Clive Palmer
- Presspack Download
- Download presspack containing hi-res images and latest biography
- Booking Period
- None at present
- Booking Situation
- -
Biography
All Roads Lead To Land marks the welcome return to the recording arena for the inimitable Clive Palmer, one of the UK's most prized musicians and composers. All Road's Lead To Land is a startling piece of work from the Incredible String Band legend, a collection of self-penned songs each delivered in Palmer's characteristic laconic vocal style imbued with open-ended charm and forthright honesty.
To the fore is Palmer's virtuostic banjo playing that once again pierces directly through the heart and leaves an instant impression on the senses. From the sublime reflections of love lost on "You Were Meant For Me," to the dark, eerie poignancy of "Sands Of Time," for most of the album this is a remarkable musician stripped down to the bare bones, a deeply affecting yet strangely welcoming experience. It's not long before you will be drawn into Palmer's world of lore and tale. With the majority of the album being solo there are a couple of remarkable exceptions. Re-united with his Famous Jug Band colleagues Jill Johnson, Pete Berryman, and Henry Bartlett on the album's opener, the traditional "O For Summer," Palmer is again reunited with an old friend and ISB compatriot, Robin Williamson, who provides the fiddle on the reflective "Paris".
From his early days of explorative folk hipness with The Incredible String, through the folk club circuit and heady heights of Clive's Original Band, onto his work with the likes of Jansch and McTell, Palmer has become a musical inspiration for artists as diverse as Johnny Marr, Devendra Banhart, and even Billy Connolly who stated recently on Radio 2, "He was my banjo hero." All Roads Lead To Land will once again cement the reputation of Palmer as one of the great musical minds of the last 40 years.
Born in Edmonton, North London in 1943, Palmer acquired his first banjo at the age of ten. Throughout his teens he became more and more involved in the local music scene and his fascination for folk and traditional music began to take a hold. Leaving England for Paris in the early sixties Palmer began playing on the streets with the likes of Long John Baldry, Davey Graham and Wizz Jones. In 1963 when in Scotland Palmer met Williamson, a meeting that was instrumental in shaping the hippy folk movement of the late sixties. The pair formed The Incredible String Band in 1965, and released their seminal first album that also included Mike Heron. Soon after release Palmer was to leave the group and moved to India. On his return he formed the The Famous Jug Band who released one album, Sunshine Possibilities, in 1969. Then in the early 70's Palmer founded Clive's Original Band who released three critically acclaimed albums the best of which was Spirit Of Love in '71.
Much of the seventies and eighties saw Palmer playing low-key gigs,working with the likes of Bert Jansch and Ralph McTell, happily spending time on his other hobbies including painting and writing. In 1999, Williamson and Palmer reunited for two well attended gigs in Glasgow and London then got back in the recording studio and recorded At The Pure Fountain, an album that Palmer considers to be the most satisfying of his career.