Archie Churchill-Moss announces debut solo album

Archie Churchill-Moss

Archie Churchill-Moss is one of Britain’s foremost squeezers; a 29-year-old diatonic button accordion player from Somerset who grew up immersed in English and French traditional dance music. Playing a custom layout (three-row, eighteen-bass) VanderAa accordion, he challenges what most would think of as possible on the instrument. In recent years he has found himself in demand as a session player and collaborator with many acts from the UK folk scene (including Eliza Carthy, Cara Dillon, Sam Kelly, Jim Moray & more).

His debut album, Ph(r)ase, is a collection of his own compositions which are the culmination of many years playing, writing and touring. In his own words, he primarily set out to ‘explore the various tonal centres his accordion is capable of navigating’ – using composition for the instrument as a tool for developing new playing techniques. While Archie’s tunes often follow familiar northern European dance tune forms, they harbour serious harmonic and melodic exploration and adopt a broad aesthetic lens which builds on tradition.

It is wholly modern music that, for the most part, could still be called “danceable” by the most fervent Morris or Bal enthusiast. It is brimming with the lilt, groove and joy so associated with such music. The album was recorded and filmed completely live in the studio over four days in Spring 2022. It is released on Slow Worm Records and is available on special edition CD (+ sheet music), DL and streaming on 18th December 2022.

Artist’s website: https://www.facebook.com/archiecmossmusic/

‘Reels – School Of Brock/Open At Home’ – at home: