DESCRIPTION:
A short teaser movie, 'Icelandic Country Dialogue' for the new MW Bewick single/EP, OUT AUGUST 2009.

MW Bewick grew up on the western fringes of the Lake District and now lives in central London. Writing music he terms 'lo-folk', influences on his songwriting include artists as diverse as Mogwai, Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) and George Harrison, as well as luminaries from the late-1960s British folk revival such as John Martyn and Nick Drake.

"In theory I'm a fan of simplicity in songwriting," Bewick says. "I like a tuneful melody, a good hook, and short songs. But then I don't always want to provide what people expect, so I'll make a song wrong, messing with sounds or structure. When people listen to my songs I'd like them to feel both surprised and reassured."

This single is MW Bewick's first solo recording and follows the release of his Acertone side-project release in 2008. "I hope people like the new record," he says. "But I'm not really interested in having major success in the modern music industry, which is all about greed and commerce and margins. For me it's more about that traditional folk thing the impulse to tell a story and have people hear it. That's what counts."

The 5-track EP:

'Darkness In Our Minds' is a grown-up love song about making sense of relationships while acknowledging the atrocities of the modern world. A pretty tune set to words of war and peril.

'Gordon "Dodger" Pattinson' is a modern-day folk song about a real-life character from West Cumbria, where MW Bewick grew up.

'Country Dialogue' is a short interlude on the theme of distance and exile.

'Prodigal Sons' is a mythical fable a warning sound in times of ecological plight.

'Black Circles' is the delicate, threatened and threatening sound of the possible thoughts in a person's head at four in the morning.

The 7" single:
'Darkness In Our Minds'
'Black Circles'

All songs recorded in London by MW Bewick and David Cleaver (Acertone, Colonel Decker). Additional recording by Simon Willey (Max Harris Project) and Pat Whelan (Holy Samanas). Mastered by Neil Pickles at Estudio El Bano. Cover image and design, Ella Johnston.

Comments for MW Bewick on his MySpace page:

"Your songs set my mind at ease" ... "Excellent tunes" ... "Beautiful" ... "Lovely guitar playing" ... "Very fine songs" ... "Delicious music" ... "Fantastically lovely tunes" ... "Bloody good music" ... "Smart playing" ... "Beautiful and delicate melodies" ... "Someone who can actually write lyrics" ... "Truly a talent" ... "Relaxing and dreamy" ... "Magic music"