Saltings, by Rev Simpkins

Saltings

by Rev Simpkins

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£7 GBP 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

£15 GBP or 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

£18 GBP or 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.

ships out within 3 days

£25 GBP or more

1.	Hail to the New King of England 02:47	buy track
2.	Plough Sunday 03:24	buy track
3.	A Ballad of John Ball 03:51	buy track
4.	For Every Number 03:53	buy track
5.	Gathering Grounds 03:28	buy track
6.	Ghost Harmonies 03:50	buy track
7.	St. Runwald's Preachment 03:40	buy track
8.	Song of Songs 03:52	buy track
9.	In the Marsh a Desert 04:16	buy track
10.	John Henry's Prayer 02:11	buy track

about

'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

credits

released March 25, 2022

Illustrations, design & typesetting by Tom Knight tomknightillustration.co.uk

Produced by Matthew Simpkins

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.

All songs: words, music, arrangement and recording ℗ and © 2022 Matthew Simpkins. Except Hail to the New King of England: words and music ℗ and © 2020 Matthew Simpkins, arrangement and recording ℗ and © 2022 Matthew Simpkins; and For Every Number: words, music, arrangement and recording ℗ and © 2021 Matthew Simpkins.
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antigen records Ipswich, UK

DIY record label / niche interest vanity project, still operating out of a bedroom on a council estate in Ipswich.

antigenrecords.com

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