Being dropped by your record label can herald the destruction of an artistโs ambitions and self-confidence, but not so with Cathy Davey who has independently released what could well be her best work yet.
Dublin born Cathy Davey was signed to Parlophoneโs Regal Recordings in 2002 after some of her home-recorded demos caused a bit of a stir in the industry,
igniting a label bidding war where the EMI subsidiary eventually pipped Rough Trade to her signature and all this before she had ever performed live on stage.
While her first album โSomething Ilkโ made only a moderate impact on listeners, it was after the release ofย her second record, โTales of Silversleeveโย that Daveyโs confidence was boosted by extensive touring and radio support for songs like โRubenโ and โMovingโ making her a household name.
As the record industry underwent financial crises in 2008, EMI dropped much of its roster leaving Cathy without a label and instead of letting the lack of financial support become an obstacle, she embraced her new-found independence, packed her bags and retreated to France to begin work on new material. Knowing very little French, she found herself recording in a setting that would come to influence the songs in many unexpected ways. Having spent many nights in โa quiet old house belonging to a quiet old widowโ, she had time to develop her ideas and soak up the surrounding influences and to work in the space that the solitude of being a stranger in a strange land allows.
She returned โwith a handful of joyful songs about love, absence and deathโ, and declared: โSilversleeve is grand, but Iโll do better this timeโ. The resulting album โThe Namelessโ has just been released and you can catch Cathy Davey live this weekend in Dolans, this Sunday May 16. โThe Namelessโ is out now in all good record stores.
Something Ilk (2004) A raw debut recording produced by Ben Hillier [Blur, Elbow & Clinic] in the classic guitar, bass drums arrangement, more of a rock record than anything subsequently released. Included the first hit single โClean and Neatโ
Tales of Silversleeve (2007) The title referred to Cathy Daveyโs habit of not using a tissue as a snotty nosed kid.ย The album is a more confident and acoustic sounding effort with songs brougt to the studio fully formed from home demos. Containing subtle rhythmic textures the record spawned ready for radio hits โMovingโ, โRubenโ and โ Sing for your Supperโ. A Choice Music Prize nomination and a Meteor award followed, prompting the Irish Times to state, โThereโs no better female songwriter in Irish music right nowโ.
The Nameless (May 2010) So no pressure then for the follow up! The first single โLittle Redโ is already a hit. This album has an ambitious production with sweeping dramatic arrangements showing a desire and confidence to make big songs that the recordโs melodramas deserve. Neil Hannon lends his voice to โArmy of Tearsโ and could well have been an influence on the albumโs expansive soundscapes heard on the track โHabitโ also a potential hit. But it is not all pomp and bluster as evidenced on the gorgeous bluesey โBad Weatherโ. โThe Namelessโ gets better with every listen as does the evermore assured and confident Cathy Davey.