DIRECTING HAND – What Put The Blood
12″ LP – edition of 500 

DIRECTING HAND have recorded an exciting and chilling record of folk and fire tunes. Placing equal emphasis on experimental free drum and wordless vocal improvisations and reinterpretations of traditional English folk songs, “What Put The Blood” is beautiful, ugly, loud and quiet all at once. “And just as the traditional readings are illuminated by the advanced application of vanguard, modernist aesthetics, the improvisations feel intuitively authentic and deeply volk-ish. For a tradition to go on living, sometimes it is necessary to kill it off completely.” (from the liner notes). Now consisting of Alex Neilson on drums and vocals and soprano Lavinia Blackwall who also plays harp, cello and harmonium, DIRECTING HAND have truly zoned in on the essence of their craft.
The LP features exclusive liner notes by Volcanic Tongue’s David Keenan and comes housed in a hand screenprinted wrap-around sleeve designed by Lavinia Blackwall.
The first 100 copies of the LP come with a bonus 3” CDR of four songs that Lavinia recorded in the studio shortly after the Directing Hand sessions. Utilizing electric organs, guitars, grand piano and her pure soprano voice, she hauntingly interprets and reinterprets two traditional English folk songs and two of her own compositions. The disk comes in a handmade sleeve letterpressed with a Masonic image from Lavinia’s collection.

DWR002, released 2008

Tracklisting
Side A

What Put The Blood

The Temptation

Speed Agreement

My Son David

Side B

Two Brothers

For PB

My Lagan Love

Carbeth