chris conway news

Well gosh it's been a busy time - The end of June brings to an end 3 months of 15 gigs each. Things settle down a bit with just 9 or 10 a month for a while. This means I can settle down to some recording in the studio again.

I was pleased to've written a song this month - I Have Seen The Future - new songs are quite rare these days - I sang it for the first time at the Folk Plus in Walsall last month. Check out the lyrics here.

Otherwise June was an electronic month for me - recording in a posh studio with Continuum, mixing the results, and playing the fist Quadelectronic event.

Coming up? Well there's a couple of new age/ambient albums at the factory as I speak and I am back in the studio with Celtic harp player France Ellul and sitar player Carl Peberdy before too long.

A new live album by Govannen - "Live - Sniff the Pony" - is pretty is very close to being officially released. It is available now on a - if you want one I'll print you a copy - basis until a proper run is made.


Recorded live at the wonderful Christmas concert at Kirby Twins Acoustic Club in December last year, it features a 4 piece Govannen including Neil Rabjohn on cajon drum which gives the proceedings a bit of oomph.

The curious title Sniff the Pony" came from a "misspeak" I made at the concert when introducing the title of a tune Saddle the Pony. The album includes some regular live favourites including a couple of popular songs we play at functions but also some "art" as there is a nice suite of pieces including a magical improv we had at the end of a set of tunes.

Hear soundclips here

1. Amazing review of Songs for Dreamers CD in Rock n Reel Magazine this month

CHRIS CONWAY - Songs For Dreamers (OBLONG MUSIC) www.chrisconway.org
*****
Albums from this Leicester-based singer-songwriter seem to come along like the seasons. I’m beginning to lose count now, for songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist Conway certainly likes to keep things interesting. There he was on the pages of Word magazine alongside fellow theremin enthusiasts; there he is, performing with his Celtic band, Govannen; elsewhere, a solo concert or two, some studio production work, his experimental electronic group, a little New Age noodling and, if this is Saturday … well, maybe time for some jazz piano. The man is indefatigable.

Songs For Dreamers is Conway’s gorgeous new collection of songs. It’s typically mellow, upbeat and positive. Indeed, he’s an even happier man these days, if opening track ‘Finally’ is anything to go by: ‘I believe in love … finally’, he declares.

Throughout, Conway sings, plays, arranges and produces his own distillation of platinum-brand West Coast-style pop-rock. An American long since relocated to the UK, he also infuses his work with the various influences he’s absorbed here in Blighty, so there’s an element of traditional folk and Celtic music in the mix, for example, reflecting Conway’s successful assimilation into our own culture. There’s also an abundance of ‘good vibes’ sunshine sounds, a little light jazz and the usual Conway humour (’Damned’). Listen to Songs For Dreamers and bask in its summer warmth.
Dave White

2. Great review of Jazz Orient performance at the Barbican International Jazz & Blues Festival, Plymouth - read it here

3. Small review of Govannen Celtic Fire CD in last months Rock n Reel Magazine
"Govannen features Leicester's multi-talented Chris Conway alongsideDan Britton, Adele McMahon and guests performing upbeat instrumental Celtic Music traditional and original. A typically excellent Conway production job and similarly classy playing by all on Celtic Fire (Paradise Music) suggest that they're a band well worth catching live."

Continuum - my electronic improvising trio - went into a big posh studio - Quad Studios in Leicester - for 2 days in June. We came out with enough music for 2 albums. Much of June was spent mixing and selecting the music. It is great to get John Runcie's drums recorded really well at last. Some wild music was made and because of the soudn of the drums is more lively all round that the ambient Best Kept Secret album.
The 2 albums - to be titled "Yttrium" and "The Tide of Faces" - will be released separately over the next few months once the artwork and graphics is done. The Tide of Faces features a single 47minute piece in its entirety which I think is some of our best work ever. Yttrium has some shorter gems.
I'm going to put up a track on myspace or Reverbnation soon.

Quadelectronic is the new ambient improvised electronic music event that I am organising. Quadelectronic 1 went well though turnout was tiny - musically though it was great as we were on a lit stage and with a great PA. I and my theremin were joined by latin guitarist Simon Ferraby, electronic drummer Bob Bryars and the Freeman brothers on electronics. Recordings were taken.

Quadelectronic 2 will be on 15th July at 8pm the sumptuous Quad Studios, Leicester.
- it's not easy to find but here's a map
- it's free to get in (and out!)
- you might need to bring your own alcohol.

Quadelectronic 2 will feature Chris Conway (theremin & fx), Simon Strangeguitar (guitar synth), Steve & Alan Freeman from Alto Stratus (electronics), Bob Bryars (stuff) and hopefully others like Mick Oxtoby (electric violin)

1. Eleven of my albums are now available for download from Amazon.com. Be aware that an album by a Chris Conway called "Studio Blend" is not by me. See the albums available here

3. Contact Light is now available from cdbaby and soon iTunes and Amazon.com and other download sites. This is the first of my electronic albums to get distribution

FREE CD DRAW - Sign up for my e-newsletter - see form below - and at the end of the July, from everyone who is signed up I will draw a name at random to give away a free copy of Celtic Woman CD.
Last month's winner was Steve from Rutland.

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