https://timeveleigh.bandcamp.com/
Tim Eveleigh is set to release his debut album on March 15 2022. We were fortunate enough to get a sneak listen and we’ve added the bandcamp link above for our readers to place a pre-order.
Intriguingly called “A Record”, Tim Eveleigh’s debut is a simple, low fi folk album of 9 tracks on it. Featuring Tim on lead vocals, guitar, keys and percussion with some tracks including backing vocals from Maria Levesley and Joe Jones on bass.
With, as you would expect from a folk album, thought provoking lyrics (for some reason, the line “propaganda, we are all actors” stuck in my head) and traditional style picked and strummed guitar. A Record is a delightful jaunt into the world of celtic sounding traditional (ish) folk music – except without the lengthy verses and endless repetition! (Don’t get me wrong, I actually really like trad folk!).
What you have here with Tim Eveleigh is a guy from Croydon who has somehow managed to evoke that carefree style of music that you would expect to hear in the Scottish Highlands or in Newfoundland!
There are moments, particularly in track one, where I was reminded of Paul Simons iconic album, Graceland. I think it was the combination of the almost gospel like backing vocals and the classy percussion.
Tim has patches in his voice where he reminded me of Neil Tennant, but the overall feel is very much of an incredibly laid back, almost Jack Johnson feel. As if Jack Johnson lived on the West Coast of Scotland rather than Hawaii!
I think my favourite track is “Headrest” . I’m not sure why. Perhaps because I was immediately gripped by the vocals without feeling my way into the song with an instrumental section first.
Track 9 has a lovely “Fast Car – Tracy Chapman” feel to the guitar playing, and with some great cajon work throughout.
Tim would do well to look closely at the UK folk club circuit. Perhaps starting by supporting a few bigger name artists. I can see him sitting well on the bill with, for example, Gilmore Roberts.
My production suggestions would be to give the top 3 octaves a bit of a boost and a little low end increase to add a little more life into the overall feel of the track. I’d also look at notching out around the 200-250hZ mark in the vocal track to remove just a slight muddiness here, as well as notching out a little between 800 and 1200 to remove just a slight honkiness in the vocal track. Pay attention to your volumes in your final masters too – there’s some fairly large difference in volume between tracks that will have your listener reaching for the volume switch.
I actually really love this album. I think Tim has a real chance to take the UK folk scene by storm. This is a charming lo-fi offering that just puts a real genuine smile on the listeners face.
We give this album 4 ears out of 5
