Sumptuous

Yesterday's post about new music from Emma Pollock became an itch that I had to scratch so, as a companion piece, here's a 10-song, 40-minute selection.

Bearing in mind that I've been a relative latecomer to Emma's solo music and benefitted from additional signposting and recommendations from the blogging luminaries such as Charity Chic Music, The Vinyl Villain and 27 Leggies, this features a couple of songs from third album In Search Of Harpersfield and a varied trio from The Delgados. The rest are other artists who had the incredibly good sense to work with Emma, their songs all the better for the collaboration.

It always feels more by luck than judgement, given how quickly I cobble these selections together, but I'm really happy that the two 'sides' both run to a smidge under 20 minutes each and also seem to flow as a cohesive listening experience.

I can't take too much credit for that though, Emma and co. did all the heavy lifting here!

Please click on the additional links below to buy more music. There's another Bandcamp Friday coming up on 5th September, if you want your pennies to benefit even more.

Side One

1) No Danger: The Delgados (2000)

2) Size Nine And A Half (Cover of Ivor Cutler): Citizen Bravo ft. Emma Pollock (2020)

3) Parks And Recreation: Emma Pollock (2016)

4) A Certain Compulsion (Remixed By White Label): The Grand Gestures ft. Emma Pollock (2016)

5) Thirteen Gliding Principles (Mark Radcliffe Session): The Delgados (1996)

Side Two

1) The Actress: The Delgados (1998)

2) Dark Skies: Emma Pollock (2016)

3) Ears (Single Version): Cinerama ft. Emma Pollock (1998)

4) Nuada: King Of Woolworths ft. Emma Pollock (2003)

5) Paper (ToffoBean Remix): Starless ft. Emma Pollock (2020)

1997: BBC Sessions: A5

1998: Peloton: B1

1998: Va Va Voom: B3

2000: The Great Eastern: A1

2003: L'Illustration Musicale: B4

2016: In Search Of Harperfield: A3, B2

2016: The Grand Gestures Remixed: A4

2020: Paper EP: B5

2020: Return To Y'Hup: The World Of Ivor Cutler: A2

Side One (19:57) (GD) (M)

Side Two (19:35) (GD) (M)

I've included links above to the albums (or, in the case of the BBC Sessions, the closest equivalent) that can be purchased via Bandcamp. 

And, as if you need reminding, Emma's fourth album, Begging The Night To Take Hold, is also available to pre-order now.

You've Got This Upside Down, So Pour It Out

Celebrating a superlative female songwriter yesterday led me almost directly to thinking of Emma Pollock.

Good ol' Iffypedia lists Emma's birth date as 20th December 1972 AND 14th August 1971, so I'm either way too early or I've just missed it by a couple of weeks. Either way, there's no reason not to rejoice that this time next month, Emma's fourth album - and first in nine years - will be with us.

And, if that's not good news enough, Emma is promoting the album with a 10-date tour of England and Scotland in October.

I'm a latecomer to Emma's prodigious talent, having only had a passing acquaintance at the time with her role in The Delgados. Now ten years into a solo career, and based on the three songs I've heard so far, Begging The Night To Take Hold promises to be another highlight.

As an appetiser, I've included a couple of Emma's singles from the archives, a preview of a new album track performed live at The Holy GrAle in Durham last November and finally, the second single (and third song) from Begging The Night To Take Hold.

Sumptuous.

1) Acid Test (Watch The Fireworks) (2007)

2) Parks And Recreation (In Search Of Harperfield) (2016)

3) Marchtown (Live @ The Holy GrAle, Durham, 7th November 2024)

4) Future Tree (Begging The Night To Take Hold) (2025)