A joyous time was spent at Castle Menzies near Aberfeldy a number of months ago with an assemblage of ten Pumpkinseeds putting final form to Mister Harvey’s swirling string arrangements for eight songs entrusted to his care by Mister Lomond Campbell.
The resulting album Black River Promise was released by Mister Campbell’s own Triassic Tusk label at the end of November on CDand beautiful clear vinyl in a gatefold sleeve and has been going down well ever since. Do treat yourself to a copy.
★★★★ – The List
‘Bolstered hugely by the masterful string playing and arranging of Pete Harvey… it’s hard to imagine music which more captures the feel of the autumnal Scottish Highlands more.’
★★★★ – The Scotsman:
‘…sumptuous, romantic strings, arranged by Pete Harvey, recorded by a ten-piece ensemble in a castle and threaded through Black River Promise like a noble, mournful chorus behind Campbell’s yearning voice.’
‘Mention must be made of the string arrangements by Pete Harvey which lift Campbell’s songs to new heights. This is an album which sounds fresh and intoxicating… it also feels out of time, bringing to mind other famous pastoral records such as Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter or Five Leaves Left, John Martyn’s One World or even a darker take on Astral Weeks.’
Manic Pop Thrills:(with whom Mister Campbell also shared some of his most refined thoughts in an interview here)
‘…a gorgeous record thanks to the impressive strings courtesy of Pete Harvey and the Pumpkinseeds. Well worth seeking out.’
The album has been featured as a ‘record of note’ by Roddy Hart on BBC Radio Scotland, and featured in Vic Galloway’s top albums of 2016 and played on BBC6Music by Gideon Coe.
Mister Harvey joined Lomond for a wee release tour in November, accompanied by the wholly enigmatic Kwaing Creasite. The tour included a gig at the Happiness Hotel, establishment of one Song, by Toad, where two further ‘Seeds joined us for session renditions of three of the album tracks rejigged for a wee string section consisting of the additional violin maestress Kate Miguda, and bass aficionado Emily Scott.
The resultant videos should be somewhere below if everything has gone according to plan.
There’s also some lovely photos from the event courtesy of the excellent Kat Gollock.