BY MYSELF is a solo album featuring songs from Edgar's acoustic performances recorded live in 2011. It is a mix of songs from the radical Fair Days Pay For A Fair Days Work gigs, performances at public gigs and two electric bonus tracks.

16 MP3 Songs in this album (66:57) !
Related styles: Folk: Modern Folk, Folk: British Folk, Out-and-Proud

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Details:
BY MYSELF is a unique collection of Edgar's solo performances through out 2011. They feature his amazing vocal range, Cohen-esque finger style acoustic guitar and some of the most evocative and meaningful song writing of our time. The album was recorded on a compact stereo digital recorder with minimal processing and is as real as it gets

The songs are mostly new with a few golden oldies. Some of the songs were recorded at FAIR DAYS PAY FOR A FAIR DAYS WORK SHOWS. This is a radical concept typical of the man's politics. He will play at your private event for one day of your wage, what ever that is plus travel costs, accommodation and his supper.

Other songs were recorded at public performances including The Robin 2 ( see review below.) As a contrast to the solo acoustic songs BY MYSELF features two bonus tracks. Aerial was recorded with Edgar's son Luke who programmed the drums and played keyboards. Shaman Calling is a solo production with Edgar in snarly techno mode.

REVIEW - The Robin 2 Bilston - West Midlands - Wednesday 2nd November 2011

The Robin has a great record of attracting people who are regarded as musical legends. Over the last year or two weâve had Peter Green, Steve Cropper, and Jack Bruce to name but three â and when I saw Edgar Broughtonâs name appear on the schedule I was quick to get my name down. While he may not have quite the household name stature of certain other performers, his influence on modern music is great and undeniable â and on top of that, heâs a man whose clear political stance I deeply respect (quoting his blog strapline âI lean to the left, aiming to do what is rightâ). Oh, and of course, he is a son of the Midlands â hailing as he does from just a few junctions down the M6.

If youâve never seen Edgar Broughton perform live then youâre really missing a treat, he really is one of a kind. This is the first time Iâve seen him playing acoustically without his band, and Iâll admit I was expecting to not enjoy it as much as the full-on Broughton electric-fest â heâs one of my favourite guitarists, and the sounds he can wring from an electric guitar are incredible. But whatâs wonderful about him performing acoustically is that with the guitar stepping back slightly, it gives one of rock musicâs most individual and striking voices the room it truly deserves.

And what a voice. From operatic power to delicate whispers, crystal highs to cracked lows â from time to time I found myself totally losing myself in it, riding around the Robin 2 on Edgar Broughtonâs magic carpet vocals. Bliss.

Highlights of the set for me included the sublime âThe Christmas Songâ with its improvised language-free verses (a song which really does leave both listener and performer in a better place than where it finds them), and âRed Starâ â a song written following the Brixton riots of 1981, sadly as appropriate today as it was then.

Edgarâs between song stories are also captivating, he has the gravitas and air of a classic troubadour and sets the scene perfectly for each song, like a stage hand seamlessly moving the set into place.

âSix White Horsesâ is another highlight, a beautiful song of love and devotion that sails around the room. âHole In Itâ is a different beast, a great protest song which exhibits Edgarâs social and political leanings â written after an enforced conversation with an old Jehovahâs Witness on a flight to Germany, and concerning the twisted philosophies and politics of modern believers in the Rapture (those who believe theyâll only get to Heaven after things on Earth have gotten a whole lot worse, so they do their utmost to contribute to the worldâs woes in order to speed up the process. Mr Bush, weâre looking at you).

The encore of the Edgar Broughton Band classic âEvening Over Rooftopsâ is rapturously received, and we all leave the Robin 2 in a far better place than when we entered it.

Paul Broome @ Midlandsrocks