Songs inspired by a collection of articles retrieved from secondhand books – brought to you by two of the UK’s most celebrated songwriters, Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine.  Things Found In Books is an album of nostalgia and beauty, hope and longing.

Release Date:  Out Now

Label: Self Release

Formats: Digital

A UNIQUE INSPIRATION

When Yvonne Lyon paid a recent visit to Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, she didn’t realise quite what she was letting herself in for.  A noticeboard in the castle’s secondhand bookshop had become home for a host of items that the shop’s proprietors had, over the years, found within the pages of books that they’d been given.  The list of articles pinned to the board included numerous old photographs, postcards, newspaper articles, post-it notes, a cigarette packet; even a letter from King George V.  It gave Yvonne an idea.

Here, surely, was sufficient inspiration for a collection of songs for a unique album and, who could be a better collaborator to help bring these ideas to fruition than Yvonne’s old friend and co-conspirator, Boo Hewerdine?

Yvonne and Boo explain more of the story behind Things Found In Books in this short video clip:

BOO HEWERDINE AND YVONNE LYON

Boo Hewerdine is, of course, a regular presence within these pages – both in his own right and as a collaborative partner.  Our most recent encounter with his occurred last December, when we lavished praise upon Paper Tigers, Boo’s 4^th outing in the company of Brooks Williams in the guise of State Of The Union.  That was an album we described as “…a vibrant, life-affirming of bluesy acoustic gems.”

Yvonne Lyon began her musical career back in 2001 and she now has nine solo albums under her belt – most recently Entwined (2020).  She’s also recorded with her husband, David Lyon, with singer-songwriter Gareth Davies-Jones and with poet/broadcaster Stewart Henderson.

A WORK OF BEAUTY

Things Found In Books is a work of beauty.  Those forgotten fragments that made their way to the Culzean Castle noticeboard proved to be a rich source inspiration indeed.  Yvonne and Boo have written both individually and collectively and their songs bring those sundry pictures, documents and keepsakes back to life as the duo ponder the stories behind them.  There’s a lot of wistfulness in the music and that wistfulness is given real substance by the small team of musicians that Yvonne and Boo have selected to help them out.

Gustaf Ljunggren in particular is a busy man on Things Found In Books.  His array of instruments comprises clarinet, xylophone, prepared guitar, cornet, banjo, organ, violin, viola, pedal steel, alto cornet, fretless bass, bass clarinet, bawu, mandolin, mandola and mandocello.  On some of the album’s songs, he even manages get pretty much through the whole range.

Yvonne and Boo share the vocals throughout the album, alongside their various guitars, pianos and mandolins. The sound is given a further boost by the contributions of Pete Harvey, on cello, and David Lyon on accordion and keyboards.

A MANIFESTO FOR THE ALBUM

Opening track, The Things You Find In Books acts as an agenda for the rest of the album – both lyrically and musically.  The accompaniment of woodwind and accordion is simply divine as Boo and Yvonne set out their manifesto in crystal-clear tones: “There, between the pages, words come through the ages, telling you that life is not designed.”

The tracks flow thick and fast. Things Found in Books manages to squeeze 15 tracks into a playing time of 35 minutes and the songs are uniformly charming.  There’s a warm 1930s feel to much of the music that perfectly suits the stories being told.  Marion And Sydney, a song inspired by a black and white photograph of an elderly couple, is a soothing ragtime number, driven along by Boo’s fingerpicked guitar. Down By The Harbour features more excellent fingerpicking, a heart-melting clarinet solo from Gustaf and vocal harmonies that would have even Gram and Emmylou blinking in disbelief. In his lyrics to Navy Cut, Boo speculates upon how the inevitable death of the owner of the discarded cigarette packet was mourned by his nearest and dearest.

POIGNANT, NOSTALGIC AND QUIRKY

Elsewhere, Yvonne improvises a piano accompaniment to her recitation of the text of a  letter written by George V in the wake of World War One for the poignant A Letter From The King.  Boo recalls his own memories of a golden year with the gentle Paul McCartney in 1970, and yes, the song DOES have a McCartney-ish feel to it. Yvonne assumes the mantle of Joni Mitchell for the quirky Kate and the Missing Trees.

Gustaf shines as he works his way around his forest of instruments, and Yvonne adds flourishes of bright piano in the jazzy instrumental, Hieroglyphics. Producer Sandy Jones brings a circus-like feel to Viennese Horse – another instrumental piece – with his Riding School sound effects.

WAITING

The songs on Things Found in Books are all thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. If pushed to choose a favourite, I think I’d go for the super-sweet Waiting.  It’s another song inspired by a photograph on the Culzean noticeboard. This time the subject is a team of waiters posed outside a restaurant, sometime during the 1950s.  Boo is on top vocal form and the backing harmonies will leave listeners feeling that they’ve just been party to an act of magic.  And, as for Gustaf’s wonderful clarinet….!

Things Found In Books is an intriguing album, prompted by a fascinating concept and executed with love and precision.  Not to be missed.

SUMMER TOUR – INTIMATE AND STORYTELLING-RICH…

And – also not to be missed.  Yvonne and Boo will be touring Things Found in Books this summer.  Their intimate, storytelling-rich show will be visiting bookshops, libraries, festivals and arts venues around the country during July and August.  The full tour itinerary can be found here.

Watch the official video to The Things You Find In Books – the album’s opening track and its lead single – below:

Yvonne Lyon online: Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Bandcamp

Boo Hewerdine Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube

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