Bill Fay has always sung about attempting to understand the most universal questions: those of nature, spirituality, humanity. His songs are “calming hymns for another chaotic time,” he says.

Bill Fay’s words and melodies remain unaffected by the passing of time and changing trends; and here alongside the original recordings, these reinvented versions still calmly guide us through another moment of chaos.

Bill Fay’s ‘Still Some Light’ was originally released on compact disc as a two CD collection in 2010. Reimagined with new artwork and available for the first time ever on vinyl, Dead Oceans are pleased to present ‘Still Some Light: Part 1’, collecting Fay’s archival recordings from 1970 and 1971. Many of the songs are intimate sketches which were eventually re-recorded for Fay’s self-titled debut and for his landmark album, ‘Time of the Last Persecution’. This double LP set includes heart wrenching versions of some of his timeless works, such as ‘I Hear You Calling’ and ‘Pictures of Adolf Again’ and features equally powerful songs like ‘Arnold is a Simple Man’ and ‘Love is the Tune’, which only appear in this collection.

Those who have heard Time of the Last Persecution will recognise some sketches that would go on to become fully realised tracks on that album; Plan D is a crackly demo, echoes from the studio audible in Fay’s warm vocal delivery, a bright, gracious guitar line circling above; Dust Filled Room is similarly stunning in its raw state, Fay’s vocals close, almost blowing out the 1970s recording equipment.