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CD
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FLED 3083CD
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This is the debut release by UK-born/Netherlands-based singer/songwriter Iain Matthews and The Netherland's Searing Quartet. On paper, Iain Matthews and the Searing Quartet is a strange pairing. Quartet leader Egbert Derix is an established jazz composer, and Iain Matthews has had a long-established history in the UK as one of the foremost folk singer/songwriters, especially considering he was a founding member of Fairport Convention, going on to form the highly-successful Matthews' Southern Comfort and Plainsong. However, if we break down these borders, look deeper and think in terms of quality, rather than genres, it's a musical marriage made in heaven. The pair first came together in 2003, touring with a live version of Matthews' legendary 1970 solo album If You Saw Thro' My Eyes. Plans were made at the time to forge a writing partnership, only for it to be capsized by other career commitments. But not before they had two new songs in the bag and the realization that an ease and understanding of the writing process existed between them. Fast forward five years, when Matthews extended an invitation to Derix and the Searing Quartet, to appear in his performance series, "Common Grounds." Part of the concept for the series is that the host plays two songs with his guests. Egbert suggested doing two older Matthews compositions and the result was quite astounding. It appeared to all in attendance that the two songs had been performed by this line-up many times; "I had shivers running up and down my spine," says Matthews, "It was almost a life-changing experience. I knew then that something magical was in the air." Within weeks, the pair were writing together again, and this time the result was breathtaking. Derix's finely-honed sense of melody and Matthews' carefully-crafted lyrics and emotion-laden vocals created something very precise and special -- soaring ballads supported by a well-wrought, classic jazz backbone.
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