What a suprise this was! I've NEVER downloaded an MP3 Album before, but as a huge Toyah fan was complelled to on discovering this hidden gem. I know Toyah, and Chris Wong ( he's in Toyah's Band, and The Humans, but not the other musicians. This is ethereal, atmospheric Jazz inspired music. The lyrics are witty & clever.Toyah's voice has matured beautifully. This Album and the criminally under-rated 'The Humans' music show the creative genius of collaborating. Toyah has been around quite a while, but continues to grow and evolve as an artist. But she's not just evolving her own creativity, but is helping us the public access creative output in different ways.
Jarboe; who was in the Swans 1984-1997,Kristin Hersh of the Throwing Muses, 50 FT Wave, solo, CASH project, and Natalie Merchant ( 10,000 Maniacs, Solo)are just three women artists who I listen to, who clearly cherish collaboration with a huge and diverse group of musicians, and who are challenging 'conventional' (read boring) methods of distribution of creativity.
The music 'industry' is archaic, and unresponsive on the whole. But more and more truelly creative lateral thinking artists are 'Going it alone'in the sense of creating there own labels, but collaborating with others to bring new music to the fore, in new and interesting ways. Maybe the music press might catch on.
The 'Internet' as a channel for communicating new musical and artistic messages is revolutionary. The late 1990's saw many artists realising it's potential very quickly. Siouxsie Sioux & her then husband Budgie ceaselesly promoted 'The Creatures' new musical ideas through the internet, 'the Living Jarboe' website also had it's ibception in the late 1990's...
Is there a theme of Women & creatives solutions through electronic media??? Someone's probably done a thesis on it.
Buy "This Fragile Moment", and enjoy the show.