The music on this album is a collection of original Mediterranean instrumental guitar music inspired by the following happy interlude.
In 1986 my wife, Stephanie, and I found a flat in Chelsea with a rent so low that people refused to believe us when we told them.  It was in a quiet area between Draycott Avenue and the Kings Road which we nicknamed Bistrovia and the only drawback to this little garden flat was that the doors to its tiny patio could not be opened for the huge mound of rubble, soil, remnants of building tools and an old forgotten bicycle that lay piled outside. However, after a month of clearing all this away, we uncovered, to our amazement, a beautifully paved patio with a small flight of romanesque stone steps with two bricked rockeries on either side.  As we were the only ones in the building with access to the garden, we realised the possibilities available to us. 

We covered the whole area, steps, rookeries and all in brilliant masonry white and found a table and chair to put outside.  Even the house that backed onto our garden had hacienda style windows and a balcony which lent an added Iberian mystique.
We had made our own Bistrovia and we couldn't believe how beautiful it looked.  Each spaghetti we shared on a summer night was like a magical holiday and sometimes we even fell asleep under the stars.  Stephanie and I gave as many summer lunches as we could which lasted well past twilight and into the early hours of morning and we all told wonderful stories to each other beneath a crescent moon.
Although we had to move in 1997, the memories of Bistrovia will last us all our lives, but they're too special to keep to ourselves.

So, if you have a patio, or even just a dining table or even just a bottle of wine you've been keeping for a special occasion, I'd like to pass these feelings among you - like a dish of so many mixed olives - as a modest recompense for never having asked you over.
"It would appear: In the case of David Shaw-Parker's Bistrovia, you play the disc and it's completely different from what you expected - 'Mediterranean Guitar/Instrumental'. There's thoughtful guitar duets, bouncy Afro-beat, swinging sixties soundtrack stuff - loads of musical flavours - shame about the drum machine and programming, though. This guy deserves better".

Musician Magazine

01: Vicente's Idea (2.56)
02: Caprice (2.29)
03: Aeolian Breeze (3.46)
04: Coast Road To Cannes (3.10)
05: Beguiling Isla (4 .37)
06: New Boots For Nando (1.55)
07: Weeping Woman (La Femme Qui Pleure) (2.55)
08: Slingback Strut (2.15)
09: The Blue Liqueur (3.17)
10: Jose Happy (4.57)

11: Ominous Atrium (2.05)
12: Some Win, Some Grin (2.33)
13: It All Went French (3.42)
14: Erik Satte In Japan (3.50)
15: Katy's Star (2.22)
16. Aesthete's Foot (4.57)
17: Mon Amie La Lune (3.00)
18: Ca S'arrose! (1.53)
19: Moon Over Monaco (6.15)
20: Bistrovia (4.05)
21: The Boulevardier (3.19)

Click to hear Andy Kershaw's comments:

Andy Kershaw/Beguiling Isla

Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 18, 19, 20 & 21 co-produced and engineered by Norman Jarrett at JJ. Studios, London SW 17.
I shall always treasure the memories of our working relationship since 1980.

Tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 engineered and coproduced by Liv Elliot at Overtones, London WC I during 1998.

All music and lyrics composed and produced by DSP and performed on Seville BM Spanish guitar, Ovation accoustic guitar Gibson Les Paul, Bass, hand drums, goose egg, claps, recorder, Korg keyboard, M2 and Yamaha RX21.

The final collection was mixed, mastered and produced by Liv Elliot at Overtones Studios, 14 Lambs Conduit Passage, London WC 1.
Production Mastering by Robin Springall at RPM, Unit 6, West Row, Grand Union Centre, London WIO
(All Music Copyright: David Shaw-Parker (P.R.S)

Bistrovia is obtainable by sending a postal order or cheque made payable to

DSP for £12.50 including Postage & Packing along with a clearly printed note
of your name and address to:

DSP P.O. BOX 26017
LONDON SW10 9FY

UK: £12.50 EU: £13.50 Non-EU/ROTW: £14.50 (All prices include postage &
packing. Eurocheques in pounds sterling only. Do not send cash. Please allow 14 days for delivery.