SONG FOR TODAY: Epic 45 and Stephen Jones - With Our Backs To The City

Whilst walking in the pouring rain today, the shelter of an umbrella and an mp3 player provided me with a perfect moment of British melancholy. Protected from the rain you can appreciate the natural beauty of it coming down from the skies, and the track that was in my ears at the time served as a stunningly appropriate soundtrack. This song was originally released two years ago in 2010, but has recently been brought to my attention by our old friend Stephen Jones (of Babybird fame), whose vocals bless this sad and beautiful gem from Epic 45. After hearing the accompanying album 'Weathering', I was converted...

"There is a long tradition of pastoral music capturing a quintessential Englishness, running from Vaughan Williams through the English folk tradition to more recent names like Robert Wyatt and Talk Talk. Further down this line you'll find Epic45.

Ten years after their formation in a small rural Midlands village, a decade in which the nucleus of Ben Holton and Rob Glover have redefined and refined the band's sound, Epic45 release “Weathering”, their new album and definitive statement. Epic45's last full-length album “May Your Heart Be The Map” in 2007 was described as “the best English summer album ever” by Word Magazine, and was later included in their albums of the decade. “Weathering” takes the same elements, but is a more mature, reflective and subdued work with a far broader sonic palette.

'Weathering' boasts an impressive set of guest singers and musicians. Stephen Jones of Babybird lends his trademark falsetto to the beautiful “With Our Backs to the City”, a track co-written with Jones after he contacted the band, impressed by a cover of his song “Losing My Hair” that Epic45 had been performing live..."

BUY a copy of this brilliant album HERE