Post Description

Singer-songwriter, fingerpicking guitar.

Hailing from Biggar in Scotland, now based in London, fingerstyle guitarist & songwriter Sam Grassie has appeared in KLOF Magazine several times, most recently for two tracks featured on the album compilation 80 Plays for Bert, Volume 1 (Bert Jansch Foundation). On 80 Plays… he performs It Don’t Bother Me and, alongside Iona Zajac, Blackwaterside. Grassie and Zajac are also the core members of Avocet , and in our review of their 2020 album Lend Your Garden, Richard Hollingham described Grassie’s guitar work as clean, clear, precise, but full of soul and above all, under-stated (but bever flashy), a trend that continues on his debut EP Sandwood.

His guitar playing has a relaxed yet precise fluidity reminiscent of Bert Jansch, as is the timbre of his vocals. The recording of Sandwood (released on 20th February) was funded by The Bert Jansch Foundation and Recorded & Mixed by Milo Ferreira-Hayes at The Bert Jansch Studio.

Sam Grassie’s guitar playing is very considered, something you are immediately aware of on the meditative instrumental opener Kishor, on which his spacious separation of notes allows Nathan Pigott’s saxophone ample room to manoeuvre and explore.

While Sandwood may be short, variety is there in abundance. The traditional folk song Put the Blood offers a nice contrast to the gentle instrumental opener, with Jon Thorne’s double bass adding emphasis and energy, allowing more exploratory fingerwork from Grassie and what sounds like a brief spot of lilting, while Piggott’s Sax and Robert James’ drones lend suitable darkness to this haunting song about a brutal slaying.

Grassie really shines, both vocally and on guitar, on the title track, a great song by Dave Goulder titled Sandwood Down to Kyle. Dave Goulder also gave us January Man (covered by the likes of Martin Carthy), also the title track of Goulder’s 1970 album with Liz Dyer, on which Sandwood Down to Kyle features, sung at a very gentle, sombre pace. Goulder revisited the song on his 1995 album ‘About Thyme‘, featuring Jacqui McShee, Gerry Conway and Spencer Cozens, but that version had more of a jazzy new-age vibe. Grassie’s interpretation is a lot brighter; he is joined on vocals by Naima Bock, and they really do sound great together, especially when they hit the high notes. Tom Grassie features on flute, reminiscent at times of John Renbourn’s Ship of Fools version (featuring Maggie Boyle and Steve Tilston). While it’s a personal favourite on this EP, every track on Sandwood ticks the box.

It ends on Return to Fingal, which, despite sounding like a traditional Irish harp tune, is an original that perfectly rounds off this enticing EP. In the space of just four tracks, Sam Grassie proves to be a top-class singer, guitarist, and a skilled and imaginative interpreter. You couldn’t ask for a stronger start; it’s an exceptional debut offering.

Tracks:
01 - Kishor's
02 - Put the Blood
03 - Sandwood Down to Kyle
04 - Return to Fingal

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen. Oh ja, MP3 doe ik niet aan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5wWSx-oDDQ