Badlabecques annonchent:
Badlabecques Crowdfunder from Kit Ashton on Vimeo.
Lead singer Kit Ashton says:
“We’ve all worked really hard on this record and we have ten new songs very nearly finished. We think it sounds brilliant so we’re itching to release it – but we don’t have a record label behind us so we just need a bit more help to make sure we can really do it justice.”
The album will be titled ‘Cocolîncheux!’ (which means cockadoodledoo!) and it includes new songs the band have either adapted or written and performed over the last few years.
The material is a mix of traditional Jèrriais songs (like ‘Vive La Compagnie’), translated cover versions (e.g. The Beatles ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’), and original material – often based on well-known Jèrriais poems (e.g. ‘T’en r’Souveins-tu’ by EJ Luce); all of which they have produced in their typical ‘pop-folk’ style. Badlabecques have also been working closely with Jèrriais poet Geraint Jennings, who has provided some lyrics and spoken word samples; and a few songs feature special guest performances from flautist Naomi West, and violinist Vinny Donnelly.
They have been recording with Badger Productions in Jersey, and the album will be mixed by Neil Costello (James Taylor Quartet, Katie Melua), and mastered by Streaky (Cheryl Crow, Adele).
Badlabecques hope the album will contribute to their vision “to promote Jèrriais as a living part of Jersey’s cultural identity, not just as ‘heritage’, but as something we can enjoy and be proud of as we move forwards into the future.” Jersey’s local language Jèrriais is considered ‘critically endangered’ and the States of Jersey recently committed to continue efforts to maintain and revitalise it for the islanders of the tomorrow.