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DUIR
After the release of 'A Giant' in November 2003, I began demoing a number of new tracks with TEMPLAR brighton on his newly acquired digital porta-studio. Over the course of the winter of 2004/2005, a number of impromptu sessions were recorded in my mother's attic room in Grantham. The tracks were written with no specific project or release in mind, however the initial tracks were based upon observations made on fieldtrips to places of interest in Lincolnshire. As the recordings progressed, the assemblage began to take the form of a journey from my birthplace in Grantham, north - along the limestone escarpment known as the Lincoln Edge - to the River Humber.
On completion of these 'home' recordings, it became our intention to put out the demos under the working title 'Byard's Leap'. The release never materialised and several months passed before we re-visited the recordings in the spring of 2005. We realised - with hindsight - that it had been a wise decision not to release the album in its raw form, however it was evident that certain compositions and backing tracks carried with them a unique charm and atmosphere.
In the summer of 2005, TEMPLAR brighton and I took several of the backing tracks, which formed the backbone of 'Byard's Leap', into the 'Mouse House' studio in Nottingham and began developing and expanding them them with COMPUTER coalwood. DOGGEN foster and KEVLAR bales were often in and out of the studio during our recording sessions and both made valuable contributions to our recordings. With a number of core tracks established, we were encouraged by the comments of those who were privvy to our efforts and we made a conscious decision to expand upon the existing material and prepare it for a future release. Throughout 2006, a number of further sessions were organised, involving COMPUTER coalwood, ANTRONHY øh and myself, and as a result of these sessions, two additional tracks: 'Washing Molly Grime' and 'Humber', were written to complement the existing recordings.
Released under the collective name of name of DUIR, 'The Stout Guardian of the Door' represents an un-sequenced journey of discovery from the Hill O'Harrow, north to Humber's edge. The corresponding map - available via the band's website - details the sites mentioned in the spoken word text and will act as your guide, should you wish to retread the heathen path.
welbourn TEKH 'the town in the gravel basin' June 2007
DUIR 'The stout Guardian of the Door' shrinkwrapped - Digi-Pak CD is NOW available from the the band's website.
PART ONE - From the Hill O'Harrow to the Lincoln Gap
Track One: DUIR: THE STOUT GUARDIAN OF THE DOOR The track is based upon a walk undertaken from Hall's Hill near Grantham across the heathland to the church of St. John and St. James in the village of Dorrington. The journey observes places of interest on the way including; the barrow-like hill of Hambleton near Syston, the site of the shrine of the three mothers at Ancaster, Byard's Leap and the Knights Templar's Preceptory Tower at Temple Bruer, before finally arriving at Dorrington the half-way house, that stands as testimony to Duir the stout guardian of the door.
KEVLAR bales: Drums, TEMPLAR Brighton: Reverse Piano, COMPUTER coalwood: Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron, Synthesizer, Electric Piano, DOGGEN foster: Lead Guitar and Bass & welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word.
Track Two: A SINGULARITY In the centre of the land of sheep stand the remains of a circular shrine, attributable to the Knights Templar.
COMPUTER coalwood: Sequenced Synthesizer.
Track Three: AIRMAN ROSS AT THE CRONE'S WELL During his service at RAF Cranwell, T.E. Lawrence was registered as Airman Ross. He spent his time in Lincolnshire riding around the Lincoln Heath on his Brough Superior motorcycle and was a frequent visitor to the remains of Knights Templar's preceptory at Temple Bruer. On one occasion, he was known to have challenged a pilot of a light aircraft to a race from RAF Cranwell to Spitalgate Level near Grantham. As the bi-plane flew overhead, Lawrence raced along Ermine Street on his metal steed.
TEMPLAR Brighton: Effects and Loops, welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word & Bass.
Track Four: IN THE SHADOW OF DUNSTON PILLAR Dunston pillar, built by Sir Francis Dashwood founder of the 'Hell-Fire Club', stands in the centre of Lincoln Heath and once acted as an inland lighthouse to aid travellers crossing this dark plateau. At one stage in its history, a statue of King George III replaced the octagonal lantern that once adorned the tower. The remains of this effigy can be found within the grounds of Lincoln Castle.
TEMPLAR Brighton: Guitar.
Track Five: PUNK ROCK AT BRAUNCEWELL On 16th August 1977 - the day that Elvis Presley died, we were holed up in a haunted farmhouse on the Lincoln Heath writing punk rock songs.
KEVLAR bales: Drums, TEMPLAR Brighton: Synthesizer and Guitar, DOGGEN foster: Lead Guitar & welbourn TEKH: Strum Bass.
Track Six: SHORT MEG The village of Metheringham on Lincoln Heath is known locally as 'Meg'. It can be no coincidence that the witch in the story at Byard's Leap was also known as Meg, for it is a name common with this association.
TEMPLAR Brighton: Acoustic Guitar.
Track Seven: LINDEN - 'THE PEOPLE OF THE POOL' A walking song. A journey along the Lincoln Cliff Edge powered-on by Doggen's strolling bass-line.
KEVLAR bales: Drums, TEMPLAR Brighton: Acoustic & Slide Guitar, COMPUTER coalwood: Acoustic & Slide Guitar and Piano, DOGGEN foster: Bass & welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word.
PART TWO - From the Lincoln Gap to Humber's Edge
Track Eight: WASHING MOLLY GRIME The effigy known as Molly Grime was once associated with a Good Friday washing ritual at the Church of St. Peter in the Lincolnshire village of Glentham.
COMPUTER coalwood: Reverse Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Mellotron and Synthesizers, DOGGEN foster: Duir Guitar, ANTRONHY øh hodgkinson: Drums & welbourn TEKH: Bass.
Track Nine: TUFFA The village of Dragonby boast a curious freak of nature a stone dragon. A sand blown petrified stream is responsible for the odd occurrence known as the sunken church, or the stone curtain.
TEMPLAR Brighton: Acoustic Guitar and Cello & welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word & Sonics.
Track Ten: THE FIELD This song is dedicated to T.C. Lethbridge, for he reminds us how important it is to observe the detail of nature during our passage.
TEMPLAR Brighton: Guitar and Loops, COMPUTER coalwood: Synthesizer, ANTRONHY øh hodgkinson: Drums & welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word and Bass.
Track Eleven: WHERE TWO RIVERS MEET The turf-cut labyrinth at Alkborough is known as Julian Bower. Below this spiral path, the Rivers Trent and Ouse meet to form the great Humber. This is a very special place.
KEVLAR bales: Drums, TEMPLAR Brighton: Guitar, DOGGEN foster: Bass & welbourn TEKH: Spoken Word.
Track Twelve: HUMBER Journey's end at water's edge. The great river Humber is wide and formibable, yet even to this day, the wise traveller can still wade across in conducive conditions. Here the eternal battle between man and nature is evenly matched.
COMPUTER coalwood: Guitar and Effects, ANTRONHY øh hodgkinson: Synths and Percussion, welbourn TEKH: Guitar & Spoken Word & JONAK Rhys-Lewis: Rolling Toms.
Track Thirteen: THE STOUT GUARDIAN OF THE DOOR (reprise) As the stout guardian of the door, Duir looks both ways and it is fitting that his presence concludes this assemblage.
COMPUTER coalwood: Treated Acoustic Guitar, Electric & Acoustic Piano.
Bonus Track: THE STOUT GUARDIAN OF THE DOOR Track One remixed by ANTRONHY øh.
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