Alan Neilson - Bear/Bare

When Alan Neilson's three piece band, ""The Gentlemen's Club"" broke up in the summer of 1995, he did what any self-respecting songwriter does; he went solo. After performances at the ICA in London and at the Edinburgh Festival, Alan flew to America and spent three months travelling the rails like a troubadour, or hobo.

With his horizons well and truly expanded, Alan returned to England and moved to a pigeon-infested attic in the Midlands. Here he began writing music that would sum up his newly broadened outlook.

Alan's first project was to use the words of Spanish poet Rafael Alberti and compose music to ""The Uninhabited Body, Parts 1-8"". This was followed by ""The Life and Times of Charles A Allen"", (http://www.cuentee.webspace.virginmedia.com/an_elementary_world/elementary_recordings.html) a musical work based on the recordings of Alan's late grandparents. The single ""Life Gets Tedious?"" was released on Elementary Recordings, containing a remix by Brighton's The Mekano Set. (www.mekanoset.com/nightlight/)

Having not played live for a number of years, Alan found himself missing that all important interaction with an audience. He began to write again; songs about the simple things in life, things that affect us all; love and loss; sex and masturbation; endings and beginnings—songs that strive to bring understanding during a complicated and confusing period in our planet's history.

The new songs were recorded during 2004 and early 2005, and ""Given"" was quickly picked up and played by BBC Radio WM, who also entered it into their competition for local songwriters.

Having already headlined at the Midlands Arts Centre and with a string of other local live appearances, Alan is back; he has found his voice, and this time he is baring all.

In the Spring of 2009, elementary recordings released neilson's full length album, "bear_bare". It is available from iTunes and emusic, as well as the E.REX store at the label's home page (above).

http://www.cuentee.webspace.virginmedia.com/an_elementary_world/elementary_recordings.html

Alan Neilson

The Longterm Forecast A song about the British weather.

Acoustic

Comments                                                Add new Comment   View All