Permanent Way Charlie Cunningham

• 1 Permanent Way 04:12
• 2 Don't Go Far 03:39
• 3 Sink In 03:20
• 4 Headlights 03:32
• 5 Different Spaces 03:40
• 6 Monster 04:09
• 7 Interlude (Tango) 01:11
• 8 Bite 03:32
• 9 Hundred Times 03:09
• 10 Maybe We Won't 03:10
• 11 Force of Habit 05:10
• 12 Stuck 03:46
• Total Runtime 42:30

Info for Permanent Way

On Permanent Way, Cunningham laughs in the face of ‘difficult second album’ syndrome and ‘acoustic-singer-songwriter’ imagery with boosted colours and dynamics, while retaining the essence of the man’s achingly personable appeal. In terms of production it’s more of a team effort: Duncan Tootill returns to co-produce (while adding piano and synth) but the album was predominantly put together alongside producer/engineer Sam Scott (who also adds brass and keyboards and percussion). A trip to LA for a session with producer Rodaidh McDonald (The XX, King Krule), added Don’t Go Far, Bite and Force of Habit to the finished record. Permanent Way documents life’s uncertainties: the need for intimacy and love, but also space and independence. “I’m quite a private person outside of performing” Cunningham admits. “There is some autobiographical stuff in the lyrics, but it flits in and out quite a lot; it’s much more about people generally and their interactions”.

"All of these factors combined make Permanent Way a really impressive second album, and one from which it is hard to pick out a standout song. It is possible, though, that the album starts more strongly than it ends. The opening quartet, ‘Permanent Way’, ‘Don’t Go Far’, ‘Sink In’, and ‘Headlights’ are the strongest songs on the album. When he slows it down on a couple of occasions later in the album, those melodies that he is such a master of aren’t as prominent and it isn’t as easy to remain interested. But that is me in my pickiest mood; overall, Charlie has taken a huge step forward with this album and I hope it will help to grow what should be a much bigger fanbase." (Fran Slater, pickybs.com)

Charlie Cunningham

Charlie Cunningham
The U.K.'s Charlie Cunningham is a thoughtfully emotive singer/songwriter who makes ambient, introspective music that combine his skills as a trained Spanish classical guitarist and his penchant for spacy, experimental indie rock. Following his time studying flamenco in Spain, Cunningham returned to England, where he drew praise for his innovative 2016 debut, Lines.

Raised in Bedfordshire, Cunningham picked up the guitar in his teens and played in various hardcore and experimental indie rock bands, drawing upon the influence of artists like Sigur Rós and Mogwai. After earning his college music degree, he waited tables to pay bills and found himself questioning his abilities and dedication to music. It was during this period that he discovered classical Spanish guitar music and was quickly drawn to the genre's wide dynamic and emotional range. Selling his Fender Telecaster, Cunningham used the proceeds to fund a train ticket to Seville, where he enrolled in a flamenco school. Initially planning on staying for two months, he ended up staying in Spain for two years, splitting his time between taking classes, practicing, and playing shows.

Cunningham eventually returned to England, basing himself in Oxford, where he quickly scored gigs in local bars. Along with playing traditional Spanish music, he had begun writing his own spectral indie folk songs. Primarily singing solo, accompanying himself on his acoustic classical guitar, and accented by plenty of echo, Cunningham issued his first EP, Outside Things, in 2014. Several more EPs followed, including Breather in 2015 and Heights in 2016, all of which helped establish his often austere, introspective style. The albums gained airplay on Radio 1 and helped pave the way for his 2017 full-length debut, Lines. In 2019, Cunningham returned with his sophomore full-length, Permanent Way, which include the song "Don't Go Far." (Matt Collar, AMG)

This album contains no booklet.