Charlie Dore - Dark Matter (2017)

Metaphysical themes versus small, ordinary dramas, with humans routinely baffled by their own,inner space. A cocktail of speculation, secrets and the odd joke, because whatever Dark Matter may be, it certainly isn't all dark. Zen folk for the curious.
Dark Matter is Charlie Dore's 9th album and although its title might suggest a leap into astro-physics, it's actually more about the parallels between big, eternal themes and small, ordinary dramas, where humans are routinely baffled by their own, inner space.

Dore was fascinated by the concept of dark matter which makes up 85% the universe, even scientists don't know what it's actually made up of. "I was aiming for a cocktail of speculation, dreams, secrets and the odd joke, because whatever Dark Matter may turn out to be, it certainly isn't all dark."

Subjects include the notion of having to watch a film of your entire life, in real time, before you check out (Personal Hell), a lover who behaves like a Neutrino, passing through without actual trace (Breakfast of Neutrinos), a celebration of a childhood hero (15 Minutes With Danny Kaye) and a song for anyone who's ever given their heart to a dog (A Dog Out Looking For His Day). There's also the true story of a curious courtship in a card shop where ace mastering engineer Denis Blackham met his future wife. (Denis and Rose).

The album is another home-grown project. It was recorded & mixed in Charlie Dore's room. Julian Littman plays guitars, Dobro, mandolin, banjo,lap steel, piano and percussion with Charlie on guitar, piano, ukulele and harmonium and features Gareth Huw Davies on 5 string Double Bass & Cello, Ben Castle on clarinet, Julian's fellow Steeleye Span bandmate, Jessie May Smart on violins and Tom Rees-Roberts on trumpet.

The albumt won a double gong from the US Indie Acoustic Project. Being the only UK album to be honoured,the album has been awarded both Album of the Year and Best Album Lyrics categories amongst very strong competition, including Grammy Award winners Infamous String Dusters, the celebrated Wailin Jennys and the multi-award-winning Molly Tuttle.

"Dark Matter…an amazingly astute, moving, intelligent and connected songwriter…a voice like Kate McGarrigle meets Dory Previn. Wonderful ". Mike Harding

"Beautiful, existential, metaphysical and intruigingly other. Zen folk I want to call it. Charlie Dore's 'Time Out of Mind' " Ricky Ross, BBC Scotland