Who’s Counting? EP

2008: Who’s Counting? EP : Starfield has released a three track EP from James Asher and Arthur Hull. As part of his 2008 world tour, Arthur Hull spent a week in the studio with James Asher. Their annual meeting enjoys a rich and fertile exploration of music in the spirit of creativity, imagination and fun as two longstanding friends of the ‘percussionitis’ persuasion.

Together they recorded the three tracks that feature on the 2008: Who’s Counting? EP: The title track is a musical adventure using found percussion, flute , harp and keyboards, which offers a humorous sweet and sour comment on the credit crunch and its origins, with guest appearance by its principle protagonist – Mr Longface. ‘Goosefoot’ is a multi layered instrumental, based on a complex 6/8 rhythm, charting the progress of a shifting dynamic where dark elements transform to becoming lighter and brighter. And ‘Arcana’ is a call and response duet between two taiko drums, heralding a dramatic depiction of of a celtic battlefield, where a feeling of triumph accompanies the sense of rebirth that emerges from this transformational scenario. This powerful soundscape features the fluent and exuberant fiddle of Tom Fairbairn.

Both being drummers, rhythm is a central key to writing process, and yet within that there is always a broad and unconstrained approach to the creative process – which is part of what continues to give the music a fresh and original quality.