Tim Arnold's "Secrets Of Soho Live Debut" 3rd November 2006

Words and photos by Antonio Ramirez

Last night was Tim Arnold's CD release party for his latest album, Secrets of Soho. The main room was packed solid as the artist and his band took the audience through an intimate guided tour of London's infamous red light district. The event took place at Soho's Too 2 Much club. Formerly known as The Raymond Revue Bar, the venue is located literally in the heart of Soho in the notorious Walker's Court.

With plush velvet walls, gilded mirrors and old fashioned chandeliers, the club seems to have remained unchanged for the last 50 years and it boasts a main room with tiered cabaret style seating and a deep stage. Upstairs, a rectangular VIP area complete with a grand piano and smoky bar add a more intimate setting, where the private after show party was held.

A long time Soho resident, Tim is quite a character in a zone with one of the highest concentrations of creatives, artists and freaks per capita. He has been by turns an expatriate, a pop star, a recluse, and now a developed solo artist with three albums under his modish leather belt.

His performance showcased his most recent release, Secrets of Soho. Poignant, intimate and melodic, the songs were bittersweet tales gleaned from observations of junkies, hookers, hedonists and inner city saints. They could be described as indie ballads or downtempo alternative folk, each well crafted and peppered with unexpected musical twists.

The show was emceed by a gangly older doppelganger of himself, a familiar actor who obscured his identity by dressing up in Tim's current regalia: granny sunglasses, a crumpled pinstripe suit and a gypsy kerchief. The packed audience was made up of family, well-wishers, old and new fans alike and the cream of Soho's old school bohemia that included Barbara Windsor and Tim's godmother actress June Brown.

"My brother was a stage actor, my mother was a singer and a Windmill girl, and my grandfather was a comedian at the Panama Club in the forties. That's three generations of entertainment in my family" he laughs, explaining his curious pedigree.

With a professional career spanning over a decade and a growing international fan base, Tim is happiest talking shop and discussing the different types of music he writes and records.

"I was part of an indie group called Jocasta when I was 19 that had some success during the height of Britpop, so I got all the partying and rock star thing out of my system before I hit 20", he explained. The indie combo almost made it big in 1996, when they were signed, wined, and summarily dropped by a ruthless Sony Music after their singles "Go" and "Change Me" failed to take the world by a storm.

"After that I took some time out, travelling to Thailand and living in a monastery, before returning to England and dedicating myself to creating my own record label, TA Music. This year I released three solo albums - and each one is completely different.

"Seeker Serum is a 45 minute piece of music, a little like Mike Oldfield. En Route is more alternative rock, with a full band that I use to voice my heavier stuff. While Secrets of Soho was recorded with my other ensemble, which consists mostly of guitar, piano and strings".

All three titles are now available through TA MUSIC at www.timarnold.net and iTunes.