We are extremely pleased to announce the release of Emma Gatrill‘s stunning debut album, Chapter I, on May 14th through Willkommen.
We’re expecting copies of the album this week and will be putting them up for preorder as soon as we do. The first fifty copies will come with a length of bunting and other surprises, all handmade by Emma. You can see some photos of her making them on her Facebook page.
The release will be marked by two launch shows – one in Brighton’s Church of the Annunciation on Friday 4th May and one in London’s St Barnabas Church, Dalston, on Thursday 10th May. Click the links for information on either show or go here for tickets to both. London support comes from the supreme Rozi Plain and Dear Winesburg and Brighton support comes from the superlative Nick Edward Harris and Steve Aston – all four are unmissable.
Emma is an unstoppable and multi-instrumental collaborator. As well as being a full time musician with the multi-tentacled psych-folk behemoth Sons of Noel and Adrian and getting crowds dancing to the rowdy stamp-along anthems of The Mariner’s Children, she has found time to lend her voice, clarinet or accordion skills to everyone from Laura Marling to Broken Social Scene.
No wonder then that it has taken her so long to get round to concentrate on her own music. Chapter One showcases poignant songs based around her latest acquisition – the harp. Subtly accompanied by various members of Brighton’s Willkommen Collective, her intricate harp playing and powerful vocals soars above her classic songwriting, which owes a debt to Bjork and Joni Mitchell as well as her friends and co-conspirators Rachael Dadd and Alessi’s Ark.
