‘Sacred Songs For Worrying Times’ came about when Righteous was just a few weeks old. I wanted to get people to sift through the many religious tunes that filtered into folk and country back in the early 1900s and also to look at contemporary artists who had explored similar territory.
I made a CD as an example including tracks from the new Como Gospel album on Daptone, The Maddox Brothers And Rose, The Band, Palace Brothers, The Golden Gate Quartet and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ ‘God’ Hotel’ and started talking to email buddies about getting involved.
It grew and grew and you now hold 23 tracks from a bunch of wayward souls all singing for a better day, redemption or about the sheer futility of it all. The majority of the tracks were recorded specially for the project.
I’ve sequenced it to flow together as one never ending hymn, maybe for these modern times when cash is scarce but there still needs to be a belief in something even if it’s just the joy of hearing some great new songs. We here at Righteous hope you enjoy it.
1 God Won't Save You Now David Arnold Featuring Jasmine Baird and Toby Pitman David Arnold has
composed soundtracks for the recent Bond movies, Zoolander, 2 Fast 2
Furious, Little Britain and lots more. Next up is Narnia.
2 But For You Who Fear My Name Welcome Wagon Welcome Wagon are produced by Sufjan Stevens and play beautiful harmonic music. They say: “Sacred folk songs for all ages.”
3 Devil Town Noah And The Whale Noah And The Whale are like a
modern day version of The Joy Strings with a snarling singer leading
the way. ‘Devil Town’ is a Daniel Johnson song.
4 Trampin' Cherry Ghost Cherry Ghost write great songs that go psychedelic live. ‘Trampin’’ is a rhythmic chant with finely-grooved reverb ambience. 5 32b Distress Liz Janes Liz Janes is a great “unsung”
singer songwriter who chose this Sacred Harp tune and filled it with
real soul and a man playing a saw.
6 Hymn Babel Babel are mesmerising live. ‘Hymn’ is a previously unreleased exclusive track that resonates with longing and deep compassion.
7 My Lord Dawn Kinnard Dawn Kinnard’s track was recorded over two continents and is an aching plea for direction, pure goosebump music. And that voice.
8 Invisible Friend Woodpigeon Woodpigeon’s Mark Hamilton is
friends with melody as his back porch singalong with thigh slapping,
Tupperware and great harmonies proves.
9 One Of Us Malcolm Middleton Malcolm Middleton’s stark
reinvention of Joan Osbourne’s huge hit ‘One Of Us’ simply took my
breath away when I first heard it. Genius!
10 Troublesome Waters Richard Hawley Richard Hawley’s ‘Troublesome Waters’ is an echoey cross of Appalachian blues and r’n’r balladeering from way back.
11 Calling You Matthew Kilford Matthew Kilford has a great voice.
When I asked him to do a track he sent me a youtube link to Bob And
Nola Wills doing the song. Perfect.
12 You're Not Supposed To Field Music Field Music open with a hummed version of ‘Abide With Me’ that unfolds into a mighty symphony of sound, a visionary experience.
13 Never Said A Prayer Before Theoretical Girl Theoretical Girl makes music that’s more Pet Shop than Puritan but the confessional lyric takes it to somewhere else completely.
14 Ain’t No Jesus In Here Sweet Billy Pilgrim Sweet Billy Pilgrim’s multi-layered
ambience underpins their introspective self doubt, which festers behind
a gorgeous deep, warm vocal.
15 When Were You In Mexico Ryan Driver Ryan Driver is the singer and
guitarist of Slint whose solo debut album includes this otherworldly
epic, a haunting piece of brooding emotion.
16 Alone and Forsaken Castanets Castanets sound like they are resident in a demented church where a fuzz guitar has replaced the melodic church organ.
17 Happiness Won Me Over El Perro Del Mar The enigmatic El Perro Del Mar from Sweden has an authentic echoey and indeed churchy vibe plus lots of mystical rhymes too.
18 Grandmother Waits For You The Handsome Family The Handsome Family deliver perfect late night, back porch music with a twist in the tale and a moral to their meander.
19 I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore Michael Weston King Michael Weston King’s country-tinged take on this despondent and sorrowful song is full of yearning and a neat dobro guitar.
20 Bones georgia's Horse georgia’s Horse sound like they’ve been wafted in from a dusty sepia-toned land with a penchant for the bereft.
21 Tamar Puerto Muerto If the jukebox in the bar features
a Gospel chorus, a waling story of street life turned ugly, then
chances are Puerto Muerto are involved.
22 Dead Love Papercuts Papercuts use rolling keyboards and reverbed drums behind their sermon about the afterlife delivered by a voice from above. 23 God Still Won't Save You Now David Arnold
