Presence

Description

The self-titled, sole album by the British folk-rock band Presence was released on New City London in 1976. The album was recorded on a four track tape machine over four days during Easter 1975 at the independent Indigo Sound Studios in Manchester, England; with Dave Rohl engineering (the keyboard player of the Mandala Band). The album was mixed a few weeks later in one day, and the master disc was cut at the famous Abbey Road studios in London (of Beatles fame).

A beautiful psychedelic folk recording with lovely female/male vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica, finger cymbals, organ, and tambourine. Influenced by the music of artists like The Incredible String Band, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Sandy Danny and Joni Mitchell. The five members of the band, Veronica Towers, Kevan and Ivor Bundell, Mike Waiting and Paul Gateshill, came together through the inspiration of the Focolare Movement – an ecumenical movement.

Decades later, all five members of Presence are still making music and play on one anothers’ albums and in concerts together. Veronica’s vocals are even richer and more sublime and you can catch up with her song-writing on two albums: Promises of Life and Light and Shade. The Bundell brothers have produced two fine albums: Secret Lives and Stood on the Shore. Mike Waiting is still being wonderfully percussive and Paul Gateshill can be heard on the album Years in the Making.

Absolutely precious 5-star UK progressive folkrock masterpiece from 4-guy 1-girl outfit. A distinctly British sounding record that combines the usual folk and rock gear with such instruments as mandolin, recorder, bongos, harmonica, organ, Chinese finger cymbals and African pottery drums. The group’s progressive angle is revealed through shifts in tempo, mood and dynamics, as heard on «Moment Of You», «Turning Point» and «God Is Love». Skilful acoustic guitar presence throughout, plus a couple nice electric guitar solos that step in to accentuate the rock angle. Artful use of percussion adds an edge to several songs. «Break Down The Walls», «Peace» and «Presence» are all lovely delicate acoustic ballads. «All For You» flows gently along to a wistful melody, while the recorder-backed «Shepherd Song» fashions a hauntingly beautiful Celtic mood. «Laws Of God» is passionately strummed, while «Children» and «Prayer» supply playful mandolin folk. Charming fragile from-the-heart vocals (both male and female), coupled with creative songwriting that makes each and every song special. It all adds up to one awesome record, my personal favorite from the whole UK scene! [Ken Scott, The Archivist , 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Moment of You” – 6:35
A2. “Break Down The Walls” – 3:45
A3. “Children” – 3:15
A4. “All For You” – 3:45
A5. “Laws of God” – 3:10

Side Two
B1. “Prayer” – 3:10
B2. “Turning Point” – 4:00
B3. “Peace” – 2:57
B4. “Presence” – 2:45
B5. “Shepherd Song” – 2:58
B6. “God Is Love” – 4:58

Note: The LP was housed in a sleeve with lyrics printed on the back side. A 24-bit Remastered CD Edition with bonus material was released in Korea in 2008. Digitally remastered from the original master tape by Lewis Johns in 2016 and released by the band as a special 40th Anniversary Double Album including two bonus tracks, with the bonus CD entitled Still Present (featuring 13 songs which the individual members of the band had written and recorded over the years since). https://bundellbros.co.uk/presence/the-albums/

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CREDITS. Produced by J.I.M. and engineered by Dave Rohl with assistance from Mike Dee. Recorded at Indigo Sound Studios, Manchester, England.

Musicians: Veronica Towers (vocals, guitar, chinese fingers, cymbals, organ), Paul Gateshill (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin), Ivor Bundell (vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, tambourine), Kevan Bundell (vocal, guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, organ, recorder), Mike Waiting (bongos, drums, african pottery drums).