Astrid

Country of origin:

Scotland

Type of music generally:

Alternative pop/rock

Status:

Most recent release, Astrid, 2003

See also:

The Unofficial Astrid Williamson site

An Astrid fan page

The Ectophiless Guide entry for her previous project, Goya Dress

Comparisons:

Goya Dress, Throwing Muses, Kristin Hersh, a more upbeat Lisa Germano

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Since both Simon Pearson and Terry de Castro play on this album with Astrid Williamson, it's hard to see a significant difference between this album and the work they did as the group Goya Dress. This is slightly more pop oriented than Goya Dress's first releases, but is very similar to their only full-length release, Rooms--the focus is still on Astrid Williamson's pop songwriting and rich, scratchy vocals. She has a wonderful knack for hooks and song construction and her delivery is evocative and emotional. Haunting pop songs, ranging from the bittersweet to bitter pop. Astrid's raspy voice and hook-ridden songwriting gets under my skin. (Neile)

While her voice isn't classically pretty, I like her somewhat gritty and emotional delivery of good folk-rock songs. (Greg.Jumper@Eng.Sun.COM)

Recommended first album:

Boy For You

Recordings:

• Boy For You
• Astrid

Boy For You

Release info:

1998--Nude Records, 5 Warren Mews, London W1P 5DJ (U.K.)--NUDE 10CD

Availability:

Available in the U.K.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for alternative pop fans

Group members:

Astrid Williamson--vocals, instrumentation

Guest artists:

Malcolm Burn--technology, additional instrumentation
Terry de Castro--bass, backing vocals
Simon Pearson--drums, percussion
Bill Dillon--12-string acoustic guitar
Gerard Presencer--trumpet

Produced by:

Malcolm Burn

Comments:

I highly recommend this, Astrid's first solo album. There are some incredibly catchy songs on it with intriguing lyrics and Astrid's strong vocals. A good example of this is the title song, "I Am The Boy For You", which on the surface is the kind of pop song you might hear on am radio--except the lyrics and vocal performance are far more interesting and dark than would get that kind of airplay. There are one or two songs on here that I don't adore, but most of the album I love. I'm sorry Goya Dress are no more (even if only because I love the band name), but this album is pretty much the same thing--and that's a fine thing indeed. (Neile)

Astrid

Release info:

2003--Incarnation Records--INCACD001

Availability:

See website for information

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Astrid Williamson--vocals, acoustic guitar, electric piano, e-bow, synths, moog

Guest artists:

Robert White--mandolin, synths, bass, hammond organ, programming, backing vocals, rhodes, electric guitar, tambourine, e-box
Mik Tubb--12-string guitar on 1 track
Satin Singh--percussion on 1 track
Terry Bickers--alectric guitar, acoustic guitar, and harmonica on 1 track

Produced by:

Astrid Williamson, Robert White

Comments:

I've been living with these songs for a while because Astrid Williamson has made demos and early mixes available to fans for a while. Still it was lovely to hear them again, finished, especially after not listening to them for long enough that they struck me afresh. It's funny because Astrid often sounds as though she's singing right at the edge of her vocal ability but I find this style intriguing rather than offputting as with some other artists who attempt the same thing. Her songwriting also walks a fine line between the usual pop themes and a certain indie edginess. Somehow for me it all adds up to appealing music. Something to do with her raspy voice and the catchy hooks in her tunes. (Neile)

Further info:

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