About Pete

Cotswolds-based Pete Hodge is a multi-talented musician, songwriter and artist. His long association with the band Dulcimer, from the early 1970’s until the 1990’s, produced 6 albums. Pete later produced a further album: Shadows in the Dust. After ten years or so away from the music scene, concentrating on his other major talent, art, a chance meeting with singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rob Powell, reignited Pete’s enthusiasm and together with cellist/flautist Lorna Joy Davies, the band Wyrewood was born and currently have 2 albums to their name.

Following the success of the 2nd Wyrewood album, Pete was inspired to continue working on new songs and soon had sufficient to record a new album. The restrictions of the Covid crisis limited Rob and Lorna’s availability but the answer was close at hand. Pete had known Tim Haines for many years and in passing Tim mentioned that he had a recording studio just across town. Having already heard and been impressed by the quality of Tim’s recordings with his band hanna*h*, Pete decided to book a tentative try-out session and ‘see what happens’. The success that followed can now be heard by all, in the form of Pete’s recent album “Forgot Your Password? - Try Again”, followed by "Pipers Grove", his latest album.

New Album Pipers Grove from Pete Hodge

I think this could loosely be described as a 'self-indulgent, unfashionable concept album'. The first three tracks are nostalgesically autobiographical from the cradle with 'Life in a Lullaby', through the title track 'Pipers Grove'; a mini song-cycle about a childhood haven, of innocence, fear and self-learning, to 'Three Winters' which takes me onwards through ancient gates of learning to the joys and anxieties of early adolescence to finally leaving home and the security of a small Cotswolds village before venturing into that bigger world of wide-eyed optimism & opportunity where we are meant to "grow-up"!

The rest of the album continues chronologically through critical junctures of life, but told through the eyes of a strange & disparate group of characters all heading for the magic mirror of all mystery.

Come all you crazy dreamers, dream on. … so basically a lot of words and a few tunes, as usual.

Special thanks to Karen Osborne for her encouragement, support and believing when I didn't. So blame her.

P.S. It sounds best through headphones, so it doesn't annoy anyone else.

Pete

nostalgesia

A half-remembered past, filtered through an unreliable and faulty prism rather than rose-tinted bi-focals.

Forgot your password - try again

1. The enemy within
2. Wave goodbye (my little darling)
3. Good morning Mr. Sunshine
4. When Paradise is lost
5. Ten long years
6. Friendly fire
7. Not in my name
8. Forgot your password - try again
9. Master plan (for the working man)
10. Slightly optimistic song
11. Let's re-invent the wheel

Although this project bears my name it could have been another Wyrewood album, as both Rob and Lorna made some great contributions, particularly early on. Later contributions came from ex ‘The Photos’ bassist Dave Sparrow, Hanna Knight and Jon ‘Obiter’ Nurse adding some fine flourishes. Tim Haines with his endless patience and musical and production skills was the ever-present mainstay of the enterprise. I hope they all enjoyed it as much as I did. I must say that to me it feels like a truly collaborative effort and I feel very lucky to have been able to work with friends and musicians of such high calibre. The songs seemed to write themselves and range from tales of mangled mythological fantasies to ironic meditations on life, love, loss and stuff like that.

Pete

Interview With Pete Hodge