LF - The name of the new album is One Plus One Is One. Tell me about the theme of oneness and the number one in the record and also love came up in a number of different songs.

BDB - I think that’s always been the case. This album is a step towards me being who I am. The first line of the of the first song (title track) is “Back to being who I was before” but I actually wrote that ten years ago. It wasn’t really about now. In, This Is That New Song, there’s a line that says, “This is that new song, I told you about twenty years ago”, to prove a point really. The songwriting I’m trying to achieve is timeless. But it could’ve happened twenty years ago or it could happen in another twenty years but I’ll still be writing this way because I found what it is that I am....(childlike shouting)...the statement is convoluted...(more shouting)

BDB to Edie - I’ll find it in a minute Edie. I’m going to look for them in a minute.

BDB to LF - ...the batteries for her tape player.

LF – I’ll let you go in minute.

BDB - They’re all right. They’re watching The Wizard Of Oz, which they watch everyday, at least four or five times.

BDB - There’s a lot of references to the seasons, as well, in this new album. We’re pretty fortunate, in England, to have the change of seasons. It shapes the culture of the people. It makes you British in a way. You spend half of your life whinging at the weather. And then, when the summer comes, you feel the spring in the step as a whole nation which is a brilliant moment. I’m trying to tell people to appreciate that. There’s a song called Summertime In Wintertime which says “Stop waiting for the summertime in wintertime, Can’t be right, Don’t subscribe to this jive”, (about the) danger of missing half your life because you’re waiting for the good days to arrive. I’m trying to encourage people to find the good days in the bad days.

LF - When I heard that song I thought about this strange relationship that I’ve struggled with between sadness and beauty. I feel that in your music.

BDB - It’s a fine line, I suppose. That’s a fair way to put it. It’s a very autumn album, a very 70’s English album, folk, a bit folky, as well. The ‘one’ thing goes back to the title. It was originally, genuinely, a mistake I made when I was writing, literally, seven to ten years ago, one plus one is one. I thought that was the answer ‘cause one divided by one is one and one times one is one. I seriously thought that was right and then realized, of course, it wasn’t right. Then, I thought there’s something in that. The number one is the key number. I believe that. The connotation that two people become one is the main essence of the title or a bridge of people becoming one. I suppose I’m trying to take the banner that was started by the likes of Bob Dylan and John Lennon in that period of the 60’s and 70’s where the world experienced it’s first, huge culture bang of being aware of the rest of the world, and the problems with religion and war and terrorism first hit home. It’s still there, again, and more prevalent than ever today. I just realized the need to reflect it some way but without singing it in a political sense, just a more universal sense.

LF - You meld political and social issues that are important to you in a poetic way.

BDB - I’m not trying to force politics or my politics down anyone’s throat. I’m probably blissfully unaware and I should be more aware. The only thing I do advocate to is general spirituality above religion because religion causes problems. I’ve come to that conclusion. Also, politically I just believe in people. There are far more good people than there are bad people. Again, Another Devil Dies, I say the line, “And when we sing, I hear another devil dies”, hoping that music is powerful enough, still, that I can change. The pureness of a great melody could kill off a little bit of evil every time its played. Again, relating to the It’s A Wonderful Life quote, “When that bell rings, An angel gets its wings” which is the following line in the same song. It’s simple kind of philosophies. And usually, it’s meself kicking me up the ass because I’m as bad as anyone else, being cynical and pessimistic about the world we’re living in. I’m just trying to do my bit without being too preachy. Music does have that power. It changes peoples mood, it’s a starting point, at least, to change the bigger picture, as well.

LF - Thank you very much. I appreciate your honesty, in talking about all this stuff, this personal stuff, your art and music.

BDB - My pleasure. The future is really bright...give my regards to LA. (laughs)

LF - Well, thank you for taking a few minutes away from your children.

BDB - No problem. (laughs) They’re shouting again. (laughs) Edie is pulling monster faces at me, trying to scare me off the phone. (laughs)