Harper Simon: new single, video and live dates
"Wishes and Stars" single released 21st June 2010 on [PIAS] Recordings
In support of his newly released, critically acclaimed debut album, singer songwriter Harper Simon is set to release the breezily beautiful Wishes And Stars as a single.
Buy CDs, MP3s, more:
The track is one of two on the album that were co-written by the acclaimed Nigerian author and Booker Price winner Ben Okri, who Simon met at a party and became a friend and fan of.
Watch "Wishes and Stars" video, directed by Joshua Leonard:
Harper Simon is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles and New York, and a former member of UK band Menlo Park.
Released in April (artwork by friend Tracey Emin), Simon's eponymous debut has won plaudits across the board for its taut songcraft. It was recorded in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles with the help of an impressive and decidedly eclectic, multigenerational group of musical collaborators - famed producer Bob Johnston (the man behind classic recordings from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen), an all-star group of veteran first-call Nashville session players, an impressive group of contemporary young singer-songwriters, friends, and yes, even Harper's own father, the legendary Paul Simon.
But for all the crucial musical support he received from so many great musicians, Simon himself is everywhere. He sings most of the gorgeous and evocative harmonies on the album, as well as playing the majority of the stunning guitar parts as well as co-arranging both the memorable string and horn arrangements that bring such unforgettable shading of musical colours to the album. He has taken time and care to make an album built to last. And this is only the beginning.
"These are 10 cleverly written, elegantly played and beautifully song pieces of pop craftsmanship" - Uncut **** 'Debut Album of the Month'
"Adopting the various styles of American folk-rock cheerfully and unselfconsciously... it's a treat" - The Guardian 4 stars
"Sweet sounding, impossible-to-dislike" - Q
"His self-titled debut is a touching, often beautiful collection of lilting chamber-pop and country-tinged songs" - The Sunday Times
"It could be Elliott Smith's younger brother" - The Sunday Independent
Harper Simon will be returning to the UK and Ireland in the summer for a string of dates and festivals.
Harper Simon UK tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
June 2010
Wed 23 Dublin Grand Canal Theatre (supporting Marianne Faithfull)
July 2010
Sun 18 London Apollo Victoria, UK (with Tori Amos)
Sat 24 Port Elliot Festival, UK
August 2010
Sun 1 Cambridge Folk Festival, Cambridge, UK
Fri 6 Belladrum Festival, Inverness, Scotland, UK
Sun 8 Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington, UK (Part of Pocklington 10th Anniversary music festival)
Fri 14 Leicester Summer Sundae, Leicester, UK
Harper Simon Official Website
Harper Simon MySpace
Tweet
Follow @JennyMay
More music: Jenny May music
Music News Twitter
