Album Notes

What? Where? Who? All these questions! The Mystery tent came out of the Clive parnell solo project. Clive got fed up trying to explain or spell his surname and to be frank if the name clive was not good enough for C.S.lewis the writer, then it would not work in a rock band. So the collective The Mystery Tent is born in 2006. Clive is seen on stage with different musicians and that's all part of the mystery will there be 1, 2 or even 5?

The band’s hideout is somewhere in Edinburgh in the UK.
They appear after dark now and again at various venues in Edinburgh and around the UK.
The Mystery tent, has a following amongst university students and are touring around Uni’s in the UK.
Influences on the band are eclectic ranging from Radiohead to Van Morrison.

The debut CD “Out of Control” was produced by “Graeme Duffin” (wet wet wet) and “Sandy Jones”. It was recorded at the Foundry music Lab in Scotland.
“it was great working with Graeme and sandy and they really brought a cohesive sound to the album” said leader singer Clive Parnell.
“I wanted to create and energy in the album that is driven by melody and at times is anthemic and at other times is more subversive” said clive.
The CD reflects this in that there are the usual suspects found in a rock band drums, bass, guitar and electric but in addition you find violin, honky tonk piano, various percussion instruments and electronic sounds.

The CD is available on Digital download at Itunes, virgin, Sony etc and the CD can be bought online at www.cdbaby.com/themysterytent.

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

8 out of 10

It's been six years since Scottish singer Clive Parnell's last album with IndigoEcho and now he returns with a new band and a fresh sound. Produced by long time Wet Wet Wet alumni Graeme Duffin who also contributed guitar, the album features Parnell's excellent songwriting and emotive singing. The result is an indie album that ranges from the jangly "Serenade" to the atmospheric acoustic "Flood" and the prayerful "Small Voice". Parnell does a great line in soul searching and pondering life's big questions coupled with observations of the human condition and his vulnerability is compelling. The desire for God and the need to make sense of things is the constant buzz at the back of these songs. Musically, this whole thing works and I have to confess that I wish there was more on here like the opening pair of songs "Out Of Control" and "Walk With Me" where the guitars are plugged in and turned up. That quibble aside, it's simply good to hear some new songs from a fine writer and The Mystery Tent have pitched a strong debut album.