El Heath - Shropshire Hill Country

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release
Soundclips

4...according to our Business Lady on Thu 28 Oct, 2010.

Epic45 man Eric Heath returns with another slice of pastoral beauty in the form of 'Shropshire Hill Country', a collection of songs that reflect on Eric Heath's adventures meeting country folks and playing gigs in Shropshire and the surrounding counties of Powys, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. Now you'll have some idea of what to expect if you've ever heard Epic45 (which I'm pretty sure you have...the Shropshire Hood is what I call 'em...'cause that's what they are) and I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Heath has a keen ear for melody and can invoke the atmosphere of the Shropshire countryside with ease. This is the part of the world that I'm from and it's making a little nostalgic for the area (little tear for my youth). Heath has taken it upon himself to learn the lost arts of the mandolin and accordion which adds an additional layer of authenticity to the sounds here. Sampling, multi-tracking, found sounds and other modern technologies play a fundamental role in much the same way it does with Epic45's material but as a general rule it's used to enhance the rural folksiness of the music. Oh, It comes with maps, stickers and laminated leaves.

To play these clips you need to either update your browser (Norman Records recommends Google Chrome) or update your Flash plugin.

Shropshire Hill Country is the second Wayside and Woodland release from Shropshire based multi-instrumentalist, Eric Heath. Born in Athens, Georgia, USA, he was brought up in London and moved to Shropshire at the age of 6. Now 27, he’s been writing and releasing music for 5 years, mainly through internet labels and CDR labels. He’s also involved with many local bands and solo artists including epic45, Rob Dunsford (playing accordion on his tracks for Miles Hunt's "Shared" album), The Exploits of Elaine, Strap the Button and many more.
Shropshire is the largest inland county in England, flanked by the Welsh county of Powys, Herefordshire,
Cheshire and Staffordshire. The mainly unspoilt countryside and many myths and legends, as well as its proximity to Wales makes it a curious place to live, and Eric draws upon this geographical location greatly in his work. In late 2007, Eric became more involved in the local music scene, playing solo sets and meeting local musicians, as well as regularly attending open mic nights and teaching himself to play the accordion and mandola. ‘Shropshire Hill Country’ was informed by these experiences of playing gigs in rural Welsh villages, walking and living for a time around “The Marshes” and Bishops Castle, attending folk and open mic nights in the middle of nowhere
and exploring the mysterious “Darky Dale”. It mixes the obvious beauty and dark undertones of living in the rural
countryside as rustic carnivals mix with the hum of an isolated radio telescope, a pastoral scene is punctured by the
clatter of quarries, tree felling and bell ringers.
As far as musical references are concerned, the album was inspired by the likes of Nick Drake, Bibio and epic45.
Eric is currently a full time member of the epic45 live band and had previously released a full length album via
Wayside and Woodland in April 2010, entitled ‘Snailbeach Mines Trust’.

Tracklisting:

1. Pontesbury Bell Ringers need more Practice
2. Bishops Castle Carnival
3. A Song for the Village of New Invention
4. Round and Round and Round Again
5. Let’s Learn about Attico Films
6. The Bridges, Ratlinghope
7. Walking in Llanymynech on the 29th May 2008
8. Knockin Radio Telescope
9. Nightscape
10. No Cluster at Cefn Einion

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!