When Kevin and I met at a party back in late 2006, we had no idea how exciting, challenging, eye-opening and rewarding the next few years would be! The guy seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of having me put cello on one or two songs he was planning to record. A few days later his CD arrived and I liked what I heard so we met up to play through some of the songs and see what we could come up with. It was clear even in that first rehearsal that there was a musical chemistry that could combine the best of Kevin’s singer-songwriter talents, my passion for composing and arranging and a shared desire to do something fresh and different to what was already out there.
After gigging anywhere and everywhere for about 9 months, I suggested expanding the line-up to include violinist Josie Forsey who I’d met and performed with when studying at Keele University. As a three-piece, we went on to start recording our first album, Scars, in Easter 2008. What a learning experience! Thirteen tracks across almost as many genres, string arrangements, some great session players and by the end of it, a piece of work that we were really happy with. A digital release along with physical sales at gigs kick-started 2009, a year which would see our trio expand. Drummer and percussionist Alex Williams had replied to an ad’ that Kevin had put out, having recognised the name as someone he knew from their youth. After trying a couple of different line-ups since then, bass player Johnny Flynn joined us as a permanent fixture in the summer of 2010.
In early 2009, after playing in Chester with KCO, I was approached by a composer/producer Gary Lloyd to record cello on a composition for a contemporary dance piece. After working with him on this and further session work, I felt convinced that this was the man for the job of producing for Kevin Critchley Outfit. After meeting Kevin and the rest of the band, he came on board for the new album in June 2010!
Already, we’ve surpassed our expectations with what’s been recorded so far and we expect to be finished in the first few months of 2011. We also take it as a huge compliment having some amazingly talented and versatile musicians alongside us for the recording and a number of our live performances, namely violinists Chris Demetriou and Greta Svabo Bech along with vocalists Kaya Herstad and Grethe Børsum. Sound engineers might raise an eyebrow at a line-up sometimes pushing four backing vocalists and a string quartet, but the work invested in arranging and rehearsing the songs means our live show is on a scale unheard of for an unsigned band!
So, what next for Kevin, Josie, Alex, Johnny, myself and our musicians in arms? More recording, gigs, writing and work off stage to get our music to as wide an audience as possible. The Outfit is here to stay!
Luke Moore
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