“The end is where we start from.”  T.S. Eliot The anthem revisited, this time reimagined as a jolly sing song down at the brigadier’s mess. Let us drink and be merry. Tomorrow, we begin again. A unit of the Bulgarian International Brigade, 1937 (photographer unknown). Read more →

“…and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.” – T.S. Eliot It’s Song #18 and we’re getting on a bit now.  Time to lighten the tone with a song for the still game. When recording this my guiding principle was- what would Hinge and Bracket… Read more →

Eulogy or rebirth, I’m not entirely sure, but a welcome breathing space before whatever comes next. From the wreckage of New America, a secular spiritual sung a cappella by the wonderful Glasgow School of Art Choir, led by the exceptional talent of Jamie Sansbury. Hats off and our warmest thanks to Jamie and the choir for their work and generosity… Read more →

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald New America is music as schizophrenia, swinging back and forth somewhere between revivalist devotional and Jimi Hendrix shredding the Star Spangled Banner.  The brave pioneer spirit which built… Read more →

For friends, family, fans… and one week ahead of its full release…”Operation Internation” is available to listen, stream, download and order copies now, only on our Bandcamp site here- https://anewinternational.bandcamp.com/…/operation… It’s taken around 17 years from initial inspiration to final recording, during which time it often felt like wrestling with an octopus.  Anyway, whatever my excuses may be, lack of… Read more →

I first properly listened to Tango downstairs in Blackfriars at the wonderful Tango Bar.  It felt like stumbling into a meeting of a secret society; a little corner of Buenos Aires in a Glasgow basement.  I was also there looking on starry-eyed one night as the Bandoneonista Carlos Becú performed Piazzolla’s “Adios Nonino” live. The bandoneón itself looked fiendishly difficult.… Read more →

Music as entente cordiale in a song for a European Britain.  The blueprint for this one was Noel Coward sings Yann Tiersen. I do like it when familiar names change in translation (see also Song #5).  Exotic just means from somewhere else. The further away from home you are, the more exotic you become. Don’t shoot the accordionist.  He’s doing… Read more →

“Do you know what love is? I’ll tell you: it is whatever you can still betray.” -John le Carré Philby was, as human nature tends to be, a riddle of contradictions: a product of the British Establishment who felt like an outsider; a committed Communist who did not associate with the working classes; a loving family man whose political work… Read more →

Written whilst three sheets to the wind in a beach bar in Tenerife with Jenny Lindsay.  Jenny kindly helped me to remember the melody afterwards, singing along whilst one of the local dogs took exception to us- Have a listen – click here… Speaking of local dogs, later on that night I was bitten by a chihuahua in a tiki… Read more →

The thing about instrumentals is, you can call them anything you want really.  The endless choice can be overwhelming.  If you’re not careful, you may end up not choosing anything at all. Written after seeing Kusturica’s wonderful film “Underground”, with its exuberant, joyous soundtrack, this one travelled for years under the nom de guerre “Circus Girls” because that’s what it… Read more →