Do you remember as a child, when you used to spend hours in the playground of your mind, dreaming up all manner of opportunities? When a little shed at the end of the garden became a castle or a tree turned into a magical escape from the world below…
The desire to dream is something Nibs van der Spuy continues to do and is soon to release his sixth solo album and third international offering, ‘A House across the River’.
‘A House across the River’ will be released in South Africa on 7 April, followed by Europe in June on the 2 FEET label.
Following an invitation to perform at a French festival in mid April, Nibs will set off on a tour of South Africa entitled ‘The Autumn Tour 2010’, followed by a tour of Europe. Full dates further down.
Nibs chose Sesalos Studios in Westville, Kwa-Zulu Natal as his recording base, the same place he recorded his critically acclaimed ‘Beautiful Feet’ in 2006 and ‘a Bird in the Hand’ in 2008, together with engineer/producer Guru Brent Quinton.
Working very closely with a trio on this album, Nibs used his old friend Gareth Gale (drums/ percussion) and Kieran Smith (bass/ cello).
With Nibs already being recognised in the ‘Nu Folk’ movement in many territories, he also hasn’t been afraid to stretch his boundaries into the Americana, Eastern, Blues, African Folk, English Country and Country genres.
This can be heard on his cover of Tim Buckley’s ‘Cripples Cry’ an unreleased Buckley gem only seeing the light with his ‘Live at the Folklore Centre 1967’ release.
Besides a trio version of the Allman Brother’s ‘Little Martha’, Nibs has written all the other compositions dividing his fingerboard prowess between his acoustic, Puerto Rican 10 string Cuatro and electric guitars.
The subject matter deals with lost dreams and opportunities, thirsting for the past and carbon copying the spirit of youthfulness and re-living it all over again.
It’s about taking that leap of faith beyond the confines of our society’s stipulations and norms. It’s about that parallel universe of truth which is found within our hearts, but is guided by the divine and illuminates beyond the failures of past endeavours. It’s about a new awakening of faith and hope.
