When Gavin Thorpe dreamt of recording at Abbey Road, he didn't envisage a
chap in a cravat asking him cheesy questions. Still, the Bristol-based
troubadour isn't complaining. Invited to sing six songs from his stunning
debut, Pictures, in the infamous Studio 2 for internet radio station
Worldspace's prestigious Abbey Road Sessions, Thorpe is in his element.
Accompanied on piano, playing a battered acoustic guitar, his heart-stopping
performance is simply sublime. When he closes with a heavenly cover of
Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River, even the show's puffed-up presenter is
rendered speechless.
Afterwards, over a Guinness in a pub down the road, Thorpe calls the
experience amazing.
"As soon as I walked in to Studio 2, I was in awe," he says. "You can feel
the history in that room, almost see the Beatles standing where you are.
Then, when I was about to sing, the presenter asked a question I didn't
expect. That made me even more nervous."
Faced with an opening gambit of 'Tell me about Gavin Thorpe', the 29 year
old handled himself with aplomb. But then Thorpe isn't entirely new to the
music industry. Pictures may be his debut album, but six years ago, he was
signed in the States by the late, great Ahmet Ertegun, who was struck by the
scruffy lad with dreamy looks, whose easy melodies feel instantly familiar
and whose warm voice is hypnotically soulful. Indeed, 'You got soul' is what
Ertegun said after Thorpe played for the Atlantic boss in his office.
That what should have been Thorpe's first album never saw the light of a day
is familiar tale of label politics, law suits and wasted opportunities. That it cost close to half a million dollars and was recorded in Jim Henson's glossy studio - where We Are The World was conceived - convinced Thorpe that his songs were more suited to a DIY approach.
With a major label publishing deal still in place - he was signed by the
woman who discovered Coldplay and Keane - Thorpe used his own money to make
Pictures, recorded in just 12 days at Parr Street studios in Liverpool.
"We were lent the studio free as a favour," says Thorpe. "It's a fantastic
place. Coldplay record there and we got to use their string quartet and some
great equipment. But it was still very DIY. Simon Finley, who plays with
Echo & The Bunnymen, came in to do drums and percussion, but we had to teach
him all the songs on the first day. I produced and mixed with Rupert
Christie, who also arranged the strings and recorded them in a matter of
hours. It was a crazy 12 days, but the album sounds amazing, much better
than the one that cost twenty times as much."
"I think Gavin is exaggerating about the recording taking 12 days," butts in
Christie, Pictures' co-producer, who played piano at the Abbey Road
sessions, but can usually be found touring with Lou Reed or composing major
movie soundtracks. "As I recall, it was ten. I have worked with hundreds of
acts, from Scissor Sisters to Gilbert O'Sullivan, and I've never seen an
album made so quickly, or with so much spirit."
The result is that Pictures feels fresh, intimate and strikingly honest.
The strings soar, but never intrude, the percussion has a loose rock rattle,
but doesn't drive the songs and Thorpe's captivating vocals could trick you
in to thinking they were being sung live in your living room. As for the
lyrics, Thorpe doesn't like to comment, but love, loss, regret and a search
for solace are recurring themes in songs that prefer to express emotions
than tell tales. The title track contains just two short verses, but
captures exactly what it's like to find a photo of someone special from your
past.
"I'm very proud of that song," says Thorpe. "It only took ten minutes to
write and it doesn't have many lyrics, but it says all it has to. Everyone
has pictures of someone they don't see anymore, because they left or died or
fell out, whatever. I don't say who it's about. That's up to the listener."
At the Abbey Road recoding, Thorpe described achingly lovely album highlight
No Hard Feelings as an ode to everyone he had done wrong by. "Ah, I made
that up," he admits. "The guy asked me to explain it and I couldn't, so I
just said that on the spot."
Most of Pictures was written in the last two years. Only four tracks
survived from the original album, but they were given a new lease of life by
being stripped down and reworked.
"Those were the ones I loved too much to let go," says Thorpe. "The rest I
left to start afresh."
The fresh start means the boy who took up guitar at 12, inspired by his
singer mother and bass playing father, whose blues band supported the likes
of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, finally gets to release his first album.
"When Gavin was 17," recalls Thorpe Snr, "I sent him to a music teacher.
Six months later, the guy called me and said it was pointless him having
lessons. He could already write songs that were beyond the teacher. Every
time Gav plays me a new song I'm reminded of that phone call. He's an
extreme talent and he still surprises even me."
Gavin your music is so inspiring and uplifting, it's exactly what I look for when I need a dose of just good real music. Ever since I heard your song Out of Place from the What a Girl Wants soundtrack I've been a huge fan! Thanks for being so awesome!
Hi pleasure to meet you, y’okies? As you may have read, im a professional violinist.. I play in 2 main bands: THE MATTHEW BENNETT BAND and DUELS. Do check them out in my top friends n let me know what you think, music in stores now for both of them! If you need any strings or owt arranging/recording do get in touch, Have a good sunny day, LESLEy-MARiE x
>> your songs seemed pretty instantly likeable to me, which is always good aint it! hehe... trying to get down to bristol to gig with the matthew bennett band? can you suggest any places? :)
wow you too gavin! great stuff and strong vocals! thanks for checking out my page and for your friend request. i'm definitely glad to add you. take care and stop by anytime!
I'd like to make a request... =] Could you by ay chance put "The Lift" on your player please? That's definitely now my favourite and would love to put it on my profile =] x
Heyyyy! I got your CD this morning and just to let you know... I'm loving it! =] Out of place is still my favourite though (after hearing it on what a girl wants) =]=] Hope all is well xxxxx
Thanks for the friend request! Love what your doing, love your sound. Keep up the great work and I look forward to possibly sharing the stage with you someday!
Hey Gavin, I was in an airplane yesterda, flying over Saudi Arabia & they were playing your song "pictures" on the inflight radio over and over again..good on you!
