Ey oop chucks, how’s your life? I thought I’d drop a line or two on the FOTN pages about a forthcoming album that is being given away as a gift. Yep, for free – no money, no empty promises, no love ya and leave ya… Just twenty individual artists and twenty individual songs that are as warm and welcoming as a toasty fire – like summer weather in spring – or simply a nicely-brewed cup of tea.

For the full tracklist of artists click Read More below…

HOME Volume 3 is a free compilation album of tracks from netlabel Rash records – chosen & curated by Tom Robinson and myself Johnno Casson.

The reason I felt it OK to talk about one of my own projects here is quite simple – beyond the fact that you often write about what you know about & what you see in front of you at any one time. The HOME albums are put together purely for the love of the music on them. Our hope is that you too will enjoy the music and check out the artists a bit further – by going to a gig, sharing their music with friends, supporting them by buying their T-shirts etc. Everyone involved with these compilations gives their time freely to promote and share this music, because we believe these artists deserve to be heard.

The HOME albums showcase songs from a community of independent artists – who often work from home – and who post their music online to an appreciative audience. The tunes we choose are typically warm, toasty & melodic – and come more from the heart than from any huge hankering for fame and fortune (though it is a real pleasure to see all of the artists involved progressing well in their musical careers)…

Stealing Sheep – The Mountain Dogs

Caleb Groh – Toyland

Vinny Peculiar – A Vision

For those of you who – like me – were keen followers of Tom’s Introducing:Fresh On The Net shows you will recognise many of the included songs because he handpicked a huge list of favourite songs and artists from the shows –  which I then whittled down to a manageable album’s worth. I hope this small selection serves as a good memory of the wonderful music Tom chose to feature.

Make no mistake, this is quality music – but not from the mainstream or from some hip suburb of Berlin or Brooklyn. It’s music made on a human scale in a community that is everywhere and nowhere – a community of the human heart. Dip your toes,you are very likely to be pleasantly surprised. Listen and enjoy.

Home really is where the start is:

HOME Volume 3 is released as a free download on 14th May (with artwork-original painting by Zoe Eaton, songs & artist info included) from the not-for-profit label Rash Records. You can listen to the whole album here or try out the three featured tracks on this page (above) as a small flavour of what you can expect.

The Tracklist
01 Restaurant SHARKS TOOK THE REST
02 Toyland CALEB GROH
03 The Imposter SNIPPET
04 Hard Work SHONA FOSTER
05 Hole THE BIG I AM
06 The Seaweed Under the Sofa BISCUITHEAD & THE BISCUIT BADGERS
07 Illiterate TANYA AUCLAIR
08 The Mountain Dogs STEALING SHEEP
09 A Vision VINNY PECULIAR
10 Ten Paces TOODAR
11 Pancake Waitress THE FLARES
12 Solus TROY FAID
13 I Am The Floor PANDAS AND PEOPLE
14 Things That Make Me Angry SHAMBLES MILLER
15 South By Southwest Not PIET HAAG
16 Sun In The Winter TRWBADOR
17 Hide The Cracks SARAH WILLIAMS WHITE
18 I Know (feat. Gadget & Genesis Elijah) UNSEEN & DEEFLUX
19 All Women Are Beautiful BEACHY HEAD MUSIC CLUB
20 I Love This Place MAVEN FICTION