Here's the blurb from the mailshot: Here at Small Things Records we’re excited to announce that James Varda has a new album set for release later in the year. It’s called Chance And Time and you can hear a track off the album now at http://www.facebook.com/JamesVardaMusic The album was recorded with a number of the musicians who appeared on The River And The Stars. Nick Harper who last played with James on Hunger makes an appearance on one song. More to follow nearer release date, but we thought you would appreciate an early opportunity to hear something from the album. You can now also find James on YouTube and Twitter:
Album up for order on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chance-and-time/id923424577 And 2 songs up in full on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFjIyIunXKhJjLpzisxVVahkpxYUrxVOH
My copy finally arrived today and .... it's a good'un. I hadn't realised until a couple of days ago that the guy has terminal cancer. Very sad indeed. There's a review here: http://www.americana-uk.com/cd-reviews/item/james-varda-chance-and-time
I got my copy a week or two ago, and it's good though I have only had one listen so far. I hadn't realised about the cancer thing either, before. Sad indeed.
Yeah I've been listening to it for the past couple of days and it is very good and great to see him working with Nick again after all these years. I sent him an email to tell him that and asked him if he would be doing any gigs; but obviously I wasn't aware of his health either - not surprisingly now, he won't be doing any ... VERY sad indeed.
It's incredibly sad. I'm listening to "The Doctor Spoke" now and one's heart really goes out to the guy.
JAMES VARDA: PRESS RELEASE Small Things Records are sad to announce the death of James Varda, one of the most distinctive singer songwriters of his generation, at his home in Sheringham, Norfolk on 12 June, 2015. James had lived and worked with a rare form of cancer for some time. He had known this day would come and until a few weeks ago was reading and listening to music, as always inspired and inspiring in equal measure. On 2014’s astonishing album, Chance And Time, James turned his songwriting talent to chronicling the experience of confronting illness and death, and in doing so, created a unique language and music of love and pain, family, landscape and loss. It is undoubtedly his best work. James was the rarest of musicians, always and only making records on his own terms. His 1988 debut, Hunger, marked him out as the original indie acoustic outsider. His gigs in those days were an electric experience and led to invitations to appear on Channel 4’s Night Network, appearances at the Reading and Cambridge Folk Festivals, and a support slot on tour with Roy Harper. His later work, the stripped down acousticIn The Valley (2004); andThe River And The Stars (2013) showed a writer at peace with the landscape, and with an instinctive feel for nature. With his gifts as writer and guitar player to the fore, he aimed for perfection and, on Chance And Time(2014), he knew he had made a record which could not be bettered. And let my place be a sound, the colour of a church With windows lit in deep blue light, flooding sky and earth And let my place be a rhythm, supple and assured On which a melody can build and rise and words can find their worth Let my place be a chord, that echoes through the years Let my place be an affirmation, a handshake, a ‘Yes!’ Let My Place – James Varda 2014 There will be fuller tributes in due course and, if there’s any justice, his work will find long-overdue wider recognition in the weeks, months and years to come. But for the moment our thoughts are with James’s wife and sons, family and friends. We will all miss him terribly. For further information, contact: Will Harris on will.harris@pias.com
Here's an interview with Varda from a while ago, including a bit about his connection with Roy. http://www.triste.co.uk/jamesvarda.htm
