Sorepaw

“For his latest album, Ash Cooke, aka Pulco, has gone right back to basics and he seems to be thriving on it. “Sorepaw” was recorded on a Tascam Portastudio in the bedroom of his new home whilst waiting for the studio to be built. He also had to do it without waking his two young daughters. The result is an enchanting and delicate album that’s pretty much stripped back to guitar and voice. The impact however is huge. It has a charm that weaves around the deceptively simple phrasing. The guitar almost as expressive as the voice as they carry you off to a safe place” - FATEA/Cambridge & Beyond "Recorded in Ash's attic Portastudio, there's an attractive immediacy about the final product, which is matched by the sweet, quirky intimacy of Ash's songs. This quality in turn probably reflects Ash's conversion to fatherhood and all the commitment that involves (sessions took place in evenings when babes were asleep - you can even hear little snorings and sneezes from time to time!). Ash accompanies himself on guitar, ably and with a gentle melodic charm (and a touch of occasional mouth-percussion), there's a bit of glockenspiel on the closing track, and he doubletracks all his backing harmony vocals. One track also employs some backwards-tape stuff, but this doesn't interfere with the mood. Most of the time minimalist is indeed best, for the songs radiate their own sense of relaxed contentment and don't really need any special pleading - rather like those of Syd Barrett, you just need to let them work their genial magic - which they will." - David Kidman, NetRhythms