Memory Vine Arrives... At Last!
September 2006

Exciting news! Well, exciting for me anyway – my new solo album is finished and ready to be heard across the world in all its home-recorded, low-fi glory.

I’ve called it Memory Vine, for no particular reason, and it has 10 songs on it. Some have been knocking around for ages and some are fairly new, but all of them are quite different from what you’d hear on a Mustangs album. I think the term the press use these days is ‘acoustic indie pop’, but I’d throw in folk, country and blues too if you have enough space on your screen.

I think it’s a far superior CD to Shadow On The Hill, my previous solo album, not only in songwriting but also in production, performance and packaging. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the songs on SOTH at the time, but you move on and have to let go of the past – and that’s in many ways what the themes of the new album revolve around.

Anyway, I hope you check it out, have a listen and enjoy it. It’s been a long time coming.

The Mustangs have been busy as ever this last month – we did a short run of dates up North over the Bank Holiday to promote Split Decision. Covering 1400 miles in 4 days, we crammed ourselves and the gear into the van and let Derek drive us everywhere. With only a Fats Waller tape and our quick wits to entertain us, we finally pulled back into South London weary, bleary and ready for a shower (though not together) late on Sunday night.

It was a cracking weekend and the gigs were great fun. We played at the Farm in Chalfont-St -Leonards the night after the Kooks played there to 1500 people. As we pulled in to the venue it was clear no one had tidied up yet from the night before. No doubt they were expecting another 1500 to turn up for us and thought ‘why bother, we’ll only have to do it again tomorrow’. In the event, it’s fair to say that we played to a considerably smaller audience, but no less messy, and I swear the litter had doubled by the time we pulled away. Maybe it was just reproducing.

The weekend culminated in a show at the Colne Blues Festival. This is the year’s biggest UK blues event and we pulled out all the stops to play an energetic afternoon slot. It was tremendous fun, especially watching the crowd grimace as they realise that we are not a ‘pure’ blues band, then start smiling and clapping as they go on to realise that, hey, that’s not such a bad thing and these guys are actually quite good. Well, it’s either that or the beer is starting to kick in.

Believe it or not, we have started writing for the new album. Yes, I know that SD has only just come out, but you must bear in mind that we actually finished it months ago, so we already have one ear on its follow up. If the new tracks are anything to go by, the new CD will be a corker... but I’ll unveil more on that over the coming months. I think we are looking at a Spring/Summer 2007 release.

But until then, you have the mighty fine Split Decision to enjoy, as well as my Memory Vine. Blimey, you’re spoiled aren’t you...

Be nice, love life and listen to music...

Adam