David A Jaycock – The Coleopterous Cuckoos Collude (CD)

An active member of Pickled Egg recording artists Big Eyes, as well as The Big Eyes Family Players, David plays a vast selection of instruments, with his signature guitar intricacies now joined by analogue synthesizers, bowed banjos, toy piano, harmonium, even a zither. Subsequently, The Coleopterous Cuckoos Collude is an achingly beautiful work of cinematic majesty; its progressive classicism enhanced by David’s will to actively break traditional musical boundaries. Taking inspiration from players such as Segovia and John Fahey, there are drones, waltzes, dirges, sea shanties, dissonances, bells, European flavours and the sound of ghostly train journeys. “Some longer songs, some shorter songs, some singing songs”, explains David, “sinister fairground melodies, Spanish preludes, improvised laments…”

After David’s debut release, The Improvised Killing Of Uncle Faustus, achieved critical acclaim alongside his already staunchly loyal fanbase, this new album, on the celebrated Red Deer Club label, will undeniably secure David A Jaycock’s place alongside history’s truly innovative musicians.