THE MAKING OF AN ALBUM

This collection of 12 original songs evolved from an idea to showcase Nigel's songwriting. It was 1997 and, with a big birthday looming for Nigel, Lynn had the idea to have a mega party to launch the album and set to work organising the event.

Ian Grove, guitarist, songwriter and techno-wizard, agreed to co-write the remaining material for the album and made countless journeys from Southampton to Nigel's studio at Inkpen, in deepest Berkshire, during the summer. If you too had ventured to the area during that time, you may have been shocked to have witnessed Nigel or Ian acting very strangely: marching up and down a shingle driveway like mad military men, or rustling crisp packets and popping bubble wrap, or bleating like sheep into a microphone with Lynn - all important preparation for the recording, mixing and production of the album which was scheduled to take place in September.

With the studio rigged to be the control room and the dining room installed as a live room, the album took shape and somehow, without neglecting their other work commitments, Nigel, Ian and Lynn, accompanied by Jac Nott, worked round the clock for three weeks during September to create this, their first album together.

Drawing upon his experience in professional graphics, Nigel designed and produced the CD booklet and inlays and arranged the duplication of the CD. All that remained was to co-ordinate plans for the big day.

The party, held that November, was a great success thanks to the support of the many friends, relatives and contacts who attended the evening and who offered to help. Ian Grove, who owns RPA Sound, a sound reinforcement company, built an impressive stage set complete with light show and special effects - a powerful backdrop against which to launch the album.

Hugo Middlemas, PR officer for Leukaemia Research Fund, introduced the evening and over £300 was raised for the charity thanks to the generosity of the guests (or were they banned from leaving unless they made a donation? It was a while ago...)


A Catalogue of Mysteries by Darwyn 1997
Emotional melodies, powerful lyrics, retro melodic rock
To hear clips from the album tracks please select below:
Darwyn live 1997-My Pretty One Darwyn live 1997-Far Away Star Darwyn recording session-Ian nuts Darwyn recording session-Nigel dreamy
Picture Gallery: Click to see full-size images
Darwyn recording session-Ian far away baa Darwyn live 1997-turn me on Darwyn recording session-Lynn WP mixing Darwyn recording session-Poppy in tune
Darwyn recording session-Jac Nott Darwyn recording session-what now Darwyn live 1997-Far Away Star 2 Darwyn recording session-Jac Nott techno

BUY A COPY FOR JUST £5.00!
A Catalogue of Mysteries is available on CD, complete with colour booklet and artwork. Price includes P&P to anywhere in the UK.

The Epilogue

Darwyn took to the road during 1998 and played at various venues around the south of England, once supporting Hamish Stuart, ex of the Average White Band and Paul McCartney's Wings. They appeared on Thames Valley TV, 'on the couch' with Dominic Hart and were interviewed by BBC Radio Oxford, Radio Victory and Hospital Radio Reading as well as playlisted on Melody FM. They also had their first webcast on Allan Dawson's 'Waking up the neighbours' internet radio segment.

Since performing at Newbury Live, a festival of the arts in the Berkshire market town, they have not appeared live but, despite now living more than 200 miles apart, there could be scope for another blast.

As for a second album... VoIP makes it possible to work in a virtual studio environment. Some ideas are taking shape...

Introducing your players:

Nigel Watts-Plumpkin - Lead vocals,
keyboards, song programming

Ian Grove - Electric and acoustic guitars,
keyboards, BVs

Lynn Watts-Plumpkin - Backing vocals

With additional help from:

Nick Beere - Lead guitar on Lifeline

Paul Coombe - Solo sax on Can I Help It

Jac Nott - Flute on Through The Looking
Glass and Coming Up For Air; Marching
piccolos on Sheep Fever

The spooky tale of Pumpkin the Pig

Read the amazing story
of
Pumpkin the piglet,
who was immortalized on
the CD graphics.
36KB PDF

A 20p donation for every CD sold will be made to
Songs written by Nigel Watts-Plumpkin and Ian Grove, who wish to assert
themsleves as the authors of the work entitled A Catalogue of Mysteries, Darwyn.

Album recorded and mastered at the Atomic Audio Asylum, Berkshire, England.
Words and music © ScorpioSongs 1997. Produced by ScorpioSongs 1997.
Donations to Leukaemia Research
Sound effects designer, fx, multimedia, soundtracks, music service, UK company, ScorpioSongs
© 2006-2012 ScorpioSongs Limited • Website designed & produced by Origin Eight • Lluest Llanfyllin Powys SY22 5NE • origineight(at)newbury.net • Tel 01691 649105