"Christopher Crompton’s guitar fingerpicking is exquisite...
I’m sure ‘The Darkness and the Dust’ will be well received on the folk circuit, where his relatable and personable songs, combined with their irresistible singalong choruses, will surely captivate his audience." – Folk & Honey
"An unshowy but highly skilled guitarist, his songs rich in melodic hooks and choruses, his voice seasoned, cracked and warm in equal measure, this richly deserves to boost his profile among folk audiences and hopefully fuel the demand for a lengthy and fruitful tour of the circuit." – Fatea Magazine
"good song writing, attractive voice to listen to, and some lovely guitar." – Folking
My second studio album, 'The Darkness and the Dust' was released on 10th December 2023. It is available on CD, for digital download, and on all major streaming services.
The Darkness and the Dust is the second studio album from Midlands singer-songwriter Christopher Crompton. It features eleven original tracks recorded at Fantastic Rain Studio in Willenhall.
Christopher runs a folk club in Stourbridge and his influence both from the folk tradition and from roots in the Black Country are clear, most notably in stories and references to local history and coal mining heritage in ‘Hard Times’, ‘The Darkness and the Dust’ and ‘Down on Caggy’s Boatyard’. Many songs feature chorus or call-and-response elements that should encourage lively participation from live audiences.
But he then also takes on other themes and flavours, from the singer-songwriter staples of love and loss in ‘Fireflies’, ‘Helikon’ and ‘Blow, Winds, Blow’, to friendship in ‘Diamond’, perseverence in ‘Let the Storms Roll’, critical thinking in ‘Questions’, and jealousy in ‘In My Dreams’. ‘The US of A’ takes us over the pond to hear tales and meet characters from his first international tour. It is there that he notes, “If there’s one thing I know, it’s wherever you go, there’s a light shining bright in the heart.” As with his debut, Keep the Future Bright, it is this fundamental light within the universals of human experience – compassion, encouragement, gratitude and hope – that ultimately emerges from the darkness and the dust.
You can order the CD by clicking the button below. The price is £10 plus £1 P&P.
Alternatively, you can stream or purchase the digital download through Bandcamp.
The album has been reviewed or covered by the following sites and publications:
Fatea Magazine"a real knack for storytelling... stripped back and raw... speaks straight from the heart" – Folk & Honey
"thought-provoking... politically and socially astute songs... Accompanied by his accomplished fingerpicked guitar" – RNR Magazine
"Love this album... Wonderfully crafted songs... An incredible piece of work." – Jan Szpara, guitarist
"Gritty and awesome" – Mike Benbow, audio engineer
"Too bloody good" – Sanj Nandi, singer-songwriter
My debut album, 'Keep the Future Bright' was released on 12th March 2023. It is now available on CD, for digital download, and on all major streaming services.
You can order the CD by clicking the button below. The price is £10 plus £1 P&P.
Alternatively, you can stream or purchase the digital download through Bandcamp.
I marked the album launch on 12th March 2023 with a set at my favourite venue, Claptrap in Stourbridge. Here is a clip from the night:
The album has been reviewed or covered by the following sites and publications:
Folk and Honey