Saturday, September 1, 2018

Bill Ryder-Jones - Mither


A very welcome return today from Bill Ryder-Jones an old friend of this blog. Back in 2015 his West Kirby County Primary was one of my album of the year. A sad but almost profound state of the nation record, documenting wet, wind-swept winter days in the more derelict parts of Birkenhead with a graceful, quiet dignity. I saw him play in a small club in Newcastle supporting the record. It was a fine evening and he signed my copy of West Kirby at the end of the night.

And now he's back, with a new song Mither, and accompanying promo shot in a furnishing factory in Keighley, Bradford, with an album, Yawn, to follow in November. It's essentially melancholic, that's Ryder-Jones essential stance, but there's bruised determination and beauty ingrained in the melancholy. He's a talent, that's for sure. Mither often seems as if nothing in particular is happening but it's a highly engaging nothingness and when the guitars start massing like crashing waves as the song progresses it makes me glad he's back. I look forward greatly to the new album.

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