17: Jackal in winter.
Spring live on guitar out now
It’s been a month now that the record is out in the world. I wonder what you make of it. The speed at which the landscape is changing continues to accelerate, and the idea that you might be listening to it trapped as it is in the amber of that time is curious. It feels like a long time ago, and no time at all at the same time. I just got to London after a few days at home because some close friends of mine will be getting married on Saturday. A very different kind of wedding, two people with lines going up to the north of Scotland choosing to re-emphasise a point in what is normally a time of closing in this part of the world. There will be fires there, I think there will be kilts there too. I never know what to wear at weddings. I think it doesn’t matter.
There was a time, before the start of the industrial revolution, from about 1300, when the Thames would completely freeze over during the winter. I am looking at sketches from the frost fayres that people used to congregate around now. People must have been cold. There would have been music to gather around, and poems and jokes. Despite the changing landscapes these things are unchanging things to huddle around. I hope the record can be company as the days draw in in this part of the world, a reminder of what’s ahead and a small fire for now. If you are in another part of the world, I hope you find the heat mirroring a good accompaniment as the sun reaches higher and higher each day.
Here’s the original version of Spring that I wrote on the guitar. The one on piano is what we kept on A Jackal’s Wedding. I wonder which one you like more. We filmed this in Athens at the Baggion Hotel on Omonia Square.
If you have any questions about the record, I will try and answer them. I cannot explain verbally what the individual songs or the entirety means without lying. Because it is not possible currently in my limited abilities to accurately transpose one medium of communication into another with absolute fidelity. That is something to work on. I can certainly give context around what was going on when those things were going down. Be well and close to loved ones, thank you for listening to the music.
Will.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time with it over the last month - I found it easy to let it play through its entirety while on some road trips, it did well as an accompaniment to the cold, dry days of late fall and early winter. I keep coming back to it, almost relieved I have new lyrics of yours to reflect on. If I had to pick a few tracks that stick out for me, Mosquito, nevermind, and nature of a language - but I’m sure with time this will expand to others.
In keeping with the frost and fire theme, I found the first couple listens a little cold. The arrangements are not obvious and a bit challenging but after a month or so with it, I have really warmed up to it and listen to it a lot. Spring, Mosquito, and About Leaving stand out to me right now. You have a very singular voice and vision and that’s not easy to maintain over several albums. Anywho. All for now