Mediaeval Baebes, Miranda Sex Garden, Nick Marsh, Arvo Part, Nick Cave,
The Wicker Man, Katy Carr, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie,Hildegard Von Bingen, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Espers, William Blake, JS Bach, Dante, Ken Russel, Satre, Brian Froud, Nina Simone, The Velvet
Underground, The Omen, Anais Nin, Rosemary's Baby, Angela Carter, The Beach Boys
Katharine Blake – musical director of chart-topping, classical choral group the Mediaeval Baebes, and lead vocalist of revered alternative act Miranda Sex Garden – releases her first solo album.
MIDNIGHT FLOWER “…a wanton display of twisted Folk and Fairytale Rock”
The story goes something like this…
Three friends, singing Madrigals on the Portobello Road enchanted a passing muso of some clout, who whisked his muses from street to the studios of Mute Records. Initially an experiment in Renaissance revival by three classically trained Madrigal singers, Miranda Sex Garden matured into an avant garde Gothic rock band who recorded five acclaimed studio albums and propped up the likes of Depeche Mode and Hole, on international tours.
But Katharine’s imagination was too fertile to be walled inside Miranda Sex Garden, and within a few years she created the Mediaeval Baebes. The concept was to let untrained voices loose on the music of the Middle Ages – to revitalize and ravage it simultaneously. After gathering her high-spirited girlfriends on Hampstead Heath to sing for the first time, the heaven’s opened and an epic thunderstorm ensued. It seemed like a sign. Six months later, the record company cheque book opened. With finacial backing from Virgin, burning their chastity belts as they went, the Mediaeval Baebes reached the top of the Classical Album charts. 13 years later, they have chalked up six studio albums, one Ivo Novello winning television soundtrack, and a curious John Cale experience.
History has proved Katharine Blake has a dynamic combination of vision and pragmatism. So what does someone as driven and gifted as Katharine do when given free reign? When uninhibited by a record company, or band member? The result is Midnight Flower - a wanton display of twisted folk and fairytale rock; a fascinating hybrid that mixes the reassuringly familiar with the refreshingly new. From Miranda Sex Garden there is the dark combination of romanticism and nihilism. From the Mediaeval Baebes there are the lush, ethereal harmonies that amplify the age-old themes of love and loss. Tracks in the familiar vein include:
Cold Blows The Wind - a duet draped in luxurious tragedy – indulgent, lugubrious and reminiscent of Nick Cave at his finest.
And, Frozen on the Morn – a lullaby so haunting, it might just send baby to sleep forever.
But when Katharine ventures into unfamiliar territory, she does so with complete conviction. This confidence gives the material a surprising authenticity. Unexpected tracks include:
Higher – an erotic plea from a harem, full of Eastern Promise.
And The Hour When Daylight Dies – a southern American, grassroots kind of a thing, with harmonies working hard to please the Lord.
Unlike many solo albums, Midnight Flower is no narcissistic ramble. Katharine uses ensemble players from her previous projects to enhance her sound - her long-term collaboration with Nick Marsh (Flesh for Lulu) being the most significant influence. Here she cleverly tethers an airy-fairy inclination to Nick’s down and dirty disposition - creating a perfect musical equilibrium.
Essentially though, Midnight Flower finally gives Katharine space to display her accomplished compositional skills and to stretch her irrevocable vocal talent. Her truly arresting voice is incredibly versatile but it is her warm, seductive tone that is her trademark - a tone so rich that when she sings you feel as though you are sinking into a thick quilt of melatonin.
Midnight Flower - plucked from Miranda Sex Garden and pinned to the breast of a Mediaeval Baebe, - has been pressed for you, as a keepsake.
i am sorry it takes me much time to give a simple show of gratitude what you create or oft' help to create lifts a dusty veil to reveal beauty, no matter the circumstance i have loved what you do for years & i shall continue to do so until the end or my end, anyway
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Put together the first music video for one of the songs, that being for the song "Eel Marsh House", which is based on the movie "The Woman In Black". Wasn't sure to name it that instead of 'Eel Marsh..." ...Eel Marsh House being where the woman in black 'lived', and now haunts it. Though, she seems to haunt the general area of the village as well as the House. If anyone catches her gaze, looks into her eyes....a child will die, usually from the family of the person unfortunate to look at her. As you see what happens to the story's main character at the end.
Hope you like it, that's about all for now, Cheers! Rob
Hey Katharine!, Thanks for accepting my invitation!! Welcome! I really enjoy your music. Check out some other great music, surf my friends, or my playlist! I try to get everyone on one of my play list! Over 1100 songs and growing!! THANKS TO MY FRIENDS!! I'm here to post the music I find!:) THANKS AGAIN, JOHN ;)
Thanks for the add. Check out our latest horror, splatter, groe and fun trailes - visit us on MySpace. The FIRST OFFICIAL TRAILER of the Rose/Schnaas production we co-produced with LASER PARADISE in 2009, called UNRATED - The Movie is online on our MySpace page and on YouTube. Looking for your vote and quote ;-)
Gory wishes INFERNAL FILMS The new Dimension of Fear [http://www.infernal-films.com]
Thanks for the add! Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people. :) I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site at www.faberoptime.com some time. For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!). Oh and you might like to take a look at some of my vids on my YouTube channel too! www.youtube.com/faberoptime Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
ALSO APPEARING, THE LEGENDARY DAVID VORHAUS & MARK JENKINS’ WHITE NOISE!! Thankyou for adding Sonic World Festival, 4/5th September 2009. Tickets are available from www.sonicworldfestival.co.uk and www.myspace.com/harveybainbridgemusic as well as our own myspace site. £30 for the whole weekend, indoor toilets, free showers, free camping, bars, bar meals and restaurant, indoor venue. Please check out ourblogs
Hope you enjoy our music too - We are female fronted dark electronica with a rock edge, come check it out if you get the chance. We recently added two new tracks - 'Holding On' and 'Black Sheep', hope you enjoy!
Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you. May this weekend be one that grants you much rest and relaxation clearing away all the rust from the week before. Have a Blessed Weekend my friend, WarVolf!
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