An unashamed plug for this EP that came out today that I purchased through 4AD’s digital download service. High quality MP3s without DRM.

I must admit I bought this primarily because of the cover – it’s just so lovely. Rachel Goswell used to be in 90s shoegazer’s Slowdive, which is how I know of her. Slowdive then mutated into Mojave 3 after they were dropped by their record label Creation, and got signed up to 4AD. Mojave 3’s principle songwriter Neil Halstead released his solo album Sleeping On Roads in 2002 and it was probably this that kicked Rachel into writing her own material. So this EP is a taster for the forthcoming album Waves are Universal due out in June 2004. It’s a very organic EP recorded largely without electronic effects, using natural methods of adding reverb. You know: caves etc. Honest! It’s kind of folky in nature — Heidi Berry springs to mind — but there’s variety and a sense of musical expression that’s not found in such music. Mostly we have guitars, strings, organ and non-typical percussion. What we have a lot of, however, is Rachel’s extraordinarily wonderful voice. I know I bang on about vocals a lot, but Rachel’s voice is just wow, especially on the opener Plucked. If you get it from 4AD it’ll cost you just £3.00. Bargain.

Track Listing:

1. Plucked
2. Sleepless & Tooting
3. Flying With Gene
4. Stickin’ With Grace
5. Come Rescue Me