21/08/2009

Judy Dyble: The making of Talking With Strangers

Judy Dyble's story and place in modern music folklore is interesting and unquestioned. From the original vocalist of Fairport Convention to the beginning of the King Crimson story; one half of revered acid duo Trader Horne, crossing paths with Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Cat Stevens et al, to thirty years of almost complete silence.

And that was a gap that saw the world change beyond all comprehension, to a 2009 album - this album - which breaks ground in terms of production, but most importantly brings a contemporary slant to a body of work created by legendary musicians.

So what of these old and new friendships, and what of Talking With Strangers?

Judy's first tentative steps back into the world of recording and releasing began with three cult albums produced by Marc Swordfish between 2004 and 2006. A top 10 UK indie chart position ensued in 2008, with Judy remaking Fairport classic 'One Sure Thing' backed by Yorkshire headturners, The Conspirators.

Then the embryo of an album, this album, took shape. Judy, No-Man's Tim Bowness, and Cromer Museum's Alistair Murphy, together wrote the majority of this stunning body of work, with Judy hand picking friends - old and new - to contribute.

The end result is a compendium that draws influence from the fields of prog rock, acid folk, ambient singer songwriter works, jazz, and contemporary pop music. Judy's vocal performance is heart stopping: occasionally uncomfortable, as she divulges personal autobiographical moments from her career and life so far.

The album was recorded remotely, contributions raining in from all over the world. From the USA, King Crimson’s Ian MacDonald and Pat Mastelotto; stunning vocals offered in London by All About Eve's Julianne Regan, and from France by acid folk legend, Trees’ Celia Humprhis. There was more from home, on location in Oxfordshire by Fairport's Simon Nicol, and Pentangle's Jacquie McShee.

Robert Fripp added lush guitar and soundscapes from both the UK and Japan. Major contributions in Norfolk came from Tim Bowness and Alistair Murphy, and via various machines in studios and garden sheds in the East of England, with mastering taking place in Nashville, USA.

It’s hard to imagine how Talking With Strangers could have come together in the manner, and with the quality, that it has. The fact that it has is something to be grateful for, by the old and the new.

And with cover artwork from sixties psychedelic legend, John Hurford, and inlay artwork from cult artist Koldo Barroso, expect Talking With Strangers to be an aural and visual spectacle.

http://www.judydyble.com

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