AMONG Twyford’s many secrets is a plethora of businesses that includes an influential record company.

Next month sees the release of an album by a new supergroup of established stars who have unexpectedly come together to meld their contrasting musical styles.

They are three very different UK music legends: Robin Trower, Maxi Priest and Livingstone Brown, collectively known as United State of Mind, and their self-titled album is released on Manhaton Records on CD and vinyl on March 5.

A pioneer in his genre, Maxi Priest is an iconic British reggae vocalist, with Jamaican heritage, best known for creating the potent blend called reggae fusion.

Maxi has just been nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album for ‘It All Comes Back To Love’.

Alongside Maxi is virtuoso rock guitarist Robin Trower, who found fame with Procol Harum, then went on to record the album ‘Bridge Of Sighs’, which sold millions of copies worldwide. Livingstone Brown is a talented producer and musician who has worked with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Tina Turner and Bryan Ferry. Together they have come up with a highly unusual yet accessible mix of melody, heavy bass, lover’s rock and blues guitar.

But where is the connection with Twyford? Unbeknown to most, the Manhaton record label is based in the village.

The brainchild of Alan Robinson, the label has guided the career of high profile blues man Eric Bibb, as well as a host of others, including Amy Wadge, now a million-selling songwriter working with Ed Sheeran. Alan’s pedigree dates back to the eighties, when he was instrumental in bringing many blues legends to the UK, including Bo Diddley, Jimmy Witherspoon, Albert Collins and Buddy Guy. Alan’s labels have included Indigo and Code Blue, both with music industry heavyweight Mike Vernon.

Wanting to move out of London, Alan and his wife Heather arrived initially in Winchester and then moved to Twyford in 2007. “Over the last 10 or 15 years the music industry has become more digitalised, so there is no longer the need to be in London”, explains Alan. “You can work from anywhere. Twyford has great road and rail links. After a day’s work, you can be, within seconds, walking in beautiful countryside or enjoying a relaxing pint in a welcoming pub with neighbours.”

His current focus is on Manhaton’s latest signing, radical New York chanteuse Sari Schorr, whose recent video was shot in Bushfield Camp.

Whilst many businesses have been badly affected by Covid, recorded music continues to do well.

“Covid has changed things dramatically”, says Alan. “Live touring has ceased to exist, but the joy of finding new music online appears to have increased massively.”

By Oliver Gray