Specializing
in acoustic instrumental music—and then having much success with
Steve Miller Band guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis and scoring critical acclaim
with folk-rock instrumental artists Greg Herriges and Lehto &
Wright—the New Folk label scores folk-rock gold with the 2010
CD from U.K. singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell. Bruntnell’s seventh
album and first since 2004’s Played Out, the ten track
Peter And The Murder Of Crows continues on with some splendid
folk-rock featuring Bruntnell’s vocals carrying each song on
a roller coaster of musical twists and turns. Influenced by both Pink
Floyd founder Syd Barrett and noted U.K. guitarist Bert Jansch, Bruntnell
is primarily a singer-songwriter yet he’s quite skillful on acoustic
and electric guitar among many other instruments while he also gets
fine studio support from a full rock band including Dave Little
on electric guitar and electric sitar, drummer Mark Roberts
and more. Bruntnell was noted by mwe3.com on the october
2002 review of Peter’s then Back Porch Records release of
Ends Of The Earth, and his latest U.S. release on New Folk
Records continues on with some splendid dreamy pop-rock and overall,
is equally intriguing. www.newfolkrecords.com/bruntnell.htm
MWE3.COM PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER BRUNTNELL
mwe3.com:
Is there a cool story behind the Peter And The Murder Of Crows
album?
PB: A cool story, not really, I did at first want that name for the
band for this album but it would have made it difficult to get it
into the shops, so it became the album title instead.
mwe3.com: How does this album compare to your last albums and have
all your albums come out in the U.S. too, as I remember Ends Of
The Earth in 2002 and then I lost track of you. Also how did you
end up working with New Folk? It sounds like a great label.
PB: I wanted to make a record that was more in touch with my location,
i.e. English. It also coincided with my acquisition of a computer,
pro-tools and reason, which gave me the freedom to experiment with
strings and other instruments. This was different from previous recording
sessions as ideas can be quickly tried out and then if need be I could
get a real cello player etc... This is the third album to be released
in the U.S. the first being, Normal For Bridgewater, then Ends
Of The Earth. I came to be on New Folk due to my manager in the
U.S. having strong ties with them.
mwe3.com: I heard Syd Barrett and Bert Jansch impacted your singing
and song writing. How do feel your influences affect your music writing
and playing style?
PB: I'm not sure if I was actually using those artists as an influence
other than the fact that they are both British and I like what they
have produced. I still listened to Neil Young's first album as a reference
along with a bunch of other stuff including the Beatles during the
mixing stage.
mwe3.com: Do you feel you were born into a particular musical era
that you grew up in? I heard you were born in January '64, same year
as the Beatles invasion. I was 9 when I saw the Beatles in February
1964 on Ed Sullivan here in NYC.
PB: I was born, this much is true. I suppose one could look at it
and argue that being born then meant I grew up listening to the Beatles,
Elvis and then T. Rex , Slade and Thin Lizzy , which to me is better
than growing up with Justin Timberlake etc..., but I would say that
wouldn't I, bloody true though isn't it?
mwe3.com:
Can you say something about where you're living these days?
PB: I live in a tiny village on the sea. Mostly I love it but it gets
bleak in January and February. I do a lot of fishing and spear fishing.
mwe3.com: What guitars did you use to record the Peter And The
Murder Of Crows album? Any other favorite guitars or new gear
that you can mention?
PB: I used a couple of acoustics, a Martin OM 16GT (orchestra model
16, gloss top) and an old Guild M20. We also had an electric sitar,
Indian harmonium, and my locally made Valvepower guitar amp. I have
recently got a reissue Fender Jazzmaster which I love. It's on a lot
of the new record I am just finishing.
mwe3.com: Are you doing any live shows or other things to support
the album and who is in your band?
PB: I did a tour of the U.K. last year with a three piece band, Danny
Williams and Dave Little, and have been playing a fair bit this year,
just bits and pieces. I have been employing, of late, my old guitar
player James Walbourne, who has been playing with The Pretenders and
Son Volt, which has been great fun. Also James's brother Rob Walbourne
has been on drums this year.
mwe3.com: How about upcoming musical plans and recording plans or
anything you'd like to add?
PB: Working on a new one, out by January 2011. More of the same with
drums and a few pop songs. I also made a movie while on tour with
Son Volt last year. It's called American Fairy Burger
but as yet only available from myself at gigs, however when the new
record comes out , I will try to include it then.
mwe3.com: thank you Peter.
PB: Thanks for the interest Robert. Cheers...
www.newfolkrecords.com/bruntnell.htm
