Aidan Smith 'Fancy Barrel'

“Fancy Barrel is a vaudevillian pot-pourri of Macca melodies, sly wit and artful arrangements, often recalling the kaleidoscopic joy of Harry Nilsson's late '60s output. Subsequent spins reveal a warped logic to avant-lounge odysseys ‘Bert's Violent Rage’ and ‘Basslines and Shapes’, while ‘The Cuckold's trumpet and accordion lilt cradles a doomed narrative that would make Randy Newman proud.”
- 4/5 Mojo, November 2005

“There's a hint of 'Abbey Road'-era Beatles on the accordion'n'brass-backed 'The Cuckold' while 'Everytime I Lean I Fall Asleep' shows that Smith can do James Taylor-ish acoustic love songs too. The oddball, tea-fixated 'Jam Will Suffice', however, will have you wondering if Smith has a dog called Gromit and invents rabbit-catching devices for fun. Whatever the truth, 'Fancy Barrel' is a right little cracker.”
- 8/10 NME, December 2005

'Fancy Barrel'

Aidan Smith 'Fancy Barrel'
(ACAT010)

Tracklisting:
1. Aeroplanes, Pigs etc
2. The Cuckold
3. Alone, Askew
4. Love Song (With Aneurysm)
5. Everytime I Lean I Fall Asleep
6. Jam Will Suffice
7. Mantra #1
8. Song For Manchester
9. Vaudeville
10. Words Waltz Like Flies
11. Bert's Violent Rage
12. Donkey Blood
13. Everything Is Boring
14. Basslines & Shapes
15. Everybody Thinks I'm A Millionaire

All songs written by Aidan Smith

Guitars, piano, keyboards, harmonica, concertina, bass guitar on 1, 2 and 7, drums on 13 and various other bits and bobs by Aidan Smith. Bass and electric bass guitar by Paul Blakesley who also did backing singing on 4 and 13. Drums on 1, 4, 6, 10 and 11 by Brian Edwards. Drums on 2 and 7 by Danny Wilkinson. All cornet and right-speaker guitar on 3 by Rick Tomlinson. Trombone on 1 and 13 by Joe Stephenson. Cello by Semay Wu. Storytelling on 11 by Anselm Burke. Flute on 5 by Bernard Moss Backing singing on 1 by Julie McLarnon Handclaps on 15 by Kara Leckenby

Produced and Engineered by
Julie McLarnon at Analogue Catalogue Mastered by Martin Giles at Alchemy Soho

“A one-man band of Delia Derbyshire library rhythms, found sounds, sparrow chirps and bucolic skiffle, he's an unlikely collision of Deryck Guyler, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra and The Beta Band.”
- 4/5 Uncut, September 2005

“Wistful strumming and vaudeville piano-plinking from a man who sounds like he's surrounded by flute-playing pixies on springs. If Badly Drawn Boy swapped his beanie for a thinking cap he might have achieved this skewed brilliance.”
- 7/10 NME, August 2005

“It's this eccentricity and perverseness that draws Aidan Smith away from the more pedestrian crop of wet-behind-the-ears boys with acoustic guitars. James Blunt he isn't, but 'Early As The Trees' proves Aidan Smith is a beautiful talent out on his own.”
- Word Magazine, September 2005

A 7 track mini-album released in August 2005, Early As The Trees was Aidan Smith’s first release on Analogue Catalogue, following on from his two EPs of home recordings on Manchester label Twisted Nerve. A mixture of home and studio recordings, the title track managed to reference Harold Pinter, Noel Gallagher and Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’ whilst showcasing Aidan’s knack for a catchy melody and skewed pop brilliance. The rest of the songs here serve as a perfect introduction to Aidan’s musical world, with ‘Writer’s Block’ notable for featuring drums and percussion from hairy man and future Noisette Jamie Morrison.

Aidan Smith 'Early As The Trees'
(ACAT008)

Tracklisting:
1. Early As The Trees
2. Rooster
3. Jasper's Jump
4. Alone, Askew
5. Dental Records
6. Writer's Block
7. Eclipse Song

All songs written by Aidan Smith

All instruments played by Aidan Smith apart from...Electric bass guitar and scenery noises on 1 by Paul Blakesley. Drums on 1 by Brain Epwerps. Right-speaker guitar on 4 by Rick Tomlinson. Drums and shakers on 6 by Jamie Morrison

Tracks 1, 4 and 7 produced and engineered by Julie McLarnon at Analogue Catalogue All others recorded at home by Aidan Smith on a 7 track tape machine
Mastered by Martin Giles at Alchemy Soho