The Unfairground

Infobox Album |
Name = The Unfairground
Type = Album
Artist = Kevin Ayers


Released = September 2007
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 34:01
Label = LO-MAX
Producer = Kevin Ayers, Peter Henderson and Gary Olson
Executive Producer = Tim Shepard
Reviews =
* The Sun Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006140003-2007400572,00.html link]
* Mojo Rating|4|5 [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm link]
* Uncut Rating|4|5 [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Uncut%20review%20sept%2007.htm link]
* Q Rating|4|5 [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Q%20review%20sept%2007.htm link]
* The Times Rating|4|5 [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article2446812.ece link]
* BBC (favourable) [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/fj54/ link]
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aifyxzyhldke link]
* Stylus A- [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kevin-ayers/the-unfairground.htm link]
Last album = "Still Life with Guitar"
(1992)
This album = "The Unfairground"
(2007)
Next album =

"The Unfairground" is an acclaimed new album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music. [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44340-kevin-ayers-returns-with-help-from-roxy-ladybug-architecture Pitchfork July 31 2007] ] It is his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years. It was recorded in New York, Tucson, Arizona, London and Glasgow. [ Album liner notes ] It debuted at #14 in the UK Indie Album chart.
The Unfairground deals with themes of love, loss and the passing of time and it has garnered strong critical endorsements for its author's brutally honest ruminations on his tumultuous life. [ [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm Mojo September 2007] ] Ayers stated in a 2007 Sunday Times interview that it is “very much a reflective album: lost love, lost feelings, lost sensibilities. I had to include some of my blood, sweat and tears – if you are going to be honest, it can’t be avoided.” [ [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2350710.ece The unsung hero of psychedelia - Times Online ] ]

Track listing

# "Only Heaven Knows" (Ayers)
# "Cold Shoulder" (Ayers)
# "Walk on Water" (Ayers)
# "Friends & Strangers" (Ayers)
# "Shine a Light" (Ayers)
# "Wide Awake" (Ayers)
# "Baby Come Home" (Ayers)
# "Brainstorm" (Ayers)
# "Unfairground" (Ayers)
# "Run Run Run" (Ayers)

Personnel

*Kevin Ayers / guitar, vocals and producer
*Gary Olson / trumpet and producer
*San Fadyl / drums
*Jeff Baron / guitar
*Norman Blake / guitar and backing vocals
*Francis MacDonald / drums
*Julian Koster / singing saw
*Candie Payne / backing vocals
*Euros Childs / backing vocals
*Bill Wells / bass
*Joe McGinty / keyboards
*Phil Manzanera / guitar
*Robbie McIntosh / guitar
*Hugh Hopper / bass
*Daisy Martey / backing vocals
*Tucson Philharmonia / strings
*Bridget St. John / vocals
*Dave McGowan / pedal steel
*Heather McIntosh / bass and cello
*Kellie Sutherland / brass
*Tara Shackell / brass
*Isobel Knowles / brass
*Gus Franklin / brass
*Graham Henderson / accordion
*Peter Nicholson / cello
*Francis Reader / backing vocals
*Peter Henderson / producer
*Tim Shepard / artwork and executive producer
*Bernard MacMahon / executive producer
*The Wyattron

References

External Links

*"Kevin Ayers Returns With Help From Roxy, Ladybug, Architecture" by Paul Thompson and Amy Phillips (Pitchfork Jul 31, 2007) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44340-kevin-ayers-returns-with-help-from-roxy-ladybug-architecture link]
*"Indie Stars Guest On Rock Legend's First Album In 15 Years" (NME Aug 10, 2007) [http://www.nme.com/news/kevin-ayers/30254 link]
*Album Review by Simon Cosyns (The Sun Aug 31, 2007) [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006140003-2007400572,00.html link]
*"The Father of the Underground" by Garth Cartwright (Daily Telegraph Aug 30 2007) [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/08/30/bmayers130.xml link]
*"The Unsung Hero of Psychedelia" by Lisa Verrico (The Sunday Times Sep 2, 2007) [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2350710.ece link]
*"Soft Centered" by Pierre Perrone (The Independent Sep 11 2007) [http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/features/article2945345.ece link]
*Album Review by Andy Gill (Uncut Sept 2007) [http://uncut.co.uk/music/kevin_ayers/reviews/10224 link]
*Album Review by Mike Barnes (Mojo Sept 2007) [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm link]
* "Kevin Ayers" by Mike Atkinson (Stylus Oct 23 2007) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/interview/kevin-ayers.htm link]
*"Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt" by Simon Reynolds (Reynoldsretro Dec 14 2007) [http://reynoldsretro.blogspot.com/2007/12/kevin-ayers-and-robert-wyatt-grauniad.html link]