Thea Gilmore set to release Christmas album

October 27, 2009, 03:24 PM

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British singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore will be releasing her new album, ‘Strange Communion’ on 23rd November 2009, ahead of her UK tour throughout November and December. ‘Strange Communion’ is a Christmas album which references the poetry of T. S. Eliot and Louis MacNiece, and includes cover versions of obscure songs by Elvis Costello and Yoko Ono. The album will precede the single, That’ll Be Christmas, released 7th December.

The Oxford-born singer-songwriter has been making intensely personal, socially aware music to considerable praise since she was a teenager, and has racked up sales, acclaim and admiration from peers such as Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez and Martha Wainwright, to name but a few. The Independent regards Thea as "the best wordsmith of her generation", and Uncut labeled her "the best British singer/songwriter of the last ten years - and then some."

‘Strange Communion’ is a stirring, emotive journey, by turns joyful, celebratory and sceptical; it delves into the heart of the festive season and reflects on its institutions and contradictions. Gilmore finds lyrical inspiration in ancient folklore as much as she does in popular culture, and the album is interspersed with references to the likes of The Sound of Music in ‘That’ll be Christmas’, to poetry from Louis MacNeice’s Autumn Journal, in ‘Book Of Christmas’ and from T.S Eliot’s iconic poem about the nativity, Journey Of The Magi, in ‘Cold Coming’.

Whilst opening track ‘Sol Invictus’, is an invocation to a pagan sun god, and a collaboration with the award-winning Sense Of Sound Choir, ‘The St Stephens Day Murders’ is a cover of an Elvis Costello track, and surely the most unlikely duet of the year with Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe. Another remarkable cover is ‘Listen, the Snow is Falling’; originally a Yoko Ono song which first appeared as a B-Side on a John Lennon single.

Tying the album together is Thea's crystalline voice and famously dazzling lyrics. ‘Strange Communion’ is not an average snow-and-sleigh-bells offering; it treads ground that so many other seasonal albums don't, and is set to be the soundtrack to many people’s festive season.

Thea Gilmore has also confirmed the following live dates throughout November and December, with special guest Rod Clements, including London’s Bush Hall on 3rd December:

NOVEMBER
20th WINCHESTER The Tower Arts Centre - 08444 771 000 - The Tower - Winchester's leading multi-arts space
21st BRISTOL The Bristol Folk House - 0117 926 2987 - bristolticketshop
22nd NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms - 0871 3100 000
24th BIRKENHEAD Pacific Road Arts Centre - 0151 666 0000 - Pacific Road: Home
26th YORK The Duchess - 08700 600 100 - WeGotTickets - Your Online Box Office
27th MILTON KEYNES The Stables - 01908 280800 - The Stables - World Class Music and Entertainment
29th BIRMINGHAM Glee Club - 0871 472 0400 - The Glee Club

DECEMBER
1st MANCHESTER Band On The Wall - 0845 2 500 500 - Home of Great Live Music | Band on the Wall
2nd NORWICH The Arts Centre - 01603 660352 - Norwich Arts Centre - Home
3rd LONDON Bush Hall - 08700 600 100 - www.ticketweb.co.uk
5th SWINDON Arts Centre - 01793 614837 - Arts Centre - Swindon Borough Council
6th MAIDSTONE Pizza Express - 0845 6027 017 - PizzaExpress Live
8th STRATFORD Cox's Yard - 01789 404600 - www.ticketweb.co.uk
9th WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall - 01905 611427 - Worcester Live - Home to Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall
10th ABERDARE The Coliseum - 01685 881188 - Rhondda Cynon Taf : Cultural Services
11th BIDDULPH Town Hall - 01782 514896
12th ABERDEEN The Lemon Tree - 01224 641122 - Aberdeen - Find Theatre tickets, dates and venues schedules
13th INVERNESS The Ironworks - 0871 7894 173 - Ironworks Live Music Venue, Inverness
15th GLASGOW King Tuts - 08444 999 990 - www.ticketmaster.co.uk
17th GATESHEAD The Sage - 0191 443 4661
18th OXFORD Academy 2 - 0844 477 2000 - WeGotTickets - Your Online Box Office
19th FAREHAM Ashcroft Theatre - 01329 223100
21st CHESTER Telford's Warehouse - 01244 390090 - Telfords Warehouse Chester's Premier venue for live music | freshly prepared food | bar and restaurant | cask ales

‘Strange Communion’ tracklisting:

1) Sol Invictus
2) Thea Gilmore’s Midwinter Toast
3) Cold Coming
4) That’ll Be Christmas
5) Listen, The Snow is Falling
6) Drunken Angel
7) The St Stephens Day Murder
8) December in New York
9) Book of Christmas
10) Old December

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