One Little Indian will release Astrid Williamson’s new album Pulse on August 18. In an 18-year career, the album is her 5th solo outing and marks a determined sonic sea change for the artist. Williams was inspired by the ambient sounds of guitarist Leo Abrahams performance as party of Brian Eno’s Pure Science project at the U.K.’s 2010 Brighton Festival. Williamson sent a dozen rough tracks to Abrahams, which struck a chord with the guitarist. He immediately responded to the songs “Reservation” and “Paperbacks.” The two began working together creating the resulting album. The duo also enlisted producers/remixers Raffertie and PhOtomachine for several tracks.
Williamson new album shows a conscious re-evaluation to her approach to creating music. “I wanted this time to make something different, an album where my voice was central in proceedings, in a lot of space—something more ambient. I also needed someone else to work with, to not be holding the reins for once. I wanted to be challenged again.”
Hailing from the remote Shetland Islands, Williamson has a built a career as a musician, vocalist and songwriter. Her tenure with respected indie trio Goya Dress resulted in the release of the acclaimed Rooms, produced by Velvet Underground’s John Cale. Her subsequent solo albums—1998’s Boy For You, 2003’s Astrid Williamson, 2006’s Day of the Lone Wolf and (2009) Here Come The Vikings—earned her critical praise with Music Week calling her “a refreshing revelation.” Additionally she has lent her vocals to several hit songs by Johnny Marr’s band Electronic and collaborated with 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell, lending her vocals to The Hope Blister.
Astrid is also currently putting together a new band, one that will work best with Pulse’s paired back songs. Away from recording and touring, she’s busied herself with her own label, Incarnatino, releasing two albums by the instrumental duo OSKAR as well as working with Electronic and Dead Can Dance’s Brendan Perry.
No comments:
Post a Comment