Witness (Show of Hands album)

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Witness
Studio album by Show of Hands
Released	15 May 2006
Recorded	January 2006
Studio	Presshouse Studio, Colyton, Devon
Genre	Folk world worldbeat world fusion
Length	54:56
Label	Hands on Music
Producer	Simon Emmerson and Simon ‘Mass’ Massey
Show of Hands chronology
As You Were (2005) Witness (2006) Arrogance Ignorance and Greed (2009)
Singles from Dark Fields
""Witness" / "If I Needed Someone"" Released: 2006 ""Roots"" Released: 2007

Witness is the twelfth studio album by British folk duo Show of Hands. The album was recorded in January 2006 at Presshouse Studio, Colyton, Devon, and was produced by Simon Emmerson and Simon ‘Mass’ Massey from the Afro Celts, who helped to incorporate elements of traditional African, ambient and electronic dance music with the duo's characteristic folk style. It was the band's first album in twelve years to use a rhythm section. Lyrically, the album addresses communal and heritage values, and was described by the duo's lead singer Steve Knightley as a "cinematic style journey of the West Country."^[1] The album features unofficial third member Miranda Sykes on ten of its twelve tracks.

It was released in May 2006 on the band's Hands on Music label, with the catalogue number HMCD23. Although some fans were perplexed by the duo's new direction, many welcomed it and it received a positive reception from critics. Mojo Magazine ranked Witness at number 10 on their best folk albums of 2006 list.^[2] The album became the band's best-selling to date. To promote the album, "Witness", "If I Needed Someone" and "Roots" were singles. The latter also had a music video produced, parts of which were filmed at the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival. The duo toured the album from 2006–2007, culminating in a unique "Tour of Topsham" pubs.