Tearing Sky

"If you love Ben Harper you'll also love the sound of London-born vocalist Piers Faccini...Sheer musical bliss."
- CBS-5

"He has the quiet, whispering, plate-shifting soul similar to that of Harper and Johnson… It's sometimes eerie, sometimes haunting and always consistent. An all-around standout that manages never to show off... this is music that captivates and captures your attention!”
- URB (4 ½ stars)

Call it a netherworld, a sweet spot, where the songs composing 'Tearing Sky', the second album from Piers Faccini, come alive - a sort of magical middle ground that exists between English folk, Mississippi Delta blues and North African rhythms.

If the songs sound as if they were culled from all over the musical map, well, then that would be appropriate, as the nomadic Faccini fancies himself and his music as very much a cultural and musical collage or hybrid drawn from the various races dotting his lineage, and years spent splitting time between London and Paris.

Born in London, Faccini speaks four languages and considers himself a "mongrel” of sorts, one who has gypsy, Polish, English, Irish and Italian blood running through his veins – which he thanks for creating an openness in his life and a curiosity with which he has been able to absorb cultures and music from around the globe.

'Tearing Sky' is stunning - a collection of 14 vibrantly original songs, featuring contributions from some big indie names - with no small thanks to producer J.P. Plunier, better known for having brought us Ben Harper and Jack Johnson.

With his taste for the essential and his ear tuned into each and every facet of the music, J.P. provided the perfect foil for Faccini's songwriting. Together at Sonora Studios in Los Feliz, LA, 12 intense days resulted in the birth of 'Tearing Sky'.

J.P. gathered up his team of musicians on 'Tearing Sky' much as a film director chooses his actors. We find Juan Nelson {Ben Harper band} on bass, and Adam Topol {Jack Johnson band} on drums, forming the core of the rhythm section.
There are also appearances in various guises from Leon Mobley, Merlo Podlowski, Oliver Charles, Gus Seyffert and Bob Coke, while Inara George and Ben Harper himself add their unique voices to the backing vocals; Chris Darrow his mandolin; and the Malian Ballake Sissoko, his angelic kora playing.

Piers Faccini wrote and sings all the songs, playing all the guitars and layering extra touches of colour with a Chinese 'er hu' violin, a harmonium or a harmonica. Behind the mixing desk, Eric Serafin completes this musical jigsaw.

A storm is tearing across the skies, but one so tender, it'll do no harm, only good…