Normal for Bridgwater voted Number 6 in the all-time best Americana albums
Peter is thrilled that Normal for Bridgwater has been voted as number 6 in a list of the best Americana albums of all time by readers of Americana UK. It is an honour to be included in this list with some true greats!
Thank you to Dave Esson at the Daily Express for this 5 star review:
30th March 2017
Peter appeared on the 'Another Country with Ricky Ross' show on BBC Radio Scotland.
Watch him perform 'Clothes of Winter' below
Thanks to Paul Kerr for this review of March show in Glasgow;
Paul Kerr Review - click here to read it
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Thank you to April's Mojo Americana album of the month
review by Sylvie Simmons.
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MOJO’s July 2016 issue (on sale: 24th May 2016)
will include a cover mount ‘Blonde on Blonde’ CD and vinyl compilation and we are planning to include the following track(s) on it: Peter Bruntnell - Just Like a Woman
Video: Mr Sunshine - from the upcoming album 'Nos Da Comrade'
Video: Peter on tour in May 2013 opening for Jay Farrar Performing at the Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee.
NME claimed that "Peter Bruntnell's records should be taught in schools" and if you ask the likes of Rumer, Peter Buck, Scott Mccaughey, Willy Vlautin, Jay Farrar, John Murry or Kathleen Edwards they’ll all agree that Peter Bruntnell is a writer with rare and mysterious qualities. It’s interesting that American musicians are so seduced by such a uniquely British artist, and Peter has toured extensively with Son Volt, Kathleen Edwards and Richmond Fontaine.
It all started back in 1995 when Peter signed to Almo Sounds, where his label-mates included Gillian Welch and Garbage. He made two albums for the label: Cannibal and Camelot in Smithereens. Grammy-winning Peter Smith (Sting/Squeeze) who produced the debut Cannibal still cites it as “one of the top 3 records I’ve worked on”.
In 1999 Peter signed to Warner Brothers imprint, Slowriver/ Rykodisc and released ‘Normal For Bridgwater’. This was to be his biggest commercial success and a record that won him wider acclaim in North America. Upon hearing the album, Kathleen Edwards told her producer when recording her debut ‘Failer’ “I want to make an album like this”. Peter struck up a friendship with Son Volt, which resulted in them touring together. It also saw the introduction to Peter’s band of a 17 year-old James Walbourne. As well as playing with Peter, James tours as a member of The Pretenders.
Rather than reproduce the Americana feel of Normal For Bridgwater, Peter’s restless musical spirit has seen him strike out in new direction with almost every subsequent album. Four albums for Loose continued to win him admirers - by 2005, The Independent were calling him “one of the finest songwriters in Britain” and Richmond Fontaine’s front man Willy Vlautin called him his favourite singer.
His most recent release for Loose was 2009's ‘Peter And The Murder Of Crows’. Filled with psychedelic drones and mellifluous tunes, the album found reviewers and fans alike comparing him with Nick Drake and John Martyn. It was one of Q magazine's Albums Of The Year and was an Americana Album Of The Month in MOJO Magazine.
Ever inventive, with his latest 2011’s ‘Black Mountain UFO’ Peter mixed West Coast harmonies with the requisite dab of psychedelia.
And now, 2013 sees the release of ‘Retrospective’, featuring tracks from all of Peter’s albums to date and crowned with a re-recorded version and video of ‘Played Out’ featuring platinum-selling Rumer. This will be the radio single off 'Retrospective'.
"Bruntnell has a remarkable knack for turning out big, dreamy, melodic, memorable songs" - Mojo
"His songs are warm and beautifully radiant" - Uncut
"One of the finest songwriters in Britain" - The Independent
"His songs should be taught in schools" - NME
"One of England's best kept musical secrets" - Rolling Stone
"I love Peter Bruntnell. His voice is like a textured Elliott Smith with great songs. Will spread the word in Ohio!" - Lisa Walker of Wussy
"Gig of the Year when Peter Bruntnell and full band headlined the 2012 Palmfest" - Del Day Ark PR