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about
Almost Home is a song I wrote some time ago. In the summer of 2020, during lockdown, I was invited to perform a short set for the "Lockdown Sieben Facebook Group" hosted by Matt Howden (aka Sieben). As I was playing, somebody commented on the live feed that they were playing along with me on their harmonium. Then someone said they were playing along on the recorder! I think I was to blame for suggesting that both the audience and Matt and myself could record something together. By the end of the night, the project to record a version of Almost Home that would be open to contributions from the whole Facebook group was born. All the proceeds from the recording would be donated to the refugee support charity Assist Sheffield www.assistsheffield.org.uk.
Matt and I recorded Almost Home in his lovely studio and the mp3 was shared with the Facebook group. Anyone who wanted to was encouraged to participate - it didn't feel right for it to be about being a brilliant musician or anything. It was about taking part. Over the next few weeks a whole bunch of people from the USA/Canada and across Europe had got involved. We had voice recordings in all sorts of different languages, all sorts of different instruments, and sound recordings of the sea and birdsong and so on. Matt Howden lovingly put it all together and here it is - Almost Home. Please pay what you can. All the proceeds will go to help destitute refugees who are utterly vulnerable on the streets of Sheffield, who's only crime is to need somewhere safe to be.
Andy Whitehouse, September 2020
lyrics
Almost Home
It's darkening for sure, it's hard to tell if that ahead is cloud or land
As this old steam ship struggles on with all the speed it's engines can
command
If you guys labouring below can keep on shovelling the coal
That keeps the fire burning in the soul
See us safe to harbour, never more to roam
We're almost home
Salt water turned to steam over the furnaces that burn on in the dark
The faces and the forearms of the firemen brief lit by flame and spark.
If you guys labouring below can keep on shovelling the coal
That keeps the fire burning in the soul
See us safe to harbour, never more to roam
We're almost home
Well you can holystone the decks, say your prayers over the wrecks,
Cast your wreaths upon the rolling waves
Just lay a finger on the rail and you will fine there without fail
Vibrations from the engine room
They're going to get you home safe soon
So lay under the sky and watch the stars as they go spinning through
the night
Those guys are working down below and in the end it all will be alright.
If you guys labouring below can keep on shovelling the coal
That keeps the fire burning in the soul
See us safe to harbour, never more to roam
We're almost home
We're almost home
We're almost home
Andy Whitehouse 2017
credits
released October 23, 2020
The track was created by the Lockdown Sieben Facebook Group with artwork by Sandra Dernoncourt @sandernoncourt
Almost Home credits:
Andy Whitehouse: Guitar and vocal
Matt Howden: violin and vocal
Beth Moore: Bass
Michael Harding: guitar and eBow
Kate Arnold: Hammered Dulcimer
katearnolduk.bandcamp.com
David Fong: Piano
Julia Mensch: Electric Harp
m.soundcloud.com/catsondope
Ninah Pixie: Harmonium
Johan De Ryck: Church organ
Alberick: Electronics and field recordings
soundcloud.com/fourthousandblackbirds
Sonum Vocis VII: Experimental sounds
www.youtube.com/channel/UCPGd_TyPx51EbMkiY1nPsrg
Irene Incarico: loops
Pauline Kind: Weird noises
Faith: Field Recording – Seascape
Sam Rifle: Hurdy Gurdy
Vocals:
Marion Urbach
Jena Church
Anje Zimmermann
Matthew Johnson
Spoken word:
Brian Platt,
Sandra Dernoncourt
Sini Dahlqvist
Dennis Gudim
Jan Bauer
Andrea Nickel
Roanne de Gelder
Radmilo Duric
Andy has performed across the UK and has guested with Chris Wood.
Recent performances include a
collaboration with violinist Matt Howden and multi-instrumentalist Kate Arnold on dulcimer. In January 2019 he releases a first single, “Drunken Sailor”, on his own Cherry Blossom Records, produced and arranged by the multi-award winning Chris Wood....more
I find picking a favorite track next to impossible. The entire album is wonderfully diverse and complex, and a true delight from start to finish. And that's not even adding any bonus points for the marvellous weekly live sessions Matt's currently treating us to during the COVID lockdowns. <3 Here's a meager tenner really well spent for you, you *want* this gem in your collection. Needles And Sins
Alec Bowman perfectly captures the dark soil under the pastoral world of British folk with this collection of melancholy originals. Bandcamp New & Notable May 12, 2020