The album is packed with clever single lines that grab your attention even though the overall sound is very laid back and minimal. ‘Little English’ is the album’s most dynamic, a lone organ ballad alluding to ‘putting English’ on a cue ball, closes the album tightly and with strong imagery, Jackson Browne-like vocals and incredible backing harmonies. ‘It’s a Secret’ is a rich acoustic number and on opener ‘Here Tonight,’ Clothier sings one of his most clever and heartbreaking lines, “We watched the film in silence, twenty feet apart/surprised you didn’t hush me, you must have heard my heart.” Book of Days not only requires undivided attention, but it also warrants it, and is worth giving multiple listens.
Greg Newman, Bootleg magazine
I have listened to Nigel Clothier's "Book of Days" a few times and each time I find different facets that I enjoy. The title song, struck home for me, as I had played it the day after my husband and I had a similar conversation. It is a love song of the deepest kind.
Sally Schwartz, DaBelly.com
His songs offer simple arrangements while being far from simplistic. There is much packed into each song's story to maul over in your head. Each song lets out a little bit of what can be found in Nigel's heart. The release’s title, Book of Days, is very appropriate with each song acting almost like its own little chapter in a musical book.
C.W. Ross, Senior Writer, Indie Music Stop Review
He delivers some good, particularly inventive original songs as well as offering equally effective arrangements and solid vocals. Each track is like a mini story; particularly effective is the title tune, the sensitive Hepburn’s Run Away, the evocative Come North with haunting pedal steel and piano, and the sombre saloon ballad Hanging Out. While the singing is simple, the well-written lyrics will inevitably draw the listener in.
Alan Cackett, Editor, Maverick
Nigel Clothier has produced the first great album of 2008. Over the course of 11 songs Clothier takes you deep into both his heart and the heart of some exquisite music. Clothier's diction, the tunes and the downright love on songs such as the title track, Whisper in My Mouth and Little English will melt the hardest of hearts. Yet this is no one-paced album as the jaunty celebration of Manchester (and Ian Brown) in Exceptin' a Beach hits the honky tonk path via rockabilly to happiness whilst the upcoming single Come North introduces the casual listener into both Clothier's and our world.
Joe Hawkins, Mudhutter
Clothier's lyrics are charmingly exact and exactly descriptive. His music is simplistic but precise and annoyingly catchy. 'Come North' sits squarely in the folk idiom with a distinct feeling of urban story-telling/harsh-reality. But, there's something there that drags you in - quite what or how it happens I'm not really sure but it does creep up on you! Clothier does something here that's difficult to put in words - he makes you listen.
Toxic Pete
Season of the Rose shows off Clothier's sensitive vocals and inspired song writing as he laments lost love. Clothier sings wonderfully to a folk-inspired and sweet melody. Clothier's debut probably won’t cause much fuss as long as the media is obsessed with people with more cool credentials than good melodies, but he clearly deserves more.
Anna Maria Stjärnell, Luna Kafe
On Come North we have folk meets country meets story-telling. Always something I've been fond of within songwriters, their ability to tell stories through their songs.
www.floatationsuite.com
Nigel Clothier makes great use of melody and understands the importance of a hook, particularly when you don't have a lot of time to snag your audience. It also serves to remind that music does not have to be dark and harrowing in order to have legitimacy and be 'real'.
www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/releases.html
In the spirit of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, his music is gently spirited, calming waters running deep. His lyrics are a reflection on “the perfect imperfections” of love and life. With mellow vocal performance and the complex lyrical depths of a poet, the album speaks to the heart on an aesthetic and emotional level. The music is perfectly suited to introspection, contemplation, and a close slow dance on a rainy night. With the stark bareness of the instrumental arrangement, Clothier’s delivery is void of stadium glitz and glam. His approach is simple, honest, earthy. Sober and traditional, snappy and catchy, bluesy with a country twang, Book of Days is a satisfying journey from a seasoned artist with an understanding of the vulnerability that we often try to hide and skilled in the narrative song writing that immortalizes the human experience.
Kate Stephenson, myinditones.com
Album available from http://cdbaby.com/cd/nigelclothier
Top 20 Album of the Year at kweevak.com!
Maverick magazine says:
Inventive and enjoyable singer-songwriter album
3.5 stars
We’re selling our music downloads on AmieStreet.com, and to help promote us and their site, they’re giving you a 50% discount to download our songs!
All you have to do is click on the link below to get a 50% discount off our music – and there’s tens of thousands of other great independent artists on the site to check out, too.
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Just click the link and you'll be all set!
TunA the Day on 23 April 2008 with Come North at www. tunatheday. com/go/catchoftheday
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The album is available as CD or downloads on Leftarm Records - please visit:
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Musicians and Fine Artists for World Peace is a network of musicians, artists
& performers working to promote events & concerts focused on peace & raising global consciousness.
Just passing through in a vain attempt to catch up on comments on here..Lol..I have absolutely no chance of ever catching up..But I thought I could at least say drop in and say, Hi and wish you an awesome week ahead, take care, much love, Wendy, x
Hi Nigel,thought I'd make a start on my New Year's resolution to comment Everyone on both sites..Lol..This is goin to take forever but I'm determined to get there in the end!!Hope all is good and even though I've been too ill to keep in touch much over the last few weeks..Ok..Months..Please know that your friendship is greatly valued.Have a wonderful 2009,sending much love and many blessings to you and yours from probably the coldest,wettest country in the world aka South Wales!!Wendy,xxxxxx
The Hosting of the Sidhe
The host is riding from Knocknarea And over the grave of Clooth-na-Bare; Caolite tossing his burning hair, And Niamh calling Away, come away: Empty your heart of its mortal dream. The winds awaken, the leaves whirl round, Our cheeks are pale, our hair is unboun, Our breasts are heaving, our eyes are agleam, Our arms are waving, our lips are apart; And if any gaze on our rushing band, We come between him and the deed of his hand, We come between him and the hope of his heart. The host is rushing twixt night and day, And where is there hope or deed as fair? Caolite tossing his burning hair, And Niamh calling Away, come away.
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Hi Nigel, Thanks so much for the add. Your music is great.. keep up the good work and make sure you keep the music flowing..! Take care and have an awesome summer..! Joann
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