The Unfairground

The Unfairground is an acclaimed 2007 album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music.^[1] It is his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years. It was recorded in New York, Tucson, Arizona, London and Glasgow.^[2] It debuted at #14 in the UK Indie Album chart.
The Unfairground deals with themes of love, loss and the passing of time and it has garnered strong critical endorsements for its author's brutally honest ruminations on his tumultuous life.^[3] Ayers stated in a 2007 Sunday Times interview that it is “very much a reflective album: lost love, lost feelings, lost sensibilities. I had to include some of my blood, sweat and tears – if you are going to be honest, it can’t be avoided.” ^[4]

Track listing

1. "Only Heaven Knows" (Ayers)
2. "Cold Shoulder" (Ayers)
3. "Walk on Water" (Ayers)
4. "Friends & Strangers" (Ayers)
5. "Shine a Light" (Ayers)
6. "Wide Awake" (Ayers)
7. "Baby Come Home" (Ayers)
8. "Brainstorm" (Ayers)
9. "Unfairground" (Ayers)
10. "Run Run Run" (Ayers)

Personnel

• Kevin Ayers / guitar, vocals and producer
• Gary Olson / trumpet and producer
• San Fadyl / drums
• Jeff Baron / guitar
• Norman Blake / guitar and backing vocals
• Francis MacDonald / drums
• Julian Koster / singing saw
• Candie Payne / backing vocals
• Euros Childs / backing vocals
• Bill Wells / bass
• Joe McGinty / keyboards
• Phil Manzanera / guitar
• Robbie McIntosh / guitar
• Hugh Hopper / bass
• Daisy Martey / backing vocals
• Tucson Philharmonia / strings
• Bridget St. John / vocals
• Dave McGowan / pedal steel
• Heather McIntosh / bass and cello
• Kellie Sutherland / brass
• Tara Shackell / brass
• Isobel Knowles / brass
• Gus Franklin / brass
• Graham Henderson / accordion
• Peter Nicholson / cello
• Francis Reader / backing vocals
• Peter Henderson / producer
• Tim Shepard / artwork and executive producer
• Bernard MacMahon / executive producer
• The Wyattron

References

1. ^ Pitchfork July 31 2007
2. ^ Album liner notes
3. ^ Mojo September 2007
4. ^ The unsung hero of psychedelia - Times Online

External links

• Kevin Ayers Returns With Help From Roxy, Ladybug, Architecture by Paul Thompson and Amy Phillips (Pitchfork Jul 31, 2007) link
• Indie Stars Guest On Rock Legend's First Album In 15 Years (NME Aug 10, 2007) link
• Album Review by Simon Cosyns (The Sun Aug 31, 2007) link
• The Father of the Underground by Garth Cartwright (Daily Telegraph Aug 30 2007) link
• The Unsung Hero of Psychedelia by Lisa Verrico (The Sunday Times Sep 2, 2007) link
• Soft Centered by Pierre Perrone (The Independent Sep 11 2007) link
• Album Review by Andy Gill (Uncut Sept 2007) link
• Album Review by Mike Barnes (Mojo Sept 2007) link
• Kevin Ayers by Mike Atkinson (Stylus Oct 23 2007) link
• Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt by Simon Reynolds (Reynoldsretro Dec 14 2007) link