In 1969 Nick Garrie recorded The Nightmare Of J.B. Stanisla, a lush folk/pop album. When collectors discovered it in the ’80s, it began fetching astronomical sums, and it was eventually reissued on CD in 2005. Garrie’s life in obscurity has too many twists to recount, but includes two albums as Nick Hamilton and an opening spot on a Leonard Cohen tour in 1984. The Moon And The Village (Tapete), Garrie’s first release in 23 years, is another subtle charmer. His mellow vocals are supported by arrangements that let his stories glow with a warm inner light. Garrie will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.
Garrie: I was a teacher for 13 years (still teach little ones one morning a week). Ten years were great, and then the observations and inspections and Ofsted started, so I looked for something else. I applied for a job as a carer (I know now I could not have been one), and my interviewer asked me if I had any qualifications.
“BA Honours, PGCE.”
“No, I mean real qualifications.”
“I’ve got a guitar.”
“Can you play it?”
“Yes.”
“Go on then.”
And I’ve played there every Saturday morning for the past three years. I play in 15 dementia homes and two adult disabilities. You see, I’ve always liked young people and old folks. It’s the ones in between I couldn’t get on with.
