Mark Fry (vocals and guitars). A number of wonderful musicians also played on Shooting The Moon, including Steve Bentley-Klein (violin), Mia Soteriou (keyboards), William Gibbs (tenor sax), Richard Marcangelo (drums), Kevin Powell (bass) and Pete Willsher (pedal steel). Nick Russell-Pavier played banjo (among other instruments) and worked magic.
Influences
Bert Jansch
The Velvet Underground
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Leadbelly
Toumani Diabate
Ravi Shankar
Brian Jones
Traffic
The Kinks
Treasure Island
Captain Slaughterboard
Piero della Francesca
Samuel Palmer
the moon
hangovers
shooting stars
various drugs
broken hearts
... to be continued
At the Empty Bottle, Chicago, 21 November 2008
Sounds Like
"This is much more than the comeback of the year, it's also an album I'll be looking back on a year from now when I recall '08's finest releases." Shindig!, May-June 08
"My advice? Get hold of a copy of this album, pour yourself a large drink, turn down the lights and prepare to melt away under the spell of this exquisite creation." Folking, April 08
"Fry hasn't lost his utterly unique and somewhat disquieting vision. For fans of eerie singer-songwriters everywhere." Lucid Culture, Mar 08
"Distinguished by a pared-back sound, a pleasingly elegiac mood that is sustained throughout, and a handful of top-drawer tunes." Total Music, Mar 08
"Beautifully produced with a sonorous, mellow tone... the songs mostly glow gently in their after-hours setting." Leicester Bangs, Mar 08
"A very well-produced, mellow gem... bluesy, jazzy and folky at the same time, with mandolins, acoustic guitars and smoky, sultry late-night saxophones backing up Fry's wise and seasoned voice... Great album." Left Hip, Feb 08
"A late-night delight to be taken with heartache and whisky 'n' ice." Subba-cultcha, Jan 08
When 19-year-old Mark Fry recorded his debut album DREAMING WITH ALICE for RCA in Italy in 1971 he never imagined that it would resurface three decades later as a sought-after cult recording, frequently bootlegged and described by Dream magazine as "one of those albums that feels like a secret you can't wait to share".
The 2006 Sunbeam Records reissue of ALICE prompted Mark to return to the studio to record SHOOTING THE MOON, his first album in 35 years. The songs on this new album, written over many years, reflect Mark's secluded, rural life as a painter and, until now, a very private musician.
"About as perfect an album as you are likely to hear all year", said Shindig! magazine of SHOOTING THE MOON. Mark is currently working on a third album, exploring new musical collaborations... and trying to spend some time in his longtime home, his painting studio.
The CD version of SHOOTING THE MOON is available from Amazon UK and direct from Mark's website, www.markfry.co.uk You can also download the mp3 version from iTunes, or click on the image below to download it from cdbaby...
Mark has been working with Nick Franglen on a completely new version of the entire title song of DREAMING WITH ALICE, to be released on limited edition 7" purple vinyl in August 2009. The B side is the first (and perhaps only...) live performance of THE WITCH, recorded in Chicago in November 2008. AVAILABLE NOW from Fruits de Mer at www.brackenrecords.com
Hi Mark- Hope all's good with you. In case you're around on Weds 28th October I'm playing the rather charming Easycome Acoustic Club @ The Old Nun's Head, SE15 3QQ. Also performing are two ear-pleasing Bristol cohorts. We all like your music so would be very nice to see you. Best, Dan
Hi Mark, hope you'll spend a good relaxing sunday........ (would have liked to send you a flower or apple photo but you'll have to see them in my picture section then....) best wishes, helmut
Thank you Mark. That means so very much to me. It was a pleasure to have met you and to have been turned on to your music (thanks to Marc : ) We'll see you again soon I hope, in the not too distant future. x x x
thank you for your kind words. Indeed I was thinking of you too when uploading the pictures of trees and fruits as this section is for people still having open heart, mind and a sense for nature and beauty ! (more to follow) In these days some forms of the prune family are in full blossom - it^s fantastic as it is pure joy for all senses....
