Savage Pilgrims by Matt Hill
PRESS FOR SAVAGE PILGRIMS
Perhaps his best. The album unfolds in this quietly spectacular way. It feels timeless, deeply atmospheric. Thoroughly recommended.
Americana UK 9/10
A richly rewarding collection of spellbinding story songs with inventive inspired production that truly brings them to life
Hi-Fi Plus
One of my albums of the year so far
Adam Wilson's Quiet Revolution
Really special. Can’t recommend it highly enough
Rocking Magpie
A beautiful recording and thoroughly enjoyable
Penny Black Music
Mesmerising tales
Rock n Reel
A rare example of Anglo/American sensibilities merging like honey
Northern Sky 4/5
Brimful of excellent songs. He’s a singular talent.
Blabber n Smoke
On this release Hill presents his songs as eleven short stories told by different narrators. It merges fact and fiction, weaving threads of people and places across centuries and continents. This is Americana rooted in British history and in Hill’s own upbringing in a working class culture obsessed with America. Not surprising then, that several of the songs here, trace lines between the UK and the USA like 'The Exile of DH Lawrence’ with its nods to spaghetti western. Hill was born and raised in the same town as DH Lawrence and his Nottinghamshire roots loom large elsewhere on this album ('Four Corners' and ‘Bendigo’)
Hill and his producer/collaborator Sam Lench recorded the album in an attic studio above The Kings Arms - a 19th century pub in Salford, where George Orwell used to drink. Performances were captured live with vintage microphones onto analogue tape, with sparse overdubs keeping it brittle and hushed, so the listener feels they are sat next to the storyteller.
This is Matt Hill’s vision of a British Americana which takes the real life storytelling of country music but sets it firmly within his own experiences and roots, and in doing so he has created a beautifully authentic piece of work.
Tracklist
| 1. | Stone and bone | 4:09 |
| 2. | Save your pity | 3:11 |
| 3. | The exile of DH Lawrence | 3:10 |
| 4. | Billy's prayer | 3:39 |
| 5. | Gary Gilmore's last request | 4:56 |
| 6. | If love should rise (on the winter tide) | 3:53 |
| 7. | Chains | 3:15 |
| 8. | Four corners | 3:24 |
| 9. | Bendigo | 4:29 |
| 10. | Stand tall before the wagon | 2:18 |
| 11. | Roll me out (in the middle of the night) | 2:57 |
Credits
THE MUSICIANS
Matt Hill Vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, bass guitar, banjo and percussion
Sam Lench Electric guitar, mandolin, cello, percussion, vocals and organ
Kirsty McGee Vocals, musical saw and flutes
Michael Doward Double Bass and vocals
James Youngjohns Electric guitars
All songs written by Matt Hill
except 'Bendigo' written by Matt Hill with words adapted from the poem 'Bendy's Sermon' by Arthur Conan Doyle 1912.
Production Sam Lench and Matt Hill
Pre-Production Kirsty Mcgee
Engineer/Mixing Sam Lench
Recorded at the Kings Arms, Salford, UK
Mastered by Russ Hepworth-Sawyer at Mottosound
Artwork Jacob Kirk
Photography Nicola Davison-Reed
matthillsongwriter.com
License
All rights reserved.
QLR (Quiet Loner Records) is home to Matt Hill a storytelling singer-songwriter and community based artist who offers a British take on folk and Americana.
‘Possibly the most important record of the year’ MAVERICK 5/5
‘An anthem for resistance’ AMERICANA UK 10/10
‘Delicate songwriting. Bleakly beautiful.’ UNCUT (4 stars)
‘Works of wonder’ R2 4/5
An absolute gem' MORNING STAR (Album of the year)