Nick Haeffner - What Time Can Do

"What Time Can Do" is the fourth album from the London-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Nick Haeffner. Four years in the making, the new album is bursting with ideas, both musical and lyrical, and marks a new stage in the evolution of Nick’s music. Whereas the 2019 album "A New Life Awaits You" was conceived as a follow up to Nick’s debut album 'The Great Indoors', the new album strikes out in new directions. In addition to the folk, psychedelic, experimental and orchestral sounds of the earlier material there are latin, jazz and dub influences. There’s also a considerable amount of creative input from Marcus Holdaway (High Llamas, Stereolab, Colourway).

Featuring songs that are original, melodic and accessible, the sound palette is varied, with some emphasis on Marcus’s cello playing. Another feature of the album is the use of several outstanding backing and guest vocalists, including Yani Martinelli (The High Llamas, Colourway), Canadian jazz singer Chris Cummings (Marker Starling), Nick’s former bandmate Clive PiG and Getrude Veremu (of Digital Roses, an experimental gospel/electronic duo).

With Nick on vocal duties, he also plays a variety of guitars, keyboards and melodica, an instrument used to create dreamily beautiful melodies on many of the tracks. Continuing the dub influence, there’s jazz trombone, in the style of the legendary Rico on two of the tracks plus electric harpsichord, vibes, mellotron and theremin on 'My Funny Valentine'. Jim Wallis (Modern Nature, Still Corners) plays drums on several tracks.

Lyrically, the album is always original and often poignant. The deceptive lightness of the music conceals darker and more bittersweet pre-occupations with aging, mental health, Margaret Thatcher’s legacy, loneliness, the metaverse, work/life balance, physical imperfection, cats and ghosts.
credits
released September 29, 2023

1. What Time Can Do

Nick Haeffner: lead vocals, guitar, melodica, keyboards
Marcus Holdaway: cellos, electric piano, synthesiser
Yani Martinelli: vocals
Ian Montague: bass
Sowa: drums

Cello parts arranged by Marcus Holdaway, strings arranged by NH.

2. The River Knows a Secret

Nick Haeffner: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, mandolin, electric guitars, keyboards
Ian Montague: bass
Marcus Holdaway: cello
Jim Wallis: drums
Allan Seago: dobro

3. Back in the Life

Nick Haeffner: lead vocals, electric guitar, melodica
Marcus Holdaway: electric piano, organ
Chris Cummings: vocals, electric piano
Getrude Veremu: vocals
Ian Montague: bass
Jim Wallis: drums
Arjuna (RJ) Satchithananthan: trombone solo

4. The Cat’s Pyjamas

Nick Haeffner: vocals, cittern, melodica, acoustic and electric guitars
Clive Pig: vocals
Yani Martinelli: backing vocals
Ian Montague: bass
William Hayter: percussion
Marcus Holdaway: cello
String arrangement by NH

5. My Funny Valentine

Nick Haeffner: lead vocals, electric guitars, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Marcus Holdaway: vibes, electric harpsichord
Nat Yelverton: bass, guitar solo at end
William Hayter: percussion

6. There’s Another World

Nick Haeffner: lead vocals, electric guitar, banjo, melodica, mellotron
Marcus Holdaway: electric piano, vocals
Yani Martinelli: vocals

7. The Years Lie in Wait for You

Nick Haeffner: vocals, electric guitar, electric piano, organ, synth
Pierre Lassègues: spoken vocals
Getrude Veremu: vocals
Ian Montague: bass
Marcus Holdaway: cello
Jim Wallis: drums
Arjuna (RJ) Satchithananthan: trombone solo

8. I’m Not Here Right Now

Nick Haeffner: lead vocal, nylon string guitar, electric guitars, mandolin, melodica, organ
Marcus Holdaway: bass synthesizer, drums, percussion
Chris Cummings: backing vocals
Yani Martinelli: backing vocals
Jim Wallis: percussion

9. Versailles 1783

Nick Haeffner: keyboards, electric guitars, ukulele

10. “It’s All Maggie Thatcher’s Fault”

Nick Haeffner: vocals, electric guitar, synth
Ian Montague: bass
William Hayter: drums
Marcus Holdaway: electric piano

11. Cranham (In the Bleak Midwinter)

Nick Haeffner: guitars and keyboards

Jim’s drums recorded at Strongroom Studios. William’s drums recorded at Stable Sound studio.

Produced, mixed and mastered in my loft on my laptop. Richard Norris: postproduction on The River Knows a Secret and Back in the Life. “It’s All Maggie Thatcher’s Fault” mixed at Stable Sound studio by Nick Haeffner and William Hayter. My Funny Valentine mastered by Anthony Chapman.


Artwork by Paul Brand

Many thanks to Brian O’Neill, Damian O’Neill, Nick Clift and Neil March. Special thanks Marcus Holdaway.
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