enQ
Tear Down the Barriers
The first CD from the UK based roots fusion band enQ was released in November 2002.
The band was formed as the result of a chance conversation between guitarist Brian Heywood and fiddler
Vicky Brown in 2000. Vicky remarked how it’d be great to get this kind of music out to a wider audience.
The "this music" she was referring to was a dance oriented fusion of funk, folk and rock. Brian said "Let’s
do it!" and enQ was born.
The band’s name enQ [pronounced eee-en-cue], means, well,
nothing at all really. The band wanted a name that was easy to remember but didn’t signify anything. The
"meaning’s in the music the words don’t mean a thing" to paraphrase one of Brian’s lyrics.
Okay, the band is energetic, and noisy and a Quintet but this just a coincidence.
Really!
For more information about the individual band members, some live video footage, and interview with
the original line-up of the band that was broadcast on Sky Digital then check out the website at
www.enq.org.uk.
TRACK Listing
1. a rabbit out of the hat 4:06 *
2. the reverend sharpton 2:51
3. the wind is howling 4:42
4. the open window 3:35
5. draw the line 2:46
6. the musical priest 2:55
7. drunk on the moon 3:50
8. youngest daughter 3:23
9. behave yourself 2:56
10. turn the tide 4:01 **
11. vicky's cup of tea 4:07
12. the glory road 4:51
credits
1 - brian heywood and vicky brown
2, 5, 9, 10, 12 - brian heywood
3 - bambridge, donoghue & jenking
7 - mark cryle
4, 6, 8 - traditional
arr. brian heywood and vicky brown
11 - vicky brown and
trad arr. brian heywood
* dedicated to the memory of Roger 'Rabbit' Reece
** dedicated to the memory of Bob Czina
musicians
vicky brown - violin and vocals
brian heywood - guitars, guitar synthesiser, cittern and backing vocals
sean devlin - vocals and keyboards
brian jenking - six-string fretted and fretless bass guitars and backing vocals
gary munnelly - kit drums and congas
special guest
jerry donahue - additional guitars on the 'wind is howling'
special thanks to
steàfàn hannigan - loan of his congas
bill locke - use of his fender telecaster
tim at gracieland - for all his help
ross hemsworth - the loan of his ears
donna whitlock - making the enQ banner
initial sessions were recorded at oisin studios in wolverton (engineered by steàfàn hannigan)
overdubs were recorded at the point dunstable (engineered by brian heywood)
additional overdubs on 'the wind is howling' recorded at gracieland (engineered by tim)
mastered at the point and oisin studios
produced by brian heywood
photography by leigh
artwork layout by steàfàn hannigan and brian heywood
cover concept by brian heywood
traditional material
track 4 - the dusty windowsill / morrison's
track 6 - the musical priest
track 8 - the youngest daughter / an dro'
track 10 - the instrumental is based on mona's delight
track 11 - the cup of tea
Quotes
"... and there are some rocking reel sets that feature the amplified
violin of Vick Brown, whose name should be added to the list of
top contemporary folk-rock fiddlers."
"... agressive, top notch fiddling set off by periodic guitar explosions."
Tom Nelligan, Dirty linen
"... an unabashed, rousing debut album."
"... an immediate, character-driven sound that reveals all
kinds of delicious, individual twists with every play."
"Just when it seemed as if newer electric British roots bands
were getting thinner on the ground, enQ come as the cavalry.
Very welcome and very good."
fRoots Magazine
"- magic."
Jim Macquarie, Acoustic Folkus (Australia)
"They have the drive and punch of the great Folk Rock bands
-- Moving Hearts in full cry or The Battlefield ... "
"A tight band, a great beat, a driving fiddle line and good songs
-- you want more?"
Folk London
"What an amazingly innovative and energetic band; their fusion of folk,
traditional, rock and funk surpasses anything other bands have tried to date."
Tony Bates - 3WBC 94.1 FM (Australia)
"... a great, feel-good album, guaranteed to get you on your feet ..."
Wes Smith, Luton News
"... and it certainly rocks! A very fine piece of work."
Harvey Andrews
"- it's awesome!"
Jim Kloss, Whole Wheat Radio (Alaska)
"There's not a bad song in the bunch - an exceptional flow from the very
beginning to the end. I can't remember the last time I've said that about any
album."
Ron Wallace, Founder
Music Discovery Network
Creative Musicians Coalition
"Tear Down The Barriers" is great album. Taclem, Folkowa (Poland)
"... a high energy vortex which combines elements of Celtic, folk, rock,
and hauntingly fugue like melodies that are universal and transcendent
in their emotional impact."
Joel Siegfried, SB Talent Associates (San Diego, U.S.A.)
"WOW. A really exciting and lively band which appeals to a younger audience
and makes you 'wanna get up and dance!' ... 8/10"
13 yr old quoted by Ian Pittaway (The Folk Mag)
"Thank You so much for perfectly brilliant Tear Down the Barriers!!! Splendid,
incredibly interesting work! We were glad and proud discover for us and for
our audience creation of such bright artists as enQ, touch highest culture and
mastery ... Thank You for joy of dealings with wonderful music!"
Serge Tikhanoff (Radio Penguin, Siberia)
"Vicky Brown's violin is transcendent; it takes you to another place where
everything is good."
Craig Clarke (Green Man Review, USA)
|