Description
Spitzer Space Telescope - The Spitzer Space Telescope Sampler
London-via-Michigan Ballad singer and Songwriter Spitzer Space Telescope - real name Dan MacDonald - releases a new EP Spitzer Space Telescope III and are now join them together with the previous two EPs and released together on vinyl for the first time.
Continuing his penchant for direct, Clancey Brothers-inspired folk songwriting, ‘All The Girls Ashore’ contains all of his distinctive hallmarks - vocals belted at the top of his lungs, arrangements kept sparse and melody pushed firmly to the fore, featuring vocal harmonies from Mareva Lindo and David McKindley-Ward.
A rare case of MacDonald - who typically writes all of his own material - ‘ borrowing’ a melody from pre-existing folk tune, ‘All The Girls Ashore’ takes its melody from a French whaling song called ‘Pique La Baleine’, as he explains: “The only example of a melody I didn’t write. I liked the melody, and I wrote English lyrics to it. I don’t even know what the French is talking about. That track is just a blatant love letter to sea shanties, one of my home base music traditions.”
Continuing his penchant for direct, Clancey Brothers-inspired folk songwriting, ‘All The Girls Ashore’ contains all of his distinctive hallmarks - vocals belted at the top of his lungs, arrangements kept sparse and melody pushed firmly to the fore, featuring vocal harmonies from Mareva Lindo and David McKindley-Ward.
A rare case of MacDonald - who typically writes all of his own material - ‘ borrowing’ a melody from pre-existing folk tune, ‘All The Girls Ashore’ takes its melody from a French whaling song called ‘Pique La Baleine’, as he explains: “The only example of a melody I didn’t write. I liked the melody, and I wrote English lyrics to it. I don’t even know what the French is talking about. That track is just a blatant love letter to sea shanties, one of my home base music traditions.”
Reviews
“This essentially ancient music sounded like it belonged to the modern age” The Times“Repurposes the Aran sweater stylings of The Clancy Brothers and Pete Seeger into five impossibly
vibrant songs. Committed to the point of being genuinely deranged” MOJO 4*
“Spitzer Space Telescope strips folk songwriting down to its emotional core….music at its bare
essentials” CLASH
“Forceful delivery, broad choruses and thrumming arrangements…will make your heart jump”
Songlines
Tracklisting
12" Vinyl Album (BH-015)
- Great Ascender
- The Poor Soldier
- Kayne in the Orchard
- Dunning Town
- Field of Men
- Sly Johnny Wood
- Midwest Tribute Song
- Corn Holler
- Miser
- Rovin' Is Me Pleasure
- Oh Misfortune I Know
- Hard Luck Johnny
- Five Oaks in a Ring