Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
£7GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD plus 32-page full colour saddle-stitched 210 x 210 mm art book of illustrations by Tom Knight.
Includes full lyrics and an essay by Matthew Simpkins.
Printed on high quality Aquarello Gesso art paper.
Includes unlimited streaming of Saltings
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
£15GBPor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Seven long months in the making, the vinyl version of Saltings by Rev Simpkins is now available to pre-order. We have these in the building and they will ship on or before 21 October 2022. This is proper pressed vinyl album (not a lathe-cut) in a strictly limited edition of 90 copies.
Includes unlimited streaming of Saltings
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
£18GBPor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Seven long months in the making, the vinyl version of Saltings by Rev Simpkins is now available to pre-order. We have these in the building and they will ship on or before 21 October 2022. This is proper pressed vinyl album (not a lathe-cut) in a strictly limited edition of 90 copies. Plus a 32-page full colour saddle-stitched 210 x 210 mm art book of Tom Knight’s illustrations, with lyrics and an essay by Rev Matthew Simpkins. The book is printed on deluxe Aquarello Gesso art paper.
Includes unlimited streaming of Saltings
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
'Saltings' is a close collaboration between Matt Simpkins and the Mersea Island artist, Tom Knight, who has created a stunning work of art for each song on the LP.
It is a loving portrait of the mystery and beauty of the salt marsh wildernesses of Essex, and a meditation on the human cost of the wilderness time of the pandemic.
Like Rev Simpkins's last LP, 'Big Sea', 'Saltings' is most of all a record of unblinking realism amidst darkness, and of a hope grounded in human experience.
The album weaves together tales of the legendary and mysterious figures of the saltings, such as John Ball (leader of the peasants’ revolt) and Saint Cedd (whose Saxon chapel stands at Bradwell), with reflections on the wilderness’s ever-changing tides, skies, and seasons. Saltings is an attempt to share the atmosphere and history of this remarkable place in picture and song.
Matt writes, "I wrote these songs walking the saltings during the pandemic, pondering the tears of exhaustion, anger, fear, frustration and mourning that I’d seen in others. So the songs are themselves saltings: little tears. Instead of weeping, I wrote and I sang. But these aren’t sorrowful songs. I hope they speak of the hope that resides in the saltings, and of real life and real compassion."
Art prints of Tom's illustrations for 'Saltings' will be available to purchase from tomknightillustration.co.uk
Engineered by Matthew Simpkins and Karl Younger
Mastered by Dr Eric James, Philosophers Barn Mastering
Photograph by James Fletcher
Curlews and skylarks: singing
The Reverend Matthew Simpkins: singing, banjos, 12-string guitar, viola, bass, analogue synthesiser, theremin, organs and harmoniums, drums Martha Simpkins: singing
Siân Simpkins: French horn, singing
Karl Younger: drums
Immense thanks to: Tom Knight (for the incredible talent and love he has lavished on this project), Martha Simpkins, James Simpkins, Siân Simpkins, Karl Younger, Jason Whittaker, Eric James, Toby Bull, Dan Merrill, James Fletcher, Adam Wisher, and Stafford Glover.
Combining original and traditional tunes on this release, Jim Ghedi has somehow escaped my notice until now. His stirring vocals, guitars and the harmonium, are supported by a quintet on double bass, violin, drums and percussion, as well as trumpet and flugelhorn. The lyrics are primarily dark, mostly focusing on social injustice and land inequity, and are passionately delivered by Jim’s expressive voice Nickie Harte Kelly