Guitars Michael Kroll, Bass Matt Stauffer, Keyboards John Burkhardt, Drums Konrad Meissner, Bass Drew Gladkin, Guitars John Pinamonti, Cello Julia Kent,
Guitar Deb Montgomery.......and/or John Abbey, Sim Cain, Marty Bellar, Alex McMurray,Don Piper, Adam Gold,
影響
Bruce Cockburn, Genesis, Talking Heads, Traffic, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, U2, Jane Siberry, Bob Wiseman, Kieth Green
風格近似
Beth Orton, Nick Drake, The Band, PJ Harvey, Neil Young, Ricki Lee Jones,
That bewitching combination of vulnerability and sheer rock energy - think PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, or even Emily Dickinson - comes easily for singer-songwriter Deb Montgomery. It's likely that Paul Simon guitarist Mark Stewart had exactly that in mind when he said he called her voice, "both powerful and fragile," and insisted that Montgomery, "makes you want to hear every word she has to say."
Montgomery has grown accustomed to dwelling in life's in-between spaces: she's a Canadian who recently moved from New York City to Seattle, a rocker who plays acoustic guitar, and a religious vagabond. Ultimately, she's an artist who is only at home when she finds moments of enlightenment on her way from place to place, and her music springs from that transcendental worldview.
Ask for Angels, her first full-length record since 1997's Fear is full of songs that will surprise people with their force and longevity. Deb's song "Fly Free" from her album Ask For Angels (2005) is featured in the closing credits of "The Guitar" Robert Redford's daughter, Amy Redford's first feature film which just made its debut at 2008 Sundance Film Festival this January. Montgomery uses her voice with a freedom that few singers ever attain: she whispers, growls, winks, and grinds, sometimes all within the course of a song, and fans of her live music will pleased with this recording. Her achingly beautiful vocals and lyrics have finally been matched with the right production. After many years of acclaimed live performances, and a long search for the perfect producer, Montgomery wisely decided to trust her own vision and ears.
She brought together a personal all-star roster of musicians to help her realize the record, including bassist John Abbey (John Cale, David Poe), who she also tapped to co-produce. Ask for Angels also features drummer Sim Cain (Black Flag, Henry Rollins), guitarist Mark Stewart (Paul Simon, Bang on a Can), keyboardist Rob Schwimmer (Laurie Anderson), cellist Julia Kent (Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright, Anthony and the Johnsons, Rasputina), and Konrad Meissner (The Silos, Mary Lou Lord, Graham Parker).
Unlike many self-produced albums, Montgomery didn't choose the DIY path for lack of suitors willing to accompany her on her latest journey. She's been courted every since the film-like feel to her music prompted Virgin Record's in 1997 to pick up her song "The Tale" (along with tracks from Jane Siberry, Ani DiFranco and Holly Cole) for the soundtrack album to the award-winning movie The Hanging Garden starring Sarah Polley.
After hearing Montgomery at a show in New Orleans, producer Ethan Allan (Kristen Hersch, Throwing Muses, Luscious Jackson, Nancy Griffith) invited Deb to fly back down to his own studio to produce a demo. Just after producer and writer/co-writer Kevin Bowe (Lucinda Williams, Etta James, Kenny Wayne Shepperd) produced a demo with Montgomery in Minneapolis.. Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls called her after hearing a demo to encourage her songwriting and to discuss her artistic direction and recording plans.
Recently Montgomery was the Canadian who joined 18 Songwriters from around the world to co-write songs on the Island of Inesheer of the coast of Ireland. She reunited with Mikael Rickfors of Sweden December 2005 to Record their co-write "Stay" with Hector Castillo (David Bowie, The Brazillian Girls) at Looking Glass Studios owned by Philliip Glass in NYC. Mikael has written for Cyndie Lauper, Richie Havens, and Carlos Santana and was the lead singer of the Hollies from 1971-1973.
A regular at some of New York's hippest venues (The Living Room, CBGB's, Hanks Saloon, Southpaw), listeners are her primary partner as she returns to focusing on her live shows- she's poised on the edge of finding a larger audience. Artists are natural risk takers, but what's remarkable has been the reaction: unabashed hunger for more of this kind of music. The audience's own risk in giving into that visceral need has had a great reward. Montgomery doesn't just sing the words they've been craving, but takes them with her through terror, anger, redemption, and finally to moments of pure beauty and tranquility. Montgomery gives people the feeling that light and love are on the other side of life's inevitable darkness and pain, and to not be afraid of either...and she rocks.
It's a testament to her success at achieving that end that people have called her shows everything from therapy to church, specially suited to those people who would never deign to attend either. Montgomery's ultimately positive message, whether it's growled or whispered, shouted or sung, is that the voyage won't be without storms-but sunrise can be beautiful.http://www.debmontgomery.com
Thanks for accepting my invite, Deb. Absolutely LOVE your music, old and new. If I am ever so fortunate to see/hear you perform live again, of course you know my song request would be, "Long, Long Journey" but the "before CD" version. The old "unpolished", raspier, even more soulful, live version that I was always blown away by is still the best version in my humble opinion. And the killer drum solo omitted as well?! *Cries here ... lol.*
dibster - i'm singing about you every night :-) i'm on tour again for a few shows here. let's talk when i'm back in berlin next week! lots to catch up on. love - goolz x
Hey Deb remember me.How the heck have ya been,seems like its been forever...thats a long time.Tunes sound great.Wishing you all that is gentle and kind.Sincerly Mike Severin/Sev Micron
Hi deb! Great to hear from you. I am well. We moved back to TO and have been busy settling in so been out of touch. I got tons of notes re porn links today. Apparantly (as I'd just learned today) hackers break into accounts and send these messages to all contacts. very embarrassing. please delete. I wish I knew how to send a note of aplogy out to all my contacts. If this ever happens to you the only way to fix it is to change your password. i just changed mine so hope that fixes it. How are you? What's new down south? Still writing and playing? Lots of love Darrell XO
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Not just another genre, folk rock was born as a statement—of purpose, of taste, of superiority—the baby boom’s first imprimatur, a musical mission and a personal battle cry in a divisive time of racial tension and escalating war. For a generation of philosopher dropouts and drug-inspired visionaries, it was also the best way to partake in the era’s hippest form of artistic expression, in numbers previously unknown to man.
hey deb, i'm right here...havent disappeared from your friends list...look again. otherwise i wouldnt be able to post this comment :-) hope you like the album...i checked my phone again and I did get your message! thanks so much...let's talk soon. love---goolz
