MAKE YOUR MARK

Product Information

It wouldn’t be a proper folk album without a song about fishermen, and so Lakeman casts the nets out for the spare and atmospheric ‘Shoals To ‘Turn’ as he details “ a harvest moon on the sea tonight” and the wooden boats out on the bay waiting for the fish to head their way; naturally it comes with a built-in metaphor too. I am delighted to announce the release of my brand new album ‘A Pilgrim’s Tale’ on 07 February 2020! Telling the epic tale of the Pilgrim Fathers on the 400th anniversary of the historic Mayflower voyage.

Higher We Aspire strikes as the obvious radio single, with keen positivity and shades of a folk Springsteen. “One hot, golden, summer’s day” On 5 February 2007 Lakeman won Singer of the Year and Best Album awards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. [10] Arriving timely on the heels of COP26 and with surely a nod to Extinction Rebellion, the slow walking rhythm ‘Hollow’ sounds an apocalyptic note as he asks “ Did you hear the final warning, too late too loud/Did you hear the people calling with no hope, no way out/Did you feel their anger rising, through the air and all around”. That breath of wind is me”. It’s an obvious line given the title but, Lakeman has most certainly made his mark, and it’s one of true quality.The Lark follows a couple in love and the environment through which they roam together. The song acts like a palate cleanser after so much tension, drama, and heavy global themes.

Next, we’re transfixed by a sustained, discordant note. Foot-stomping instrumentation begins at the minute mark of Love Will Still Remain. So does the persistent note, even while softened by harmonies from Alex Hart. The Full English is a folk music digital archive project. Lakeman joined Fay Heild, Martin Simpson and others to create a Full English group to record folk songs for the archive, followed by a national tour. ( Topic, 7 October 2013)There’s a distinct organic live feel that inevitably comes from the bowing and the wooden instruments as he counts in several of the songs with cues to bring to us the feel of musicians playing together, live, in the same room. Standouts on first evidence are Love Will Still Remain (already elevated to the opening lot in concert) the excellent single Higher We Aspire and encore number Change. The former relies on a drone that evolves in to an ethnic fiddle line with the “ remaaaiiiinnn” chorus and the restrained march that carries the tune forward. Perhaps some of the Robert Plant influence rubbing off on Seth – either that our our boy showing the sort of chops that attracted old Planty in the first place. Seth Lakeman takes a break from the Robert Plant musical juggernaut in Autumn 2018 to release his ninth studio album ‘The Well Worn Path’ on 26 October before heading out on tour in November with a new band line-up. Seth says “ I’m really excited to be able to share the whole Freedom Fields album for its 15th anniversary! It’s a collection of songs hugely inspired by the Westcountry and it still seems to be the most popular album I’ve recorded so far. This is going to be pretty special. I hope you can tune in to watch!” All in all, Make Your Mark is a dramatic and tense but, ultimately, hopeful album. It’s driven by certainty in our capacity to take action for the greater good if we’re guided by love.

Constantly pairs close observation of the environment with the persistence of memory in an extended lament. The sustained note that opens Love Will Still Remain is mirrored by a similarly held note to close the record down. That’s fitting as the songs essentially explore the same premise. Underground explores the vulnerability of working people dismissed at will despite decades of loyalty. The tone is sombre but the protagonists survive. Whatsmore, “the far-off cry from the underground” persists when the silence is deafening. Recorded at Middle Farm Studios in Devon earlier this year as restrictions eased and produced by Seth himself, the album is being released on his own label, Honour Oak Records. Inspiration for the songs on his 11th studio album came from a range of subjects – from the environment to love, death and self-belief. "The pandemic gave me a real determination to come out musically stronger and I really dug deep into myself for this album” says Seth “Being able to record and play with the band again was really quite spiritual” Recorded at Middle Farm Studios in Devon earlier this year as restrictions eased and produced by Seth himself, the album is being released on his own label, Honour Oak Records. Inspiration for the songs on his 11th studio album came from a range of subjects – from the environment to love, death and self-belief. The pandemic gave me a real determination to come out musically stronger and I really dug deep into myself for this album” says Seth “Being able to record and play with the band again was really quite spiritual”

Freedom Fields helped Seth build on his traditional cult following but found him a whole new audience for his rhythmic, captivating brand of indie-folk song writing. He was named Folk Singer of the Year, and ‘ Freedom Fields’ awarded Album Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2007. Side By Side champions collective action musically as well as lyrically, since the strength of the instrumentation increases with layers of support and volume. Change is one of those rattling encore songs that’s going to vie with race To Be King and Last Rider for the banjo and jaws harp driven charge at the end of the set hoedown. It’s just a few brass parts short of being a Bellowhead belter for the reunion that seems bound to come. Higher We Aspire similarly, sees the massed strumming accompanied by some delicate jewels of notes added by Benji on what could be the crossover number of the set. And while the jolly and jaunty continues withThe Giant – a pleasant little singalong part at the song’s conclusion “ On the ocean, on the high seas, on the ocean”– there’s a fair share of sobriety and reflection making its mark. Make Your Mark, produced by Seth Lakeman and released on his record label Honour Oak, is out now on CD, digital, and double vinyl.