Latest News - January 2012

2011 was a year of frustration. Our best intentions came up short against the plain fact that there are just not enough hours in the day to get nearly enough done. Recording and mixing has always been a very long process for us at the best of times, ally that to the overiding domestic responsibilities and the making of music for a part time band must always play 2nd, if not 3rd or 4th fiddle. (Of course this is not helped by the scrapping of the majority of two lots of recordings we started earlier in the year either). There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and by Summer 2012 thing should be on track again so we can concentrate fully on making more music. Currently there are a couple of ep's worth of songs that are approaching finishing and that will be released in due course. On the positive side 2011 provided ample opportunity for writing new songs and there are a couple of armfulls of new tracks we can't wait to get recorded - it's just a matter of time.

Latest News - September 2011

Summer came and went. Recording took a back seat as I took advantage of the good weather to clear out and the kit out the studio to help the acoustics. Now that is all complete I will be looking to finish of the recording. The intention is to release a couple of 4 track ep's, the first one some time near the end of the year, followed by an album after that.

We have just put together a deluxe download package of our debut release 'folk devils and moral panics'. The 6 track mini-album was originally released in August 2008 as an exclusive download on the wonderful indmill.com. Since indmill's sad demise earlier in the year it has been unavailable. We have now put together a deluxe download package available exclusively from Bandcamp.com. There you can stream folk devils and moral panics for free, and if you decide you want buy it  you can choose how much you'd like to pay. The deluxe download is available in various formats including full CD quality, and the download package includes cover art, extra promo CD artwork, lyric sheet, liner notes and song notes.

Latest News - Summer 2011

We are in the process of recording 15 new songs, it's been a slow, slow, process but we are very pleased with how its sounding so far. The current intention is to release an e.p. some time in the autumn, followed by an album after that. You can follow the progress of recording on our facebook and twitter pages.

Latest News - March 2011

The Rowan Amber Mill's first recording of 2011, 'Trees Song' has been completed and is now available freely over the internet. The song was written in anger about the UK government's scandalous, short-sighted and self serving proposal to sell off huge swathes of public owned forest to private industry - all for a cheap buck. If you want to check out our alt-folk protest song it is on our soundcloud, facebook and myspace pages. The lyrics are also on our lyrics page.

Latest News - February 2011

The band, ever eager to pursue the current trends in musical fashion, have succumbed to the inevitable economic downsizing which has mean't Terry and Sharon have left the band. Actually the reason is that we just do not have the time available to all join together, gather in the songs, then thrash them out, rebuild them, hone them, record, and re-record them. So Terry and Sharon will be pursuing their other myriad of musical outlets, and The Rowan Amber Mill reverts back to a solo project containing only a solitary Stephen. (At the moment I am unable to confirm or deny the rumour that Terry and Sharon will replace Meg and Jack White in The White Stripes).

As we speak, there are a large number of songs written for a possible release somewhere down the road. The aforementioned lack of time has hindered the subsequent recording of these new songs, but, they will start to trickle out in due course. So keep your ears open, and check our Facebook page because they will be revealed there first.

Latest News December 2010

We have an exclusive track on a new double compilation CD that is entitled "We Bring You a King With A Head Of Gold" - available now.

"We Bring You..." is the eagerly awaited follow up to the wonderful John Barleycorn Reborn compilation that was released a couple of years ago, again it ploughs a distinctive rich seam of dark folk tunes. It contains 34 tracks on double CD and download direct from the Cold Spring label and Amazon etc.
Our song on the compilation is an exclusive alternative and extended mix of Blood And Bones (Ciderdelica mix), infused with a heady scrumpy vibe.  

Also on the compilation is the wonderful Corncrow (featuring Kim Guy - our previous singer extroadinaire and lifetime honourary "Rowan"). By the way, Corncrow's debut CD is also available now - check out the Corncrow myspace site.

Other highlights include one of our very favourite contemporary folk tracks ever - Earthen Key by Barron Brady (a folk duo from just over the river from us) along with our fave bands The Hare And The Moon, Sproatly Smith and Wyrdstone. 

If you like contemporary folk with a mystical bygone vibe this compilation is for you.

Latest News November 2010

We are just making up the last small batch of handmade Heartwood CDs, and those will be the last handmade ones we make. They will be available exclusively direct from us in the millersounds shop. So if you would like a handmade copy of the album, now is the time to order.

Heartwood reached number 1 in both the Englsh Folk and Acid Folk charts at CDbaby. We are informed that Heartwood is at number 56,490 in the Amazon UK album chart for UK seles of the import version! (not good news for the carbon footprint). So a big, big thank you to all of you who bought the CD.     

A track of ours is included on a free download-only compilation made available from the wonderful people at FATEA. Their showcase session for Winter 2010 is entitled Rising, and includes a one track from us, along with 14 further tracks from other artists covering a wide range of styles. You can download the session from 1st November from http://www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk/

Latest News October 2010

Heartwood is now (belatedly) available on iTunes.

Latest News September 2010

Heartwood available now - worldwide .

Heartwood received its official worldwide release on 20th September 2010. We have been informed that it is already out of stock at CDbaby (we have rushed them some further supplies of Heartwood CDs so they'll be available form CDbaby again very shortly). You can also buy them direct from us (both here and from our ebay shop), from Amazon and elsewhere. You can also preview all the tracks on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Latest News August 2010 (2)

Heartwood limited handcrafted editions available now from our shop.

Heartwood is now available to order from our official shop ahead of its official worldwide release date of 20th September 2010. Heartwood contains 14 tracks (55mins) of Woodland Folkadelica, and its already garnering some very nice reviews in magazines and on the web. You can find out all the details about Heartwood on our releases page. You can hear a couple of tracks off the album on our Myspace and Facebook pages (click the links at the top of the page). We hope you enjoy it.

There is a nice little review of Heartwood in the current issue of Shinding, the uber cool magazine for the discerning listener.
A selective quote from the review reads thus:- "The Rowan Amber Mill and their album Heartwood come across like a British version of first album Espers - all melodious vocals, earthly splendour and quiet grace". Buy the magazine to read the longer review - it is a really great (and unmissable) magazine with some wonderful music, film and pop culture.

We now have a Rowan Amber Mill YouTube channel which currently contains a wonderful video of English Shire (taken from the new album). The video was very kindly made overseas by Italian film director by Francesco Paolo Paladino. Check it out.

Latest News August 2010 (1)

With the release date of our debut full length album (entitled Heartwood) approaching we have been double-busy. We have been putting together the individually handcrafted limited edition version of the album, and to beginning to re-jig the website ready for the new release.

The official release date of the album is 20th September 2010, however, you'll be able to order the album from this site from 31st August 2010. (Subscribers to our mailing list will already have access to the pre-release information).

We have just begun to receive the first reviews in for Heartwood. Here are a few quotes:

"Having quietly raved about the Rowan Amber Mill's previous release, it's a real pleasure to be able to turn our attention this time to ‘Heartwood'. The album's well worth seeking out. Lovely stuff! Get it before it's gone." Terrascope.co.uk

"Few tellers of whispered woodland tales tell them so effectively as The Rowan Amber Mill". "To cure your ills just take a dose of its idyllic folk beauty and drift off into another wholly more peaceful and wonderful world – you’ll love every second". "In all Heartwood offers 14 tracks to relish and savour – and when you hear them you will, no question". - www.folkwords.com

Please do check out our Facebook page, it is a good way for us to be able to keep you right up to date and also for you to keep in touch with us.

Latest News July 2010

Our debut full length album (entitled Heartwood) has now been completed and pressed and will be released on 20th September 2010. It will be available to order direct from this website on 31st August 2010 in both a very special individually handcrafted edition and a standard jewel case edition. Heartwood will also be available to be bought and downloaded from 20th September 2010 from itunes, CDBaby, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk etc etc. In the meantime a couple of randomly selected tracks from Heartwood can be heard on our Myspace and Facebook page.

The archive of older news is here