Rise

Formats

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  THRILL281CDCD  £12.00Expected 17th September 2012

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  THRILL281LPLP  £15.00Expected 17th September 2012

Label

Thrill Jockey

Catherine Irwin

Little Heater

Catherine Irwin’s second solo album is a showcase for her considerable writing skills, both musically and lyrically, as well as her singular performance style.

‘Little Heater’ combines raw and unadorned vocals with lush countrypolitan-style productions: gorgeous string sections, pedal steel guitar and dense layers of vocal harmonies.

Lyrics follow the themes of old-time music - loss, despair, self-destruction and delusion - but the references and turns of phrase are entirely modern and entirely Catherine’s.

As she did on 2002’s spare and haunting ‘Cut Yourself A Switch’, or as she has done as the primary songwriter in previous band Freakwater, Catherine aims her laser wit into the dark corners of the human condition.

‘Little Heater’ features guest appearances from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Tara Jane ONeil (Rodan, Retsin), Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton (Ida), Marc Orleans (D Charles Speer & The Helix, Sunburned Hand Of The Man), and Jean Cook (Jon Langford, The Mekons).

Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Califone, and Jolie Holland have all covered songs by Catherine, and Hazel Dickens, Steve Earle, Randy Newman, Indigo Girls and M. Ward number among Catherine’s fans.

“Catherine Irwin, half of the alterna-country duo Freakwater, is a mind out of time. The only thing starker than her roots arrangements is her voice” - Rolling Stone

Tracklist

• 1. Mockingbird
  2. Dusty Groove
  3. Hoopskirt
  4. Sinner Saves A Saint
  5. We Must Also Love The
  6. Thieves
  7. To Break Your Heart
  8. Piss To Gin
  9. Nightshade
  10. Flowers Of Darkness
  11. Save Our Ship
  12. Pale Horse / Pale Rider
  13. The Whole Of The Law
  14. The Banks Of The Ohio