Headwater by Rev Simpkins
Featuring eleven “songs and hallucinations from the brink”, HEADWATER is a deep dive into – and out of – the dark waters of seemingly terminal illness. The album, a collection of fever dreams, hallucinations, and reflections on awe and delirium, was recorded with my son, Jim during a period when an ultra-rare reaction to cancer treatment caused me repeated waves of meningitis. At times unable to play instruments, I learned to “play” with analogue oscillators and synthesisers – trying to recreate the sounds and visions brought on by the illness, and to turn the bleeps and noises of various hospital wards into music. Then, as I recovered, Jim and I fleshed out these sketches into songs and pieces.
HEADWATER charts my extraordinary journey from a time approaching death to the moment I was discharged from the care of the local hospice at home team.
“They that go down to the sea in ships...
These see the works of the Lord,
and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven,
they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro,
and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wit's end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble...”
Tracklist
| 1. | Evening Star (Crossing the Blackwater) | 2:50 |
| 2. | Headwater | 6:00 |
| 3. | Speak Low | 6:33 |
| 4. | Swooping through Seagrass in Side Room 3 | 3:28 |
| 5. | Squirrels! | 4:32 |
| 6. | Keep Silence | 2:46 |
| 7. | John of the Cross | 6:27 |
| 8. | 33 Birds in a Tree at the Foot of my Bed | 3:31 |
| 9. | Bleephead | 2:52 |
| 10. | The Brink | 6:30 |
| 11. | Morning Star (Crossing the Blackwater) | 3:46 |
Credits
Music by Matthew Simpkins
Except tracks 2,3,5,7 and 8 by Matthew Simpkins & Jim Simpkins
Lyrics, translations and adaptations by Matthew Simpkins
Performed by
Matthew Simpkins – voice, instruments & devices
Jim Simpkins – acoustic drums
with Sian Simpkins – French horn
& Martha Simpkins – backing vocals
Produced by Matthew Simpkins
Mastered by Dr Eric James, Philosphers Barn Mastering
A version of the song ‘Headwater’ was originally released on the compilation Cease Silence – ceasesilence.bandcamp.com. ‘Morning Star (Crossing the Blackwater)’ is taken from the soundtrack to Matthew John Harrison’s film Oyster Land.
Cover photography: Ghosts by Huw Morgan
(P) & © 2025
With thanks to Jason Whittaker
In deep gratitude to Prof Larkin, Dr Young and their teams, CNS Nikki Hunter and CNS Catherine Kennedy, and the staff of the Royal Marsden Hospital; Dr Carr at the National Hospital for Neurology; CNS Clare Leppich; and the SinglePoint team at St Helena Hospice, Colchester.
