S*T*U*F*F* Reloaded

I had a mad couple of nights last week. One of them involved heading up to Foy Vance’s house at 11:30pm to help out on mixing and recording a bit on his new EPs. He had been buried deep in his studio for a couple of weeks, ambitiously trying to record two EPs for release on his forthcoming tour. In fact, when I heard what he was trying to do, I thought there would be no chance at all. Yet he has gloriously proved me wrong. He worked with the amazing Leo Abrahams to create some astonishing music, the recordings of which capture moments and a place in time with a heartbreaking beauty.

A couple of years ago, Foy recorded a version of one of his songs called “Stoke My Fire”, on his own with limited equipment, and it was just stunning. Our friend Big Ken Haddock (whose photography is something you should see before you die - love the latest series from his trip to the USA) used to talk of how he would be driving over the back road from Belfast listening to it in tears. And it was awesome… an edgy sound which, although technically not great, was layered with vibe and feel. Anyway - this recording is not available to the public so I shall stop going on about it and get to the point.

He has recaptured that feel on every track of these new EPs. It will surprise some people, but the man is so mercurial and talented - able to change his sound like a chameleon - that this is no bad thing.

I liked his album “Hope”, but somehow I felt it was missing the essence of Foy in a lot of places, and was never able to put my finger on why that was. Maybe it was just the fact that he wasn’t fully “let loose” to do what he does… but no such accusations can be levelled at these new recordings. He has thrown so many elements in - beautiful guitar playing, wonderful layered harmonies, left-field arrangements and just an overall sense of purpose that it left me speechless.

Leo brought a fantastic touch to some of the songs that have been around for a long while - particularly “Itchy Feet” which is jawdroppingly spacious and beautiful thanks to a phenomenally tasteful piece of slide guitar playing (of Foy’s original part). There is one piece called “Time Lays Low” which evolves into something truly beautiful. Its the musical equivalent of watching a magnificent sunrise… and offset by “Portraits of Ailsa Craig” which feels like standing on the Scottish shore by night, gazing at the silhouette of the track’s namesake out on the ocean with twinkling ships’ lights on the horizon. Mystical and mysterious, a ballad to the soul of the artist.

I could go on. But this feels like I’m trying to tell you how brilliant people you don’t know are… it just doesn’t work until you meet them. The only problem is that these EPs are only available for now at the gigs on his tour, and there are only 1000 of each. I don’t think they’ll last. If you do get a chance to see him on this tour, go and do it. He’s in an interesting space, and I think the tour will provide magic for those open to it. And whatever you do, if you DO go, do not leave the building without these records.