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		DAVID HUGHES THIS OTHER EDEN THE FOLK CORPORATION TFCCD 2003 (Released November 1999) HEART (INTRO) / JELLY BABE / WATCHING BRAZIL / THIS EDEN / IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE / THIS IS MY LIFE / SHOUTING AT THE RADIO / PROJECT X / HEART OF STONE / NOBODY SMOKES IN AMERICA / BLUE CAR / WAITING FOR THE BUS / ON THE BUS / THIS OTHER EDEN / HEART TIME OUT, October 1999 "...another thoughtful and genuinely impressive example of his sensitive and reflective, witty and wry, bold and eclectic songcraft." MOJO February 2000 Singer/Songwriter album with surprises at every turn. During the 90's, Hughes supported Bert Jansch, Fairport and Eddi Reader, and became a leading light in the new acoustic movement, where his quirky songs found an appreciative audience. A sharp and literate songwriter, he takes huge strides with this album. With back-up from Danny Thompson, Anna Ryder, Jacqui McShee and Fairport, he takes subjects like Ford Anglias, smoking and football and twists them into songs of introspection. Brass punctuation, keyboards, Gerry Conway's percussion and imaginative arrangements and vocal backgrounds balance David's understated vocals as he keeps control of the gently melodic Heart Of Stone, the jazz-tinged title track and On The Bus. Open-minded acoustic fans apply here for a treat. Kingsley Abbot THE BASILDON ECHO Oct 99 Hughes' stock-in-trade is bitter-sweet songs, laden with dry humour and acerbic observation, delivered in an almost Dylanesque half-sung, half spoken style and underpinned by spiky, percussive acoustic guitar work. For his latest CD, This Other Eden, Hughes roped in a broad circle of musical collaborators to produce his most sophisticated soundscapes to date. Among the credits are famous friends such as former Fairground Attraction star Eddi Reader, now one of the UK's most sought-after session singers, Fairport's Dave Mattacks and Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway and Jacqui McShee of legendary folk group Pentangle and double bassist Danny Thompson. The album's atmospheric keyboard textures come courtesy of Spencer Cozens, musical director to another folk star, John Martyn. The CD's most talked-about song is probably Heart Of Stone, an especially black reflection on Maldon's most infamous murder case of recent times: that of the local kebab shop owner, whose body was found entombed in concrete beneath his shop.... "The perpetrators were said in the press to have been 'acting alone', a phrase that stuck in my head and I ended up using it. Of course, it happens to rhyme with 'Heart Of Stone'. Wallop, there's your song." The official launch of his CD, now in shops, was last night at The Spitz venue in London's Spitalfield's, with Gerry Conway, Spencer Cozens, Jacqui McShee among those joining Hughes onstage. Essex fans can see Hughes with the same star-studded line-up in tow tonight in Maldon's new town hall. Tim Aves