Ancient Roads

Description

Ancient Roads is the full-length debut album by the British folk/roots group The Paul Mirfin Band, self-released in July 2018.

For decades British Christian music has seen quality folk roots music inspired artists. In the ’60s it was Parchment and Gordon Giltrap-era Graham Kendrick. In the ’90s it was Eden Burning and the Pink Dandelions. And today a new band, led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Paul Mirfin from Knaresborough, have emerged onto the scene easily as good as those units of yesteryear. “Folk” is, of course, a very imprecise pigeonhole and there is a strong dose of country and a snatch of blues in PMB’s sound. After being featured on Songs Of Praise in 2016 and getting radio exposure on both Christian and non-Christian radio, the band were ready for a bells and whistles launch and deliver magnificently with this dazzling debut. Paul’s husky, emotive voice exhorts us to walk the walk on the title track – “Walk down ancient roads/ The roads paved with gold” he sings over a kick drum dominated bluesy accompaniment which sounds like something Steve Earl might record if he ever got saved. Then there’s «The Fighter» with its memorable Trinitarian lines, “Well, there’s one of you/ And there’s three of me/ Come on and fight.” Or there’s the delicate acoustic-driven «Trust In The Silence» which is as haunting an intimate worship song as you’re likely to hear this year. Remember the name. You’ll be hearing a lot more of these Yorkshire men’s slant on American country porch music in the years ahead. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, August 2018]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Ancient Roads – 3:27
02. We Are Three – 3:12
03. The Fighter – 3:57
04. In This Now – 3:03
05. Reign Down – 4:44
06. Bring the Rain – 3:27
07. All I Want to Be – 4:53
08. The Oarsman – 4:56
09. Pass It On – 2:31
10. Carry Me – 4:11
11. Trust in the Silence – 6:58

[youtube_sc url=”8Up2KDQbWls” playlist=”ePmcYKK2o98,KZd4FcMlVsA,-EYl9KzrF4w,V5qhRyN7I0w,cmY-IZX44Ro” title=”The Paul Mirfin Band – Ancient Roads (lyric video) + In This Now (Lyric Video) + All I Want To Be, live at True North Royal Hall Harrogate, Oct 2017 + Trust in the silence (Lyric video) + Carry Me, live at the main stage, Creation Fest 2017 ” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]

[youtube_sc url=”4ibtRwNiy1M” title=”The Paul Mirfin Band – This train is bound for glory (VIDEO)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]