Rising from autumn past
Heather Findlay – The Phoenix Suite EP
For thirteen years vocalist Heather Findlay was an integral part of Mostly Autumn, the British progressive group with classic rock sensibilities.
By the time she performed her last show with the band in April 2010 it was already known she would be leaving to concentrate on her family and continuing her musical adventures as a solo artist.
What was unknown as she left the band that had been her musical home since 1997 was just when that solo career would become a reality.
As it turned out Findlay’s debut solo outing would rise Phoenix Suite-like twelve months on from her musical Spirit of Autumn Past.
As regards the initial shape or form that solo career would take, that was a genuine unknown - even to the singer herself...
Primarily recorded between early spring and late summer of 2010, Findlay started with what she described as a “blank canvas” at the beginning of the project, but once the musical colours and shapes started to fill that canvas they didn’t stop.
It soon became apparent there were going to be a lot more textures than one canvas could present - so much so that this debut release is the first of what is expected to be four EP’s, each with their own particular vibe or feel and each hosting four of five tracks.
The Phoenix Suite contains five tracks and the album itself comes in three flavours - digital download, hard copy and a very special limited edition (more on which later).
I was pleasantly surprised with the album and the content, because although there are occasional nods to the Mostly Autumn sound (hardly surprising), this album stands very much on its own foundations – jagged, angular rock foundations…
Each of the five tracks has its own individuality but there is an edginess throughout, with the tone set from the first guitar notes that lead into the opener ‘Red Dust.’
It’s a punchy start and the EP has a rawness that separates it from much of Findlay’s recorded work with Mostly Autumn.
You won't find additional layers of sound or warm keyboard fills here.
That rawness is not detraction or meant as a negative, certainly not within the framework of this particular release. It actually enhances the rock edge of the songs, especially on ‘Cellophane’ with its injection of a couple of short-but-sharp jagged guitar riffs.
The limited overdubs, live-in-the-studio-feel and sparseness of the arrangements simply add to the whole that is The Phoenix Suite.
‘Phoenix’ and ‘Seven’ hint at shades of Mostly Autumn at their outsets and they present lighter shades than ‘Red Dust’ or ‘Cellophane,’ but they both carry that edgier tone and sparseness that permeates throughout the album.
‘Mona Lisa’ is the perfect end to proceedings; building from quiet beginnings to a crescendo with band and voice, it closes with soft guitar touches much as the album starts.
Heather Findlay – The Phoenix Suite EP
For thirteen years vocalist Heather Findlay was an integral part of Mostly Autumn, the British progressive group with classic rock sensibilities.
By the time she performed her last show with the band in April 2010 it was already known she would be leaving to concentrate on her family and continuing her musical adventures as a solo artist.
What was unknown as she left the band that had been her musical home since 1997 was just when that solo career would become a reality.
As it turned out Findlay’s debut solo outing would rise Phoenix Suite-like twelve months on from her musical Spirit of Autumn Past.
As regards the initial shape or form that solo career would take, that was a genuine unknown - even to the singer herself...
Primarily recorded between early spring and late summer of 2010, Findlay started with what she described as a “blank canvas” at the beginning of the project, but once the musical colours and shapes started to fill that canvas they didn’t stop.
It soon became apparent there were going to be a lot more textures than one canvas could present - so much so that this debut release is the first of what is expected to be four EP’s, each with their own particular vibe or feel and each hosting four of five tracks.
The Phoenix Suite contains five tracks and the album itself comes in three flavours - digital download, hard copy and a very special limited edition (more on which later).
I was pleasantly surprised with the album and the content, because although there are occasional nods to the Mostly Autumn sound (hardly surprising), this album stands very much on its own foundations – jagged, angular rock foundations…
Each of the five tracks has its own individuality but there is an edginess throughout, with the tone set from the first guitar notes that lead into the opener ‘Red Dust.’
It’s a punchy start and the EP has a rawness that separates it from much of Findlay’s recorded work with Mostly Autumn.
You won't find additional layers of sound or warm keyboard fills here.
That rawness is not detraction or meant as a negative, certainly not within the framework of this particular release. It actually enhances the rock edge of the songs, especially on ‘Cellophane’ with its injection of a couple of short-but-sharp jagged guitar riffs.
The limited overdubs, live-in-the-studio-feel and sparseness of the arrangements simply add to the whole that is The Phoenix Suite.
‘Phoenix’ and ‘Seven’ hint at shades of Mostly Autumn at their outsets and they present lighter shades than ‘Red Dust’ or ‘Cellophane,’ but they both carry that edgier tone and sparseness that permeates throughout the album.
‘Mona Lisa’ is the perfect end to proceedings; building from quiet beginnings to a crescendo with band and voice, it closes with soft guitar touches much as the album starts.
Heather Findlay under the spotlight with The Phoenix Suite, her debut solo work
Chris Johnson produced The Phoenix Suite with co-production by Heather Findlay.
Johnson also engineered the album and contributes guitar and voice to the final product.
The Phoenix line-up is completed by the very much sought after Dave Kilminster on guitars, Steve Vantsis on bass and Alex Cromarty on drums.
The band’s contributions help make this mini-album a great start to Findlay’s solo career, but for me the stand-out features of The Phoenix Suite are the edgy vibe of the songs and the voice of Heather Findlay.
Very emotive and vocally passionate, Findlay has delivered moments of true soaring beauty with Mostly Autumn (the band’s classic ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Above the Blue,’ written by the singer, immediately come to mind).
Mostly Autumn also have their heavy rock moments and Findlay could comfortably deliver in that role, but with Mostly Autumn a number of the rockier songs were in duet with, or sung by, singer-guitarist Bryan Josh.
So on the EP and perhaps for the first time, Heather Findlay had the chance to flex those rockier vocal chords.
On The Phoenix Suite she is not just the lead vocal, but also the lead instrument.
There was also a rather unique limited edition of the album for the first 100 fans who came calling.
The cover artwork for The Phoenix Suite is a photograph of an original canvas painting by Findlay.
The original painting was cut and divided into 100 equal squares with each square becoming part of the sleeve for one hundred very limited collector's editions of the CD. Each art-piece was be signed and numbered by the artist.
Nice touch, and a nice souvenir/ collectable for the first 100 of the many fans who have supported Heather Findlay in the past and throughout the process of her fledgling solo career.
Here's hoping it's a long and successful one.
Ross Muir
March 2011
The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and by kind permission of Heather Findlay. No infringement of copyright is intended.
Red Dust
Chris Johnson produced The Phoenix Suite with co-production by Heather Findlay.
Johnson also engineered the album and contributes guitar and voice to the final product.
The Phoenix line-up is completed by the very much sought after Dave Kilminster on guitars, Steve Vantsis on bass and Alex Cromarty on drums.
The band’s contributions help make this mini-album a great start to Findlay’s solo career, but for me the stand-out features of The Phoenix Suite are the edgy vibe of the songs and the voice of Heather Findlay.
Very emotive and vocally passionate, Findlay has delivered moments of true soaring beauty with Mostly Autumn (the band’s classic ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Above the Blue,’ written by the singer, immediately come to mind).
Mostly Autumn also have their heavy rock moments and Findlay could comfortably deliver in that role, but with Mostly Autumn a number of the rockier songs were in duet with, or sung by, singer-guitarist Bryan Josh.
So on the EP and perhaps for the first time, Heather Findlay had the chance to flex those rockier vocal chords.
On The Phoenix Suite she is not just the lead vocal, but also the lead instrument.
There was also a rather unique limited edition of the album for the first 100 fans who came calling.
The cover artwork for The Phoenix Suite is a photograph of an original canvas painting by Findlay.
The original painting was cut and divided into 100 equal squares with each square becoming part of the sleeve for one hundred very limited collector's editions of the CD. Each art-piece was be signed and numbered by the artist.
Nice touch, and a nice souvenir/ collectable for the first 100 of the many fans who have supported Heather Findlay in the past and throughout the process of her fledgling solo career.
Here's hoping it's a long and successful one.
Ross Muir
March 2011
The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and by kind permission of Heather Findlay. No infringement of copyright is intended.
Red Dust
Photo Credit: Howard Rankin.
Album cover: From the original painting by Heather Findlay.
Album cover: From the original painting by Heather Findlay.
