God Knows What We're Doing Now
I don't usually feature the same artist in two consecutive posts, but more Xan Tyler today, thanks to a serendipitous rabbit hole dive. After yesterday's feature on Xan's earlier collaborations with Kate Holmes as Technique and Mad Professor as Mission Control, I checked out Xan's website and found that she'd reunited with Mad Professor for another album, Clarion Call. The project started three years ago and the album was finally released in July 2021. There's an interesting interview with Xan on the Scots Whay Hae! podcast, which takes in the recording of Clarion Call, the impact of the COVID pandemic on the album release and tour plans. She also talks about her previous collaboration with Kramer as Let It Come Down, her relocation to Scotland, and her rich history as a musician from joining her first band as a teenager. Xan is an engaging interviewee, despite her self-professed reluctance for this kind of promotion.
Clarion Call picks up the baton from 2001's Dub Showcase by Mission Control, beautiful summer dub sounds, complementing Xan's vocals. You can buy the album on Bandcamp and other digital platforms (the podcast interview explains the vinyl backlog caused by the pandemic) and view all 9 tracks on YouTube.
All this discovered from a chance playlist shuffle of Technique's You + Me, which I hadn't listened to since 2013... The good news is that Xan has secured a grant from Creative Scotland to record an album. Xan is working with Boo Hewerdine & Mark Freegard and the album will hopefully emerge in 2022. One to look out for.
Left Dub: Xan Tyler & Mad Professor
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