CD Of The Week: Thea Gilmore - Liejacker

Liejacker from Thea Gilmour is our album of the week on CD WOW!
It's the 8th studio album to be released by the prolific Oxfordshire singer and songwriter. Her first release Burning Dorothy came out just 10 years ago in 1998, some feat to release nearly an album a year for ten years!

Thea herself has been quoted as saying '...what do two years, three harmoniums, a chimney hood, a grill pan, the birth of a child, a bout of depression, a 20th century folk music icon and a loft in Liverpool have in common?
Answer... 'they make up the story of "Liejacker" my new album'.

The folk icon in question is Joan Baez who a few years ago personally invited Thea on tour, the duet with Joan, 'The Lower Road', is ripe with nostalgia as their two voices mingle in a succulent way.
The album also features duets with Dave McCabe of Zutons fame on album opener 'Old Soul', Erin McKeown adds depth on Dance In New York and Waterboy Steve Wickham plays fiddle on The Lower Road.

Apart from that, the album is much as it was recorded in a tiny studio room in her own house. In fact the groove on 'The Wrong Side' comes from a chimney hood and a grill pan... there might be a bit of cutlery draw in there as well! Most of the vocals are just as they were laid down in this same small studio.

Before the release of her previous album, Harpo’s Ghost, Thea had been diagnosed with depression. During this time she split with her previous record label and (temporarily) with her long long-time partner, collaborator, producer and sometime co-songwriter Nigel Stonier. She also parted company with her manager of ten years, split with her “new” and biggest record label yet, and almost as if for good measure, gave birth to her first child.

This album reflects all of the emotions that she must have gone through during this period. A true gem! For more information read this interesting post from The Guardian.

Other notable releases by Thea Gilmore:

• Lipstick Conspiracies
• Rules For Jokers
• Loft Music