Here is a fine song from Simon Stanley Ward and The Shadows of Doubt, artfully recorded during their recent album launch show at Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney. ‘Another Page’, originally taken from the group’s debut album from 2015, is a compelling song that starts delicately with Rob Corcoran’s haunting harmonica and melodic guitar. In this live performance, the song grows superbly with Richard Easeman’s deep, pulsing bass and restless percussion from Neil Marsh lifting Ward’s voice. His plaintive vocal is superbly controlled and intimate.
Recent album, ‘Rocket in the Desert’ received a much-deserved 8/10 review at AUK here. The project and this live performance were particularly special to the band, as Ward explains: “This was the last song we played at our ‘Rocket in the Desert’ album launch show in February. This is a very special album for us in memory of our bass player of 10 years Geoff Easeman, who so sadly died just a few weeks after the album’s recording. The album was made under extraordinary circumstances with Geoff being an inpatient at a NHS hospice at the time where he recorded his bass. It will forever be our honour and privilege that he wanted to do this album with us in the situation he found himself in. The album launch, with Geoff’s eldest son Richard Easeman on bass, was an emotional tribute to a great friend. The song, ‘Another Page’ is from our first album and was a favourite of Geoff’s and his wife Sue so we wanted to close the set with this one.”
The band set up in Catch 21 Studio in Norwich close to where Geoff lived as he was determined to contribute to the album. The first eight tracks were recorded in just two days and then the tapes were taken to the hospice where Geoff, fighting through pain and exhaustion, added his bass lines to the recordings. It was an incredible achievement and would be the final time that the band saw Geoff.
Aside from Ward’s excellent vocal, a highlight of this live show is the gorgeous electric guitar solo from Paul Lush (Danny and The Champs) towards the end. The band is tight throughout an emotionally-charged performance. Absorb this and then seek out the album here.
