East Side Confessions follows 2020’s Little Thunderstorms and 2022’s Flatlands, both of which received critical acclaim and widespread airplay.
The sound of the new album reflects those, but with a sense of evolution. KB’s upbringing on the cold coasts of England mixes with dustier American influences as his lap steel and fingerstyle guitar combine with an eclectic group of musical collaborators.
KB’s lap steel guitar playing remains at the heart of the album. “I’ll never consider myself a virtuoso - but I’m more passionate than ever about lap steel as a canvas for songs. It can sing like a bird; growl in pain; and one open chord can paint a picture of a remembered place.”
The title track opens with a quote from KB’s father (a proud Man of Kent): ’my father always said we were born on the East Side, and the East Side’s where we’ll die.’ Lyrical imagery throughout the album embraces the chase for an intangible elusive passion (’the sound of the light through the trees’); a man asking for redemption at the end of his life (‘don’t let the rain fall on my face’) and two songs about those who have left, ‘Until Today’ and ‘The Flowers Outside the Church’. The east/west axis is flipped in Track 6 - where dreams were ‘set a western course for The Falls of Idaho… but they’re somewhere east of Moscow, dying in the snow.’
Musical guests add colours and textures. Alfie Reeves’ electric guitar solo soars over ‘The Light Through The Trees’ while Supalung drummer Simon Small combines with KB’s old bassist bandmate Stuart Wilkinson on the swampy ‘Don’t Let The Rain Fall on My Face’ as Dean Parker’s electric guitar adds fire. Claudia Stark’s soft harmonies, Gavin Thomas’ emotive harmonica and Charlie Jonas Walter’s yearning pedal steel all make welcome returns as Little Thunderstorms alumni.
Alongside the six originals KB interprets four of his favourite songs, including a 1970s chart classic not normally associated with a lap steel guitar troubadour: ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Somet
KB: “for me that song just captures growing up in late ’70’s southeast England: a gentle yearning for innocence with a knowledge that adulthood lay ahead.” Layered vocals by Sarah Carter and Jonny Martin’s ambient guitars blend with KB’s lap steel to take it somewhere sonically ancient and modern.
KB live favourite ‘Love & Texaco’ (by Gretchen Peters) is followed by ‘White House Blues’, a tune from his big brother’s folk club days. “I was obsessed with him playing the John Renbourn version, cigarette burning in the headstock and uncut strings curling from the tuning pegs.” Charlie Jonas Walter (of Bluegrass duo Jonas and Jane) plays a 1920s fretless banjo which weaves in and out of KB’s lo-fi parlour guitar and voice.
The album finishes with a cover described by KB as a longtime favourite: ‘That Kind Of Lonely’ by Patty Griffin. “This song epitomises the power of simple chords and vulnerable truth; and it contains one of my favourite ever lyrics: ‘your eyes were following the dancer falling down a flight of stairs.’” The song is performed on acoustic guitar, Weissenborn and solo voice: the guest musicians have all left the room, leaving KB alone, glass almost empty, candle burning low.
A video for the title track will be posted in November just prior to the album’s release with a further video scheduled to follow in January for KB’s spin on The Korgis’ ‘Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime
PRAISE FOR FLATLANDS
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The follow-up to the UK musician's 2021 album Little Thunderstorms has a real intimacy. Nothing fancy, just a man, a guitar (once in a while a dobro or piano) and 10 songs, six originals and four covers, including Tom Waits's Johnsburg, Illinois. Dusty, evocative folk-blues Americana - Comet Girl; The Black Crow Keeps on Flying; Driftwood Avenue, whose mournful harmonica sounds like a distant train - they draw you down the road with him, eavesdropping on his thoughts.” Mojo (4 stars) “…an old-soul troubadour for the modern world.” FabricationsHQ “Simple, understated and ineffable proof that less is so often much more, these may be flatlands but the landscape Bayley paints in his words and music is stunning.” FATEA “…wonderful songwriter and stunning lap steel guitarist … immaculately crafted … truly magnificent!” Folk Wales Online Magazine “ KB’s enduring love affair with his hand crafted Weissenborn guitar is plain for all to hear, embellishing his intimate vocal delivery as he lends his simple, unadorned charm to a beguiling blend of freshly minted material and covers of songs by some of his favourite tunesmiths” Morning Star PRAISE FOR LITTLE THUNDERSTORMS “Atmospheric playing, dusty guitar and some compelling songs. An early year highlight.” Americana-UK “…an outstanding album.” At The Barrier “‘… full of beautiful songs, characters, and music.” Folk and Tumble “…thoughtful…understated… melodic…evocative… powerful” RNR (4 stars) Social:For further information requests please contact:
G Promo PR | UK/European Press & Radio
Contact: Geraint or Deb Jones Email: gpromo@btinternet.com Web: www.gpromopr.com |
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