Old favourites make new CD (From Stroud News and Journal)

Old favourites make new CD

THIS weekend local poet and singer-songwriter Jehanne Mehta will be releasing her first new album for fourteen years with the band Earthwards. The CD, named Emblem, features fourteen songs with instrumentation that includes guitars, violin, mandolin, bouzouki, whistle and percussion.

Jehanne is joined in Earthwards by her husband Rob and friend Will Mercer.

"We've been playing and singing these songs for many years", says Jehanne.

"We've toured with them around Britain and Europe to communities, weddings, seasonal festivals, even funerals. Our own particular Earthwards network has grown up through friends arranging concerts for us, or sending our cassettes and news of us far and wide. "One song was heard being sung in the mountains of Colorado. Much to her surprise when a friend of ours walked into a family home in Croatia, our music was playing. That seems to be how it goes.

"People have been asking us for ages, both at home and abroad, when we were going to do a new recording, covering some of the songs that have become favourites, such as the title track Emblem. It's great: I feel freer to write new stuff. In fact I've already started."

The new album was recorded in Miserden by Stroud record-producer and photographer, Paul Libson STET, who also designed the CD insert, based around two vibrant photos by Barbara Manzi-F.

Earthhwards will be playing at Ruskin Mill in Nailsworth to launch Emblem on Friday (May 5) at 8pm. Tickets, priced £6 or £4 concessions, are available on the door.

The CD will be on sale at Trading Post, Nelson Street, and at Kane's Records and the Made in Stroud Shop, both in Kendrick Street, Stroud. A review will appear in next week's paper.