Dave Keir

Despite my best efforts to follow my muse, this tune has seen fit to waltz off on its own. Indeed, there are parts you can just about sway along to. This is the risk off writing in 3/4 time. Comes with the country, I suppose. If you listen, you’ll hear that I did try to bring it back down to earth and make it behave itself. But off it went again. Until I finally had to put my foot down. Along with those feet belonging to chancer dancers, I hope! It is in D minor as described above- but – and please accept my apologies – it wandered off a bit on a couple of occasions. I hope you can forgive. Maybe best to ignore it and maybe it’ll go away…

Listen and download here!

As promised, I’ve published the first “Outro”.

Having written before that many of my Outros are unused embryonic song accompaniments I have to now publish this which I think you will agree could never have tolerated a melody with words on top of it. This tune could never have evolved into a song. It needed to move on without words. Have a listen here and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

It’s available as mp3 and FLAC downloads. The guitar score & tab can also be downloaded.

Since the re-release of my first record (c.1976) as a CD earlier this year, we’re looking forward to “I Can See Dover” to follow. I’m expecting to hear from Seelie Court Records on a release date soon. I’ll let you know.

Seelie Court have proposed to issue a box-set containing the CD versions of the “Dave Keir” and “I Can See Dover” albums but also including Interim Reports, Uneasy Listening and Good Grief! They have also proposed to include in this box set 30, or so, songs that I have recorded but have not published / released.

I am waiting for final confirmation on the above, but I can say the Seelie Court have sent me the digital re-masters of the “I Can See Dover” master tapes I sent them, so I will, in any event, be able to re-release the album independently, if need be.

“Outros” is a project I’ve been thinking about for some time. Outros are tunes that have gathered (dust) over the years. They may have developed into songs had I found the words that suited them. Or the other way around. Since I have abandoned songwriting for the present and foreseeable future these tunes needed to find another purpose or function. Hence “Outros”. It’s true that I had previously published some early and embryonic versions of them here using virtual instruments derived from the written guitar scores but I’ve removed these because (a) they were not fit for purpose; (b) they have all undergone considerable development; and (c) I have taken the time to get them under my fingers on the guitar so as to be in a fit state to properly record. At the moment there are about a couple of dozen of these Outros and several are recorded.

So, over the coming months, I have a plan to publish both the recordings and the finished guitar scores (in notation and tablature), certainly here, initially, before wider distribution, if there is enough interest. I will publish these individually and not as a set or album – at least at first. Again, level of interest will determine the decision on that.

So please keep tuned for the first Outro release announcement which should be very shortly.

Pending solution to world-wide vinyl shortage, the CD version of this 1976 album has been issued on CD. The CD can be bought here, of course, and from many other fine outlets. Those interested in the US can go to waterloorecords.com. UK, EU and worldwide customers are invited to get their copy here.

Thank you to Seelie Court who have made this reissue possible.

I’m pleased and proud to announce the re-release of my 1976 LP “Dave Keir” courtesy of Seelie Court Records. It is available on pre-order from Rough Trade. This will be available initially as a CD with a vinyl version to follow.

Also my 1982 LP “I Can See Dover” will be available very soon!

Very exciting times!

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I’m not so naive that I cannot know that any relationship that matters will have its hard times, misunderstandings, disappointments, and even moments of enmity. But I’ve always presumed that we all grow (older and a bit more mature and experienced) and get a little bit more forgiving, understanding and thereby more loving.

Not, so far, has that been my experience. Hatred doubles down on itself and seeks its further justification for its energy. Hatred feeds on itself without trying, while love needs to be worked at. Hatred needs no effort – enduring love does. Why? Why is it easier to hate those you once counted on for love than try to reinvigorate the love that once was there and somehow lost – and then try to recover it? Why do we give up? What is it about us that we won’t try again? One… more… time. Would it be worth the effort?

Life is short. Love is long and hatred is easy.

Dave

My old friend, Chris Eccleshall, passed away on 20th August.

Chris built a guitar for me in 1988 and it remains one of my fondest possessions. You can see it and read about it here.

I’m sad that we lost touch after he moved from London.

I will record something with it soon and post it here.

R.I.P. Chris. And thank you.

I admit that I’ve left this place to gather dust and I apologise to you if you have tried to follow links that have progressively become broken or redundant over the past while. Anyway, I’ve spent some time repairing these and removing things that were out of date or no longer relevant and it should all work now.

In particular I have overhauled and brought up to date the notation and tabs to the songs on the CDs and some “Celtic” guitar things (edit: Celtic notation and tabs temporarily taken down for rework). I hope you will visit and enjoy these. I’ve also included links to my songs on Apple Music and Amazon Music. Also you’ll notice the Spotify widgets in the sidebar on the right!

I should have done all this ages ago but life got in the way.

I plan to make some more improvements as time allows.