Bert Biscoe - "An Kynsa"

Bert Biscoe needs no introduction to anyone here in Cornwall - accomplished Musician, Writer, Councillor and Chairman of the Cornish Constitutional Convention.

"An Kynsa" is a collection of Berts material from the last thirty years.

The older tracks here have been painstakingly remastered and restored from vinyl and cassette sources by Magic Space studios in St Just - most of these tracks have been unavailable for many years, and cover a wide spectrum of material from solo acoustic tracks to full band recordings.

Listen to tracks here

Berts sleevenotes make fascinating reading -
"In 1976 Brainiac 5 was gigging hard. It played everywhere it could – from the Heatherbell at Carbis Bay to Polgooth Fair to Club International in Falmouth (run by the wonderful Mr Penny!) – indoors, outdoors, day and night. We rehearsed in Newlyn, in a basement halfway up Paul Hill – we worked hard to perfect a repertoire and a sound, and we gigged, recorded, promoted and wrote. From that time, via many bands and through three decades, friendships, connections, ideas and careers have evolved. The songs on this album span that time, and reflect change, constancy and, above all, a life in which music and words play a profound role.

Bands have included Metro Glider (aka Lipservice), the Rage, Oven Ready Angels and the Boss Band. I have been inspired and influenced by all those with whom I have played, and I hope that all of them feel that our experiences together were good and creative. I have collaborated with a number of people, not least the Brainaics, which, with hindsight, was a genuine, dynamic partnership, and I have been supported by many people in my efforts to play. I owe a special debt of thanks to Sally Campbell (Oven Ready Angels, violin), who taught me the most important thing about songwriting – which is that, at the heart of any song (or any piece of creative work) is a sentiment. I also owe a creative debt to Pete Berryman (Boss Band, Touched by the Granite, guitarist), for whom music is the central matter of living. A man who transcends the everyday when he’s playing. I have continued to play and write and to (hopefully) improve, playing every day, pushing fingers and rain – that’s Pete’s inspiration – although he’d probably scoff at such a notion!

There are also managers (Stevie Lawrence – Metro Glider - in particular), and roadies – Russ (Brainiac 5) and Ron (Oven Ready Angels) in particular. In the 1970s most gigging musicians knew as much about putting new engines into old Transits as they did about Chuck Berry!

These songs were recorded at various times, in various circumstances. Martin and Sal Griffin and Dave King at Roche Recording Studios (RIP) captured many songs. We shared many good times.

My family have tolerated and supported my music – not least my wife and kids, and my parents – its no joke having a foot beating time through the ceiling for untrained fingers year after year. I still owe brother Henry something which helped me to meet my share of paying for Mushy Doubt by the Brainiacs – one day, Dear! Both my kids play guitar, and will do what they do – their music is my pleasure!

The songs:

These songs range across thirty years.

"Come to the Show" – written on honeymoon, walking the coastpath! The Royal Cornwall Show is such a Cornish celebration.

"London" – With Metro Glider (Chrissie Quayle on Fute, Chris Price, guitar). Came 2nd in Melody Maker Rock and Pop contest 197?? – beaten by Splodginess Abounds!). Vanessa Williams (bass); Adam ??? (drums); Chrissie Quayle (sax, flute, vox); Carol Mercer (vox). Adam was later replaced by Dave Stone – a great drummer and good Cornishman with whom I shared many journeys and adventures.

"Agatha Christie" – a ‘road’ song – true. Agatha kept me out of many arguments, and got me through many hard-shoulder hours in broken Transits!. With Kevin Nayling – a schoolfriend, great musician and fire-eater in his day.

"Tristan & Isolde" – a new song, recorded by Mike Hawkey. My realisation of Cornish identity, subconsciously influencing me to not go to London with the Brainiac Five, grew stronger when I stopped touring and stayed ‘ome!

"Other Side of the World" – A Cold War song – the Rage – Chris Price and I left Metro Glider to form this band. Joined by Tim ‘Vulch’ Chapple and the excellent drummer and motorcyclist, Kevin Leatham.

"Marilyn Monroe" – the song that formed the Brainiac 5 – in Bernie Harradine’s garage near Pendeen – it all flowed from that jam – I can still remember the excitement we felt at having found the sound! Charlie Taylor’s guitar playing was perhaps the most original and challenging I ever played with – you could sit any song on Steve Hudson’s and Woody’s rhythm section.

"Long October Nights" – a sentiment and a mood - recently recorded by Mike Hawkey, but written in the 1980s. Old friend John the Fish said he liked it, which gladdened me as I grew up listening to him in Folk Clubs and respect his judgement. A principled and honest man is John.

"Mining Returns to the Heather" – a poem of loss, decay and hope – no matter how things crumble, the spirit of endeavour and creativity which made them happen will endure, and will carry us forward. Kernow bys Vykken. Recorded by Les Clinton at Newquay (in his basement, which was also a product of Cornish mining zeal!)

"Collecting!" – The Rage – a song of Jim Callaghan; things were pretty rough in the late 70s – the lights kept going out!

"So Good to be Young" – recorded with John Saville in Truro in about 1987. We wake with who we are, and what we have done, and who we have known, and we add a daub to the picture each day.

"Talking with Harold Boase" – with Kevin Nayling –‘Naylin’’th’Coughin’ – a duo which never performed in public but was full of promise – a voice rediscovered after abandoning tobacco as a method of suicide. Harold was a plantsman, a philosopher, a staunch friend and a maker of gentle mischief who I knew whilst stage managing at the William IVth.

"Do you Remember" – recorded by Les Clinton as part of a tape – Touched by the Granite – a collaboration with Pete Berryman. Dedicated to Sue, my wife – the cliffs are where we know each other best.

"Everybody needs a Friend" – Oven Ready Angels – a pop song – John Whitehouse (drums); Tim Chapple (Bass); Sal Campbell (violin). Mid 80s. Somehow, ORA was part of a Truro which has disappeared; a bit subversive, elderly buildings, friendly and full of music. What happened? Marks & bloody Spencers!

"All Aboard" – a home recording of a song written in a moment for the moment – a warm time around Sal’s wedding to Ian – many friends.

"Get thee to Greenham" – 1980s, a Thatcher song – Cruise, Greenham Common and a realisation that men have made such horrific toys and weapons that only women can sort it out before we blow ourselves up – Chris Duddle was playing bass with ORA, and he programmed the drum machine – the only time I ever played with one – never, never again – keep music live! Recored by John Saville at a rehearsal in Ladock Village Hall.

"Endless River" – my one track on the coveted, collectable Brainiac Five EP, Mushy Doubt. Recorded by Martin Griffin at Roche – to whom, a lifetime’s thanks for his joyfulness, commitment, enthusiasm and friendship – I haven’t seen him for 20 years, but the friendship is enduring – an endless river of goodness – gawd!

"Whatever it Takes" – friendship is the root. Perhaps, as there’s no track on here from The Boss Band, I could dedicate this to all the musicians who played in it – especially Pete Keeley – another inspirational guitarist whose friendship and humour I value; and Phil Whitfeld, a Trurra boy and rock-solid bassman".

Apple iTunes - Bert Biscoe - An Kynsa

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Folk, Acoustic and Traditional Music from Cornwall – “Songs from the Hill Volume Four”.

 Sixteen tracks covering the best of music from Cornwall, and a perfect way to introduce some of our artists to a wider audience, and we are sure that after hearing this collection that you will want to investigate some of the other cd’s from many of these particular artists, also available here.

Opening track is “East Looe Boys” from Callington boy Alan Moorhouse – taken from the album “Travellers Tales”. Alan says of the track – “ I was having a lunchtime pint with my Uncle Gerald… He said that when he was a teenager the lads in the villages used to have punch ups at the weekends, not because they hated each other, but because it gave them a bit of excitement… the same lads gladly died for each other when they marched off to war.. I looked up the battle honours for the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, and the song wrote itself”

Second track is a coupling of two traditional tunes, “Morrisons Jig / Over the Hills” by Kerensa Newman, performed on Hammered Dulicmer. Kerensa – “A set of tunes that I don’t seem to be able to stop playing – Wherever I am and Whatever the Situation you can guarantee that this will be on my set list”.

Third track “Torn” comes from a very talented young singer / songwriter from Penzance, Hollie Rogers, a vocal / acoustic guitar piece featuring wonderful and emotive harmony work.

“Whirlyjig” from Martin Wheeler is taken from the cd “Amber” – an instrumental acoustic guitar piece which builds to a stunning climax.

“Butcher Bird” from Rob Long is a song about the Cornish Blacksmith Rebellion, co –written with his daughter Sally. It’s a lovely ancient sounding modal tune which fits the subject matter perfectly.

Rob – “Butcher Bird is of course the country name for the red-backed shrike, once very common throughout southern Britain. It’s particular forte is impaling harmless songbirds on thorns to make larders. I felt this was an interesting metaphor for what happened to An Gof and his comrades… the uses and abuses of power and the inevitable violence which underpins such systems”.

“Pensevik Rysrudh” is an acoustic guitar / vocal piece sung in Kernewek by Bert Biscoe, well known in the County and beyond as a poet and musician, and also as a County Councillor. Expect a full retrospective cd from Bert soon, which will include tracks from the legendary Cornish band the Brainiac Five as well as much of Bert’s subsequent musical works.

“Ghost” from the Architect Faction, is taken from the album “Steel”, also available here -  a beautiful song telling the story of a person coping with the loss of a family member, and coming to terms with the inevitable passing of time.

Bringing some fun to the proceedings is “Gwelhellin Goth” and their track “Ride Away” from the album  “Bad Provincial Boy”. This can best be described as a Cornish cowboy song – and features the talents of multi – instrumentalist and vocalist Jonathan Coudrille, past winner of the Melody Maker Top Folk Soloist Award.

“Frieze Britches / Banish Misfortune” are another pair of traditional tunes from Kerensa Newman, on Dulcimer and Whistle.

A second track from Hollie Rogers – “Holding On” follows – Hollie is blessed with a mellow soulful voice, and a songwriting talent which belies her tender years. Another track which features exquisite harmonies over a simple but effective acoustic guitar part.

“Biro Congregation” from Ian Eliott’s EP “Somewhat like a Monster” is next up – Ian is a wonderful sculptor and an amazing enigmatic musician - The CD features Ian on Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Organetta, Piano, Samples, Wine Glass, Melody Harp and Resonating Ukuleles!!.

“Farmers Union” by Mr Derek Wright, is best described as a Cornish version of The Wurzels – and celebrates the drinking activities of a group of Cornish farmers, who spend more time avoiding the wives than actually working! – taken from the cd “Pasties Cream and Treacle”.

“Violet Dawn” is a guitar / vocal piece from Shane Bailey, best known as guitarist with the Cornish instrumental trio the S.G.T. Project. This song was written for the Pan Celtic song contest. And tells the moving story of a father’s love for his daughter, as she grows and gets ready to leave the County in which she was born.

The wonderfully enigmatic Julian Gaskell follows, with “Technology will make us better”, taken from the cd of the same name - Taking on English and European folk, blues and country influences, these recordings use various ‘found sounds’ (a harmonium from a Camborne charity shop, an evicted piano, a Russian souvenir shop balalaika, a ‘zippy zither’, Falmouth seagulls etc…) along with some newly-rehearsed guitar finger styles borrowed from the likes of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake to come up with some very original music.

“New Level Ride” from Jon Chinn’s cd “Now is a Ship”, features Jon on Guitar and Vocal - wide influences from Blues, Folk, Jazz and Country melted to his own unique style.

To close the album is “Bell Ringing Contest” by Roger Bennett from his cd “Golden Daffodils” – a solo unaccompanied vocal piece about Bell Ringing rivals, who end their contest in the Cornish town of Callington.