NICK PYNN : Afterplanesman

 

 

Nick Pynn's third solo album Afterplanesman was released on 1st May 2004. 'Order CD'.

Afterplanesman CD liner notes :

"A couple of years back, I spent a few days at the Submarine Museum in Gosport, giving my cousin Adrian a hand in restoring the 1901 Holland 1. Most of the staff were ex-submariners who’d shared experiences under the waves, sometimes for months at a time.

We were shown around the inside of a large diesel sub, HMS Alliance. On entering the control room I was surprised by a sensation of familiarity. Either side of the periscope were the seat positions for the depth controllers of the craft.

Facing the front of the ship sat the fore-planesman who would operate the front hydroplanes to make the ship dive. In a sideways-on position behind the periscope was the chair for the after-planesman who, with the aid of what seemed to be a spirit level and a wheel, would work in conjunction with him.

I was almost overcome by this feeling of deja-vu, and it crossed my mind that if not in a previous existence,then most certainly in this life I had in a musical sense been in that chair; I have had the good fortune to accompany some great vocal performers in a two-person setting – the controls being my stringed instruments and electronic bass pedals.

For me Afterplanesman also alludes to certain personal experiences of ‘leveling up’ after tragedy or unexpected life changes. The submarine itself presented me with a vivid vision of many men living in close proximity, devoid of contact with their loved ones and feeling a cold sweat when the sonar would fall silent, indicating an enemy ship directly overhead."

- Feu de Joie - Afterplanesman - Badtooth - For Jane Bom-Bane - Joker Jack - Heriot Row -
- Dancer - Champs Elysees - Off Nicolson Street - Grace - The Brightest Star -
- From a Yellow Room - Nocturne - Goodbye Dearest Friend

Nick Pynn: acoustic guitar, violin, mandocello, lap dulcimer, theremin, bass pedals, bouzouki, oud, playing cards and wine glasses.

Tom Arnold: drums, hammond organ, percussion and accordion.
Olly Blanchflower: double bass.
Jane Bom-Bane: harmonium.
Arthur Brown: voice.
Astrid Williamson: voice.
Rich Hall, Damian Coldwell and Christian Reilly: poker voices.

"Having worked on previous solo CDs, an album of world fiddle music and many recording sessions, multi-instrumentalist Nick Pynn offers his new album Afterplanesman with 14 instrumental tracks. There are certainly surprises in store: violins, poetry, acoustic guitar and playing card sound effects on the surreal Joker Jack. In addition, Heriot Row slinks hypnotically through minor and diminished chords to reach a happy-sounding conclusion.

Production companies should sit up and take note - this would sound very good indeed on films and programmes. Stunning and original, Afterplanesman is richly varied and wonderfully played with an intriguingly elusive style. A highly recommended recording."

Musician Magazine March 2005.

 

In August 2006 Nick returned from another successful Edinburgh Fringe performing 'Afterplanesman'. Both Nick's solo shows, and 'Free U Win Tin' with Boothby Graffoe were very warmly received.

Reviews :

The Scotsman : Review 16-8-06 : Afterplanesman : ****
JAN FAIRLEY
INLINGUA (VENUE 258)
ONE-MAN bands used to be attached to assorted drums, clappers and paper gazoos. The remarkably creative Nick Pynn's more sophisticated technology allows him to loop his own lines played on fiddle, guitar, home-made Appalachian hammer dulcimer and cello-mandolin.
Looping and layering grooves and riffs (including one recorded live from the slap and shuffle of a pack of cards) Pynn adds melodies, playing along with himself and a host of "absent" vocal guests who appear in the form of mini-disc recordings (comedian Rich Hall teaching him poker, Shetland singer Astrid Williamson), plus the Crystal Sisters (masquerading as four wine glasses whose rims get stroked). Unassumingly inventive, Pynn's own guitar pieces are beautiful if a little inconclusive. The most moving lyricism comes for Grace, the neighbour who almost made it to a hundred. Thing is, while Pynn evokes passion for partner Jane Bom-Bane, one feels the urge to tell him it's fine to let go more. A clue to his inhibited equilibrium comes in the show's title - taken from helping a museum-worker friend repair a submarine. The afterplanesman sat behind the driver holding a spirit level to monitor balance. Still, in this parlour sized room, Pynn is a magical find in the night. Until 27 August. Today 10pm

Three Weeks : Review 9-8-06 : Afterplanesman.
Nick Pynn
Five mostly hand made string instruments, a deck of cards, 6 crystal glasses and voices echoing from unspecified sources. Sounds like you have just walked into a shanti soiree? You've actually walked into one man, Nick Pynn. Pynn conjures scenes from childhood to submarines to India then back to Brighton's seaside by playing as many devices as humanly possible. There is an element of rusticism in the nature of his music, made particularly individual through the telling of the personal history of the devices. A multi-talented musician/comedian and mechanical table top café owner. Whichever guise he comes in, have your ears wide open and don't miss the chance to see an artist that reminds you that there is music in everything. In Lingua, 4 - 27 Aug (not 7, 12, 14, 21), times vary, £7.00 (£5.00), fpp 102. tw rating: 4/5 Kate Abbot.

 

Order CD

 

Return to CDs page : Return to Sessions page :