To celebrate Midsummer, Robyn G. Shiels invited us over to his patio for a glass or six of wine, to watch the sun go down and sing a few tunes.

We were wary at first. We’ve seen this guy live. We’ve heard “Hello Death”, “I’d Go To Funerals”, “The Dead Sea” and other cheery titles. Does he live in a graveyard? Would he, Lost Boys-style offer us a glass of wine and we’d have to live there forever?

Fortunately, Robyn was in a more chipper mood. His dark side actually revealed itself to be the more creative-variety of duende – and we left unharmed. There’s a stunning beauty in Robyn’s music that’s all the more raw and available when stripped down to its core elements as it is here.

Robyn G Shiels – Our Hope Lay Dying

Download for iPod (44.2MB)

Backed these days in his live shows by Ellen and Clare on backing vocals and piano respectively – Robyn’s taking his latest material in a lighter direction – sonically that is, the subject matter is still death, darkness, the usual. But the light feminine touch appears to take some of the edges off – which may soften the entry but hardens the blow, as a, uh, man once said.

Robyn G Shiels – Underneath The Night Of Stars

Download for iPod (70.3MB)

By the way, this is Ellen Turley’s second collaboration with Bandwidth. Look back a few months and you may notice her in the video for Panda Kopanda’s single Spirals. Robyn G. Shiels has a fantastic history of collaboration with other Northern legends, from back in the day, a Therapy? related side project SONS OF MASSEY, with future recordings promised with Duke Special and a new album ‘Blood Of The Innocents’, released next month on No Dancing records which was recorded with Fyfe Ewing. We cannee wait.

Robyn G Shiels – Mysterious Scowls

Download for iPod (44.8MB)

Director/Camera: Will McConnell
2009 Bandwidth Films

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