My record collection
[366] - Cheval Sombre - self titled (promo CD)

This is the third copy of Cheval Sombre’s lovely first album in this series, but the first one that came into my posessions. It was sent to me by Dean ahead of release and is the reason that my purchased CD is still in it’s shrinkwrap.

Cheval Sombre promo CD

The CD isn’t really a promo since the disc is full colour printed, and has the proper catalogue number so I assume that it is exactly the same as the released one (I can’t check because of the aforementioned shrinkwrap). It didn’t have a sleeve though, just a plastic envelope and a piece of paper with the track-listing and the release date and credits of the performers.

Cheval Sombre: vocals, acoustic guitar, with
Sonic Boom: organ, effects
Britta Phillips: bass, keys
Dean Wareham: guitar on 6, 9, 10

Britta’s “keys” were elaborated to “Microkorg, Celesta” on the released version.

The album was the third release on Dean and Britta’s Double Feature Records after the 2008 L’avventura reissue and A Thousand Wild Flowers by Sand Pebbles in 2009. Dean has commented on more than one occasion about the headaches of being a label owner so it wasn’t really a surprise to find that the last couple of releases you’d expect to find on Double Feature weren’t. A Peace of Us and That’s The Price of Loving Me were both released by Carpark Records.

It is a lovely album and is probably the one I listen to more than the other Cheval Sombre albums… I wonder if I’m always inclined to lean towards my entry point?

While looking through my email as I researched this post I came across a Dean & Britta newsletter from 2008 where Britta mentions that they had a meal with “Chris Porpora aka Cheval Sombre, one of two new artists we’ll be releasing on our new label, Double Feature Records, next year”.

To be honest I only mention that so I can justify posting this adorable pic of Dean and Britta sharing a mic that was inlcuded in the newsletter.

Dean & Britta (Prefix, 2008)

I have vague memories of commenting on that to Britta (or Dean) and it being pointed out that it only happened because of a broken microphone.

• Catalogue Number: AHFOW 10/142
• Artist: Cheval Sombre
• Title: Cheval Sombre
• Notes: Promo
• Format: CD
• Sent to me by Dean ahead of the album’s release

Previously in my record collection:

• [047] Cheval Sombre - self-titled
• [257] Cheval Sombre - self titled (2xLP)