"The Mississippi delta was shining like a National guitar," sang Paul Simon, and here is mine shining for all its worth. The original blues guitar, Nationals went out of production for many years and the old ones were always coveted but of mixed quality. Mark Knopfler famously put a 1937 National on the cover of Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms. But in recent years they have gone back into production. Many say they sound way better than before. The result is a whole new range of metal resonator guitars. I bought mine last year. It is a pre-owned 2009 National Style 'N' Reso-Phonic in 'German Silver'. It's not really silver. They just call it that. It's actually a nickel-played alloy. But it plays and sounds great. And I have just used it centrally on a track on my new album - the follow-up to Hendra - due out next Spring.
News — In Full
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My 1962 Gretsch Clipper
My '62 tobacco sunburst Gretsch Clipper. Bought for £200 in 1982. It became the sound of Summer into Winter, North Marine Drive and Eden. The thin hollow body and single pickup gives a warm jazzy tone but low sustain - great for chordal stuff. Gretsch originally made it as a no-frills entry-level guitar, but it has great character. When I bought it it had lost it's pick guard, so I had to source a new one. Still play it live to this day, although sometimes superceded by my Gretsch Single Anniversary 1959.
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My 1959 Gretsch Single Anniversary
I bought this for the Hendra tour in 2014. I wanted a single pick-up to capture the sounds of North Marine Drive but with a bigger body than my old Gretsch Clipper to add warmth and dimension to the live sound. It went with me everywhere and I ended up playing songs like Hendra and Golden Ratio on it too. I temporarily changed the bridge to help it stay in tune on the road but otherwise it is all original. The colour is smoke-green.
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BBC 6Music 60min Mix May 2011
Another 60 min mix from my 2-hour 6Mix radio show for BBC 6Music. This one was originally broadcast on May 22 2011.
DJ Sprinkles presents K-SHE, 'Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair' (Skylax) / Blackbird Blackbird 'Summer Heart' (Blackbird Blackbird) / Phantogram 'Mouthful Of Diamonds' (BBE) / Lake People 'In A Few Deep Words' (Musik Dewinnt Freunde) / Miracle Fortress 'Raw Spectacle' (Pantha du Prince Remix) (Secret City) / Romanthony (pictured) 'The Wanderer' (Rob Mello No Ears Remix) (Glasgow Underground) / Abyss 'Birdsong' (Buzzin' Fly) / Bob Sinclar 'The Ghetto' (Yellow) / Danny Tenaglia 'Loft In Paradise' (Ben Watt Unreleased Edit) (Unreleased)/ Lovebirds feat. Stee Downes 'Want You In My Soul' (Winding Road) / Abyss 'Birdsong' (Flowers and Sea Creatures Remix) (Buzzin' Fly)
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Magic in Nature - Deep Folk Mixtape 5
Mixed with additional space echo, found sounds and field recordings. Recorded early March 2015. This is a non-commercial, non-profit mix. If you like any of the artists featured, please seek them out and buy their music.
Tracklist:
Klankbeeld - Electric Train Passing [FX]
Julie Byrne - Holiday
Klankbeeld - Forest Spring Birds Windy [FX]
Gary Ogan and Bill Lamb - Kac
The Weather Station - Way It Is, Way It Could Be
James Blackshaw - Key
Klankbeeld - Cobblestone Road Traffic [FX]
Luluc - Small Window
Sam Moss - Minature Dwellings II
The Durutti Column - Portrait for Frazier
A Mountain, The Sea and You - Happiness
Pentangle - A Woman Like You
Gold Leaves - The Silver Lining
