"Bad Debt recalls the ragged blues and front-porch musicians of eras long since gone and modern folk legends like Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Iron & Wine, only with more edge than Sam Beam, more understatement than Will Oldham, and with a little Hank Williams tossed in for good measure" Mezzic.com
“Mystical country. An eerie yellowing photograph.” David Bowie
Tickets are £7 from Jam & Peapod's and available online here
It’s been some time since a straightforward album by an acoustic songwriter really inspired me. Bad Debt, a cd of 9 striking songs by Hiss Golden Messenger finds HGM mainman Michael Taylor playing his acoustic guitar into an old tape-recorder and singing vivid lyrics of timeless emotional resonance with a voice that’s as soothing as it is cracked and worn. It was recorded somewhere in North Carolina, after Taylor left his San Francisco home for the East. Here is the full album available to stream through soundcloud.
Hiss Golden Messenger 'Bad Debt' by blackmaps
“Fans of Will Oldham and Bill Callahan will find much to admire” The Guardian
“a thing of gentle charm & unmistakable cosmic American beauty. It is, for those of us who delight in the likes of Iron & Wine, our first contact with a new & wonderful songwriter” Independent
“nine folk-soul nuggets... these are powerful songs” Uncut
This is the album that he will be promoting when he visits Penryn on a very short UK tour. He will be joined by Lono favourite Rick Tomlinson on some lead guitar now and then, Rick being familiar to some as the guitarist behind Voice of the Seven Thunders. Hiss Golden Messenger are getting a second release this year, a more fleshed out record called “Country Hai East Cotton”, for a dose of that check out the video below… We imagine Mr Taylor will be weaving a few of those tracks into the set.
All in all I am beyond excited – this guy combines soul-poetry and stunning melodies in a way that will outlive any short-lived scene. For instant fans let me just add that I have imported a handful of vinyl copies of a live album called Root Work, these are amongst the last 10 copies of this very limited 100 press, get in touch if you’d like one or more information.
Support comes from Falmouth duo Colour Sun. I've been waiting sometime for the opportunity to get Johnny and Fiona on the stage, many of you might have caught them before but for those who haven't I can only hint at what the songs give. Johnny plays fingerpicked guitar and sings in a world-softened way that recalls Nick Drake, while Fiona plays some of the most considered bass lines I've heard and sings additional (and sometimes primary) vocals with the haunt of the moors and coast about her. This is pretty close to a perfect line-up for me. Hope to see you there, these tickets might sell rather quick...
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