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Acoustics Records
The Mandolin Album - Simon Mayor
Simon Mayor's infectious blend of classical and Celtic-inspired instrumentals won him critical acclaim everywhere from Folk Roots magazine to BBC's classical station Radio 3. Executed with stunning virtuosity on mandolins, mandolas, and mandocellos with guitar and double bass accompaniment. Hilary James contributes two beautiful vocal tracks.
Press Quotes:
'Album of the week' - BBC Radio 2
'His success may be judged by the wit and invention of his arrangement for Vivaldi's Concerto or his own 'Maple Flames.' - Q Magazine
'The arrangements are uplifting and the album is a joy' - Daily Telegraph (UK)
'Sheer joy' - Folk Roots
Price:
£12.50
The Second Mandolin Album - Simon Mayor
The success of Simon's first album brought many requests for this follow-up. Hungarian dances (Brahms No 1), Celtic jigs and Russian style massed mandolins. Simon's own compositions sit alongside arrangements of Vivaldi, Haydn and Handel.
Press Quotes:
'Simply a masterpiece' - Tower Records Magazine
'Hot fingered mandolin virtuoso' - Cosmopolitan
'Refreshing and uplifting' - Vox
'This is a wonderful release from Simon Mayor. He is an amazing player...' - Mandozine (online mag)
'Outstanding musicianship. A depth of feeling that is rare to find' - Folk Roots
Price:
£12.50
New Celtic Mandolin - Simon Mayor
Simon Mayor's latest release brings his inimitable brand of mandolin-wizardry to this essential collection of music from every corner of the Celtic World. Beautiful slow airs and lively dance tunes featuring mandolin, mandola, mandocello and mandobass. With guests Frank Kilkelly (guitar), Beryl Marriott (piano) and Hilary James (mandobass/vocals).
Press Quotes:
'A stunning album... the beauty of the slow airs along with the faster sets beggars belief' - Rock 'n' Reel
'Musicien-virtuose Simon Mayor surfe avec une telle maestria que chaque évocation est un veritable moment de jubilation.' - Trad Mag (France)
Price:
£12.50
Winter with Mandolins - Simon Mayor
Many unusual and beautiful carols and seasonal instrumentals for Halloween, Fireworks, Christmas and Shrove Tuesday. Features Russian style massed mandolins (Christmas Candle), Celtic inspired arrangements (I Saw Three Ships), highly evocative Basque and Provencal carols, music from Handel's 'Royal Fireworks' and Simon's own compositions. Stunning contributions from guests Alan Whetton on soprano saxophone and Brendan Power's harmonica complete this superb album.
Press Quotes:
'Recording of the Week' - BBC World Service
'The most beautiful bell-like mandolin sound I have ever heard' - Living Tradition
Price:
£12.50
The English Mandolin - Simon Mayor
New settings and adaptations of classical and traditional pieces for mandolin ensemble (mandolins, mandolas and mandocellos). Includes works by Holst, Warlock, Purcell, Grainger and German.
Press Quotes:
'This is a delight, Simon Mayor's mandolin playing is
without peer' - Folk Roots
'Sheer musical brilliance' - BBC World Service
Price:
£12.50
Burning Sun - Hilary James
Hilary James' highly acclaimed debut, 'Burning Sun' reached the top ten play list on BBC Radio 2. Plays followed on BBC Radio1, World Service and stations as far afield as Los Angeles and Latvia. A magical and atmospheric blend of folk songs and originals with haunting words and melodies. 'Burning Sun', includes the spell-binding folk tales of 'The Two Sisters' and 'Polly Vaughan' alongside Handel's beautiful lament, 'Laschia Ch'io Pianga' sung with a bell-like purity.A magical blend of folk songs, classics and originals.
Press Quotes:
'Elegant singing' - Daily Telegraph
'Wonderful - every track superb. For me, the best album of the 90's so far. Oozes class, with arrangements tailored like Saville Row suits.' - Folk North West
Price:
£12.50
Love, Lust & Loss - Hilary James
Hilary James' album with the astonishing folk pianist Beryl Marriott. Exciting and dramatic versions of English, Irish and Scottish ballads.
Press Quotes:
‘A powerful combination of improvisation and musical rigour’ - Q Magazine
'Exquisite..the whole thing is a total joy, a very civilised excursion into the music of the British Isles’ - Dirty Linen
Price:
£12.50
Bluesy - Hilary James
Hilary James' bluesy inflections are nothing new to those who have seen her in concert, but for the first time this side of her repertoire appears on CD.
Press Quotes:
Hilary's bittersweet voice, which lends these melancholy blues a wonderfully dreamy, honey-dripping beauty. Lush." - Rock 'n' Reel
"This is terrific." * * * * - Yorkshire Post
"If you like traditional blues, you'll like this. Guaranteed." - Back Street Heroes
Price:
£12.50
Slim Panatella & the Mellow Virginians
Hilary James, Simon Mayor and Andy Baum: Bluegrass to Irving Berlin on mandolins, fiddles, guitars and double bass. Good-time music firmly rooted in 1930's, 40's and 50's America with wonderful vocal harmonies and instrumental virtuosity.
Press Quotes:
'An absolutely magnificent set of largely American country / old time / blues that is so melody-rich you would honestly think it was going out of fashion' - Rock 'n' Reel
'Slicker than the Torey-Canyon, hotter than a peppered sprout and absolutely brill' - Living Tradition
'Staggering, particularly the amazing fiddle and mandolin playing of Simon Mayor' - Folk Roots
Price:
£12.50
Mandolinquents - Simon Mayor Quintet
The Simon Mayor Quintet are SM, Gerald Garcia, Richard Collins, Hilary James, and Maartin Allcock. This debut album features everything from hot swing and ragtime instrumentals from the mandolin orchestras of the 1930s:Irving Berlin, Mozart, Ravel and Tchaikovsky to lively reels and beautiful traditional Irish airs to and Chinese and Brazilian folk tunes. All this played with infectious fun, off-beat humour and stunning virtuosity on mandolin, mandola, mandocello, mandobass and classical guitar, with the occasional burst of song or fiddle.
Press Quotes:
'from classical to Irish and American traditional music in a superbly accomplished style... plus the delightfully pure voice of Hilary James' - Traditional Music Maker
‘I can't help but be transfixed by the sheer brilliance of all the musicians and the exquisite vocals of Hilary James. If you hadn't guessed already (stop the superlatives from flooding through...) this is a more than worthy contender for album of the year!’ - Steppin' Out
Price:
£12.50
Luke Daniels - Tarantella
Luke Daniels is an extraordinary young composer and virtuoso of the Irish button accordeon (yes that is how they spell it!) He plays everything from Irish reels to Brazilian waltzes, Paganini and Bach.
Press Quotes:
'It is the control and reach of his playing, and his entertaining exploration of far-flung musical territory that produced so rewarding a record.' - The Daily Telegraph (UK)
'His playing is fresh and authoritative throughout and its understatement shows a feeling for the music's soul rather than flash exhibitionism.' - Rock 'n' Reel
'Luke plays with a masterful technical dexterity and a wonderful honeyed lyricism.' - Scotland On Sunday
Price:
£12.50
Online Catalogue
:
Acoustics Records
