#deepfields

SOURCE: europeanspaceagency https://flic.kr/p/2qVBc5y

https://flic.kr/p/2qVBc5y

What can I tell you about Black Country based singer-songwriter, Robert Simmons I hear you cry? well in truth very little, he's built a reputation for performing off-beat, poetic pop (for want of a better description), honing his craft at various open mic sessions across the region, before turning to Moose's Music Hole and producer Jay Russon to record his debut, seven track affair, Deepfields. In the brief letter that accompanied the EP, Robert mentions the likes of Syd Barrett, Julian Cope and Kevin Ayers as inspirations and listening to the EP's three minute, opening number, Bingo Queen, you can hear something of a kinship with aforementioned eccentric trio, opening with a wordless, harmonious hook, Simmons proceeds to deliver something of an autobiographical tale of growing up, hiding from Jim (or is Roger) McGuinn on the TV and the Mexico World Cup (70, I'd guess) whilst lamenting the wave machine at the Bingo Queen, during an instantly contagious, yet simplistic hook, whilst the acoustic strums and shuffling drums, pepper, yet never obstruct Robert's quintessentially English tale, that's both quirky and uniquely charming, drawing the listener in, suggesting a closer examination. Girlfriend follows and has something of a bitter-sweet vibe as Simmons states that 'she makes me feel complete, a nicer girl I've yet to meet' but also recognises that 'my girlfriend causes pain and she will do again', perhaps suggesting that all is not as it seems when you add drink to mix, either way Robert again weaves one of those winning wordless hooks into the mix, that will have you humming and hooting along, as it seduces the subconscious. And just when you think you have a handle of Simmons quirky brand of songwriting and delivery, he throws something of a curve ball with Poem For David Jones, which is, as the title suggests is a one and quarter minute poetic ode to the man better known as David Bowie over a collection of spacey, atmospheric sound effects, before returning to the music with the suitably brilliant, early Ziggy flavoured, Black Country Frock. Poetry Of The Night opens with a delicate piano motif before Robert croons and serenades the night and it's unexplored wonderment, whilst the closing, Power Crazed Man suggests that Simmons is more than capable of stomping, with the best of them as he straps on an electric and offers noir like twangs, hinting at a possible, previously unheard Cave influence lingering somewhere in the shadows. Deepfields is an intriguing and intoxicating debut from an unusual proposition on the open mic scene, the seven-track affair rather suggests, Robert Simmons could and should be out there performing gigs of his own rather than been given a couple of songs here and there, but for now if you happen upon Simmons hawking his wares through the back streets of the Black Country, I rather recommend you sit back take stock and enjoy, an unsung maverick among the many sound-a-likes.

Visual at Deepfields / Müszi, Budapest / 2016

Our first EP was released in June, with singles published in Entertainment Weekly and Vice-Noisey. The second release is set for summer of 2016, with the first single dropping next month (Nov 2015), so be checking our Facebook and Twitter accounts for announcements.

#szobastudio#deepfields