuring headlining band 'The Artists' – a quartet of talented young men who gave an energetic and powerful performance at their inaugural P4R music gig in June, who are fronted by the charismatic Pascal on lead guitar and vocals.

. . . . . . a new sound for P4R are 'Tied Loose' - a five piece band consisting of Keira - Vocals, Wilf - Rythm guitar, Dan – Bass, Adam – Drums and Darren - Lead/rythm guitar. They play their own material along with covers including; Communication Breakdown, Bring it on Home, Knockin on Heavens Door, Back in Black and Sweet Child o Mine. They are in the majority, a classic rock band, drawing on influences from Zeppelin, Hendrix, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, The Stones etc. But with their very own unique spin on it, largely helped by their female vocalist, Keira.

. . . . . . the enigmatic youth of Jim Heard as 'Ashbeck Goes Acoustic' – Jim was asked back following such awesome feedback from the crowd he entertained at the main P4R event on Saunton Beach back in June. The 19 year old singer/songwriter knows how to wow the crowd with his acoustic set. Jim's musical influences include Stereophonics, Blink 182, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and anything acoustic.

. . . . . . and finally but definitely not last, we have the mature and experienced Douglas E Powell – an absolute backbone of P4R's music gigs.
. . . .'Douglas E Powell's own take on folk and Americana has earned him great respect from fans of his music all over the world.
Choosing to play solely with acoustic guitar and harmonica, Douglas tips his hat to his musical heroes Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Burt Jansch.
His live performances are intensely charged with deeply personal lyrics over gritty and beautifully simplistic guitar work.'

And to help them blow the roof off, the ever present PINKY PA!
The evening will be kicking off around 8.30pm. A donaton of £3.50 will be requested on the door. All funds raised will go towards further Well and Water Projects in the village of Arugam Bay, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.

Come on down from that mountain

2009-07-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

Mark Lennon – Down the Mountain (Vagabonds Tune Records – cat No 3683-A)

From the outset of this very short long player, a mere 27minutes and 23 seconds to be exact, you’re left in no doubt this is a country album that airs just on the side of alt and country rock. The opener, Down the mountain, rolls gently on through with accompaniment from hammond, pedal steel and vocal harmonies. We have here in place all the elements of a pretty decent album.

My Home Town bridges that gap between country and alt with Marks no fuss approach to song lyrics, singing honestly about a longing for the tree lined streets of his hometown back in the south. Mark now resides in Los Angeles, a place devoid of any tree-lined streets he would have us believe. But we get the sentiment.

With Wildside Mark moves down a gear and into, I feel his best mode. Leaving the full band behind for a moment, this track sees Mark laid bare, if only for a short while. With vocals from both Mark Lennon and Simone Stevens, a big acoustic guitar, a dash of piano and horns makes up by far the best track on this album. Now, this is no Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris moment, but I will admit there is a certain twang to the combination, but this track is so far removed from both alt-country or country rock. This is fresh. This is simplicity at it’s finest. There is a wise use of space between the two opposing melting and sliding vocal harmonies and a lack (I am please to say) of any drifting and a tad over bearing solos from his fellow band members, which is an all to common reoccurring fault with this album. What I could be with you and I’m doing fine both suffer from the same affliction.

This only goes to show that when Mark’s music is stripped down to its component parts it still functions so perfectly well.
The penultimate track Tennessee and the final track Broken find Mark musically grounded and in full control of his run away band and finally able to show case his obvious talents as a gifted songwriter.

For more information on the music of Mark Lennon or to buy this album visit www.lennonmark.com

Reviewer: DE Powell

Hello to our new followers

2009-07-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

Massive thank you to all our new friends who have joined us over the last week as a result of our recent social networking recruitment drive.
Thanks also to the musicians, writers and bands from all over the world who have sent us albums to review and articles to contribute. Our very own dedicated team of reviewers and contributors, CP Mandrake, D E Powell and The Country Bare Jamboree are hard at work sorting the wheat from the chaff. Please keep sending us your music and anything else that you think that we might be interested in.

We will be posting our findings very soon.

p.s This blog site can not only be read here. An RSS news feed sends these posts to over 50 other sites. So a whole bunch of folk get to see what we write here.

Big stage big screen big up Mr Powell

2009-06-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

Pictured here is little old Mr Powell on the big screen on the big stage at this years Goldcoast Oceanfest, Croyde Bay, Devon, UK.
Great set by Douglas including 3 new tunes. A great way to kick off the weekend of live music from the likes of Jim Jones, Amy Newton, Neil Halstead, Newton Faulkner and Jason Mraz. It was a fine weekend of sun and music. We look forward to Douglas getting invited to play a few more festivals in the UK next year.

The Caves, Peter Bruntnell, Douglas E Powell, The North Devon Festival, Lilicos, Barnstaple, 15th June

2009-06-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank Peter Bruntnell and the organizers of The North Devon Fringe Festival for putting on such a fantastic show last night, 15th June at Lilicos, Barnstaple.

You are always at risk when you are the resident performer to easily fall into the trap of going through the same old motions each week. But Peter, although choosing to play solely songs from his latest album Peter and The Murder of Crows, seems not to fall into this category. Each week his performance has been, as ever, compelling. Standout tune, Cold Water Swimmer.

Douglas E Powell's performance, to an unusually quiet but responsive audience, was delivered with a unique style and precise delivery. The audience was treated to three new and as yet unrecorded songs, Hawks and Larks, Muncaster Fell and Penny Lies. Standout tune, Muncaster Fell. Douglas will be recording some new material this summer as well as playing shows both home and away, with a return to Lilicos on the 25th June to play a full solo acoustic set with support from Americana lounge DJs, Matt and Sean.

At last years festival, the cellar restaurant at Lilicos, played host to an acoustic performance from Dai and Steve from Swansea band The Caves. This year they returned in full strength with band to give the audience a dose of their own brand of Welsh power pop. With precise and immaculately delivered three part harmonies and easily remembered hooks. Standout tune, Asleep on the Autobahn. They tell me that they will be in the studio this summer recording a new album. We eagerly anticipate it's arrival.

This part of The North Devon Fringe Festival has its finale next week on the 22nd June when Lilicos plays host to Otis Gibbs from Wanamaker, Indiana, Peter Bruntnell and Chris Millington.

We hope to see you there.

TVR

June News at TVR

2009-06-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Music news...

Our 2008 release on Twister Valley Records, The Iron Coast by Douglas E Powell, is finally (after a mammoth bar code battle) available to download from www.itunes.com

Douglas will be back in the studio this summer to start work on his, as yet untitled, third album. "I have been writing heaps of new material since the release of The Iron Coast in 2008 and I'm keen to get my ideas onto tape", says Douglas. "My inspirations have kept pretty much the same, Dylan, Neil Young, Bert Jansch and Peter Bruntnell are all in the forefront, but I have discovered some new artists that I have drawn inspiration from as well such as The Great Lake Swimmers, Iron & Wine, Wooden Shjips, Loomer and Sun Kil Moon. You will still get the acoustic guitars and the vocal harmonies with the harmonica, but this time I have been experimenting with some odd tuning techniques all in that low-fi recording style that my friends over at Twister Valley Records specialize in".

We will keep you posted on any developments.

Keep visiting his web site at www.douglasepowell.co.uk for regularly updated information on Douglas E Powell and our good old blog for more future releases on TVR.

Hope to see you at the beach or on road this summer.

Peace. TVR

Douglas E Powell shows in June

2009-05-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

15th - Liliicos, Barnstaple, Devon. With Peter Bruntnell, The Caves. Free entry. Part of The North Devon Festival.
Info at www.northdevontheatres.org.uk

19th - The Goldcoast Ocean Fest. Croyde, Devon. Tickets and info from www.goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk

25th - Lilicos, Barnstaple, Devon. Solo acoustic set.
More info at www.douglasepowell.co.uk

P4R 2009 Live Music Night, 28th March

2009-03-24T14:14:00.001-07:00

Twister Valley Records check out of the week - Resonator Ghost

2009-03-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

Check out Resonator Ghost

Resonator Ghost is a one man guitar and vocal outfit from West Virginia, USA.
Specializing in lo-fi front porch recordings.

You can find his music on his myspace site

Tell him Twister Valley Records sent you.
He'd really appreciate that.

Regards,

CP Mandrake @ Twister Valley Records

Douglas E Powell - Live at Upstairs @ TWL, Braunton

2009-03-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Twister Valley Records now on myspace

2009-02-27T08:19:00.001-08:00

We have just posted a new site on myspace. Go and befriend us and send us lots of out there music for us to ponder over. Link to Twister Valley Records on myspace

Douglas E Powell - Live at Lilocos, Barnstaple, Devon, 19th Feb

2009-01-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Douglas E Powell now playing on Last FM

2009-01-23T08:42:00.001-08:00

Douglas E Powell's profile has been added to the list of artists on the online radio station Last FM.

Click this link to Last FM to visit his profile where you can add his music to your profile if you have one. Or simply listen to his music free online.

What fun.

Regards,

TVR

Devil Delta Blues Band Support Alabama 3, Jam Club, Brixton, London

2009-01-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite live acts around at the moment are the Devil Delta Blues Band. This band of most blues worthy brothers hail from the west coast of the UK and are making the long ride up to capital city to play a support slot for the blues, breakbeat and soul outfit, Alabama 3.

This most righteous event will take place on the 7th February at the Jam Club, Brixton, London. Tickets are on sale in advance for £10.00.

In their own words Alabama 3 are describing this event as:
"sweetprettymuthafuckincountryacidhousemusic all night long". It's going to be a late one. So best tell your mother you wont be coming home for your supper.

For more info on the show visit the Alabama3 web site

Americana UK Album Review - The Iron Coast

2009-01-08T03:06:00.000-08:00

Click here to read what Americana UK said about The Iron Coast.

Good news for the download generation

2008-12-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

Our latest release by Douglas E Powell, The Iron Coast is now available to download from Amazon. This will shortly be followed by releases on itunes, Napster and many others.

For those of you still happy to wait for the mailman to delivery a hard copy to your door. Copies of The Iron Coast and The Still and West are still available to buy from Mr Powell's web site at douglasepowell.co.uk.

If that is still not option for you. You can still walk into a record store a buy a copy at Solo Music.

I think that is most of our bases covered.

Happy shopping

Douglas E Powell - The Ballad of the Roman Road - Video

2008-12-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

With a lot of help from Mark Brindle and his crew at Maniac Films Douglas E Powell was lucky enough to be able to make a video. The track The Ballad of the Roman Road was taken from his album The Iron Coast.
The location for the filming was a disused factory warehouse in Barnstaple, North Devon, UK. The idea for the animal masks was taken from the film The Wickerman. The song itself was penned on the side of the M40 whilst waiting for roadside assistance from the AA to replace a broken clutch cable.

Click this link to watch The Ballad of the Roman Road

We would like to here what you think about the video and anything else regarding Twister Valley Records. So please comment.

TVR.

Douglas E Powell - The Still and West

2008-10-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Still and West was the first studio album from Devon based songwriter Douglas E Powell. It's available to buy from Twister Valley Records (cat Number TVR001).
The Still and West is also available to buy on line at douglasepowell.co.uk also from Fivetrees

Douglas E Powell - The Iron Coast

2008-10-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Iron Coast is the second studio album from Devon based songwriter Douglas E Powell. It's available to buy from Twister Valley Records (cat Number TVR002).
The Iron Coast is also available to buy on line at douglasepowell.co.uk also from Fivetrees and can be downloaded from Lastfm