Fall by Neil Campbell & Nicole Collarbone

This collection arrives through the pairing of these two accomplished and dedicated musicians who together produce intensely graceful, enrapturing and at times sobering melodies"

Alicia Rose, Nerve

"The music sounds like poetry on a canvas and each time one is able to reveal new dimensions in their songs. The music has a classical setup and yet invites one to explore new boundaries...This is a top-notch CD I truly recommend to any music enthusiast."

Henk te Veldhuis, Bridge Guitar Reviews

Composer and guitarist, Neil Campbell began to compose music as soon as he started to pick up musical instruments and play with them at around the age of four. Over the years he has followed a number of seemingly divergent musical paths (free improviser, singer songwriter, systems music composer, band leader and virtuoso guitar soloist).

He has always maintained an expanding interest in music that doesn't fit easily into pigeonholes such as rock, folk, jazz etc. His musical influences include English Progressive Rock bands of the 70s, Krautrock, Ambient Music, Systems Music (Minimalism, Post-Minimalism and Totalism), Jazz Rock and early 20th Century French Impressionism (amongst other things).

After twenty-five years of playing, a virtuoso classical guitarist, he has produced two CDs of solo guitar music ‘Through the Looking Glass’ (Mayfield 2003) and ‘Night Sketches’ (2004) and a book of Music for Solo Guitar. He has also recorded, with cellist Nicole Collarbone, a CD of Music for Cello and Guitar - 'Fall' (2006). You can find out more and hear more of Neil's music for classical guitar and for guitar and cello at http://www.myspace.com/neilcampbellguitarist

In 1998 Neil simultaneously became involved with the free improvisation scene and the acoustic scene in Liverpool. Around this time he also began postgraduate studies in Music through the University of Liverpool, where he developed an approach to music making based around musical systems or processes which run automatically without composerly intervention. This has resulted in the production of an ongoing body of work, much of which has been recorded and has received airplay on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. The albums documenting this work are ‘Rotations’ (2003) and the 3 CD set ‘Assembly’ (2005). You can hear samples of this music at http://www.myspace.com/neilcampbellsystemsmusic

Over the last three years he has poured his activities as a composer, songwriter and performer into work with the Neil Campbell Collective * which has evolved in terms of band membership and approach from a singer-songwriter duo to a full blown band playing ever more complex compositions.

In May 2005 the Neil Campbell Collective released their first album ‘3 O’Clock Sky’ (2005), which has been a critical success. The bands music following release of this first album focuses on developing an ever more complex musical language and band interplay, almost leaving standard song structures behind in the process. The band are currently at work on their second album 'Particle Theory' planned for release this year.

Cellist, Nicole Collarbone was born in Edinburgh and swiftly swept away to brummie land (Birmingham), Nicole’s life as a youngster was spent mostly running naked in the streets and sharing camping hol’s in the South of France with friends and neighbours.

In most recent years (16 of which to be exact), Nicole has been confined within the tall green walls that surround Milton Keynes; an unyielding, stone territory notorious for its Concrete Cows and Roundabouts!

It is in this wretched place that she discovered her love of the Cello and formed a passionate, yet dysfunctional relationship with what soon became her life long soul mate; Bernard (the Cello).

Nicole’s playing developed in an unconventional sense. Unable to conform to the rigidity of classical training, she retained a stubborn ability to ignore her teachers and create her own reality that denied traditional technique. Her first debut as a competitive musician at the age of 12 won her a top award, which the judge presented referring to her as “the one with her head to the side!”…?

Over her 7 or 8 years playing at the Milton Keynes Music Centre, Nicole developed a love for playing music with others. This raised opportunities of plenty for the girl; performing at some top venues in the UK, Italy and Prague.

Favourite moment playing classical music: performing Shostakovich Quartet no.8 at St. John Smiths Square, London. Her incapacity to play anything other than really f***in’ loud (she blames Bernard) was perhaps a hindrance at the time, but none the less, this won her much recognition amongst individuals! lol

Presented an award for her contributions to the Music Centre, Nicole’s graduation was indeed a happy one, but she had still not found her place in the realm of music.Enter Teen Angst!

Following many an hour spent moshing out to the likes of Rage, Fear Factory, Ozzy and so forth; partying hard with disillusioned teens that thought they could change the world…A revolution…Her first jam (cheers Mr. Garry Murphy)!

Nicole’s 18th birthday saw the arrival of Suzy, her Electric Cello. Unfortunately Suzy didn’t get out much and Bernard developed a severe case of cobwebs (bless his soul). It was not until 4 years later, on her arrival as a student in the happy land of Liverpool, that Nicole’s passion 4 playing music re-emerged, as did her love for the city and the people.

Nicole first jammed with Neil Campbell following an all night bender with a nutty flatmate. For some unknown reason, Neil saw something beyond her inept inability to play anything he asked. Neil soon introduced her to an early line-up of the band, then known as Triad. It was in this session that she first heard the tune that is Rainstorm. Nicole’s passion for playing was immediately reborn and life, as she knew it, would never be the same!

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