Isle of Wight composer Paul Armfield celebrates the trees of Sibden Hill and the impact of trees upon our lives.

Release Date:  14^th June 2024

Label: Self Release

Formats: CD / Digital

Composer, singer and musician, Paul Armfield is an Isle of Wight native who has also spent some considerable time in Eastern Europe.  He’s got seven albums under his belt so far, most recently his 2023 offering, Domestic, on which he used his lyrical skills to the explore the concept of ‘home.’  His music has attracted the attention of quite an array of high-profile admirers over the years, that’s for sure; Guy Garvey, Chris Difford, Mark Radcliffe, Lauren Laverne and Caitlin Moran have all expressed their admiration, and his music – often described as ‘folk-noir’ – has been compared to the work of, amongst others, Cat Stevens, Tim Hardin and Nick Drake.

In 2023, Paul was approached by environmental group Gift To Nature and commissioned to compose a suite of five songs about the five trees that grow in Sibden Hill, a small copse, located in the heart of Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight that “…provides an oasis in the middle of town for wildlife and people alike.”  The result of that commission is Trees, a short collection of delightful, pastoral, songs on which Paul’s deftly fingerpicked acoustic guitar and mellow vocals are given an added richness by the string arrangements of Norwegian violinist, Mari Person.

Explaining the rationale for his commission, Paul noted that, whilst there are (apparently) 422 trees for every person on Earth, the majority of British adults can’t identify and oak leaf and 25% don’t know where conkers come from, yet, overwhelmingly, we enjoy being around trees and enjoy the calming effect that they have upon our collective psyche.  Getting into further detail, Paul explained: “In writing the songs, I have endeavoured to explore the role of trees as experienced both by us and by other animals, whether that be as a playground, shelter, habitat or meeting place, signpost, crop or friend.  I wanted to give each tree a unique voice in which to tell their story.”

Paul kicks off his arboricultural assignment with his contemplations of the perils facing that most carpentry-friendly of trees, the Oak.  His lyrics acknowledge the workability of oak wood but plead the case for the trees to be left standing, rather than being felled and converted to ships, coffins, or any other commodity.  He also celebrates the role that oak trees have played in his life – as a childhood climbing frame, or as a shelter.  It’s a truly beautiful song, the combination of voice, subtle guitar and discrete strings providing the background as pleads “Woodman, won’t you lay down your axe” and places his request to be buried “…with an acorn in each hand.”

I’m not usually a fan of whistling, either on a record or in public, but on Trees, it feels just right.  Paul uses the technique to launch the mellow, reassuring, Beech – a song on which his lyrics recall the key role that the beech tree has played in numerous romantic encounters and revel in the location and surroundings of the beech trees he’s encountered – to an accompaniment that’s awash with Mari’s lush strings.

And those same strings provide the mirror to Paul’s guitar for Hazel, a song that recounts a dialogue between a hazel tree and its would-be dormouse inhabitant.  Using language that is sometimes surprisingly ripe, the dormouse attempts to negotiate an early release of the tree’s nutty harvest, only to be told (by the tree) that it’ll have to wait until the 14^th September – “Nutting Day.”  It’s engaging, silly, and very, very charming.

Next, it’s the versatility and durability of the Silver Birch to which Paul turns his attention.  Paul quotes the poet Robert Frost and uses terms like “The graceful lady of the woods” to describe this most beautiful of trees and to celebrate the success of its welcome infiltration into our towns, cities and villages, before this short and utterly wonderful collection is concluded by his Crab Apple observations.  Paul’s lyrics consider the life cycle of the crab apple tree, from its blossoming in spring to the point at which it sheds its fruit in autumn, to be crunched beneath our feet.  His Shakespearian observation of the beauty and scent of the tree’s blossom: “It’s a rose, but by another name” is as delightful as it is appropriate, and it’s another lovely tune, with guitar and strings once again combining deliciously.

Short, well-considered and entirely engaging.  Trees is a beautiful piece of work.

Listen to Oak – the EP’s opening track – here:

Paul Armfield online: Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / YouTube / Bandcamp

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