It’s been a while, far too long in fact, but Lisa Knapp is finally set to follow here outstanding debut with a new full length album Hidden Seam on September 16th. Absence makes the heart grow fonder perhaps, but the new record is every bit as important, distinctive and magical as her debut Wild And Undaunted.
Despite the hiatus, Lisa has been anything but idle contributing to a wide range of different projects that have fuelled her own artistic development. As well as regularly playing the festival circuit, Lisa has toured with James Yorkston and embraced a collaborative project with Leafcutter John, inspired by the canals and taken out in a narrow boat onto the Grand Union Canal between London and Birmingham.
Earlier this year the release of the handcrafted CD Hunt The Hare A Branch Of May, served notice of Lisa return. The song Hunt The Hare (read our review), performed as a stunning duet with Alasdair Roberts, also reminded us of her enchanting voice, whilst the song, Jack, about the May tradition of Jack In The green, gave us a renewed taste for her unique songcraft.
Lisa has also been inspired by her husband Gerry Driver’s Diver’s parallel creative journey with his Speech Project album (music based on the speech patterns of Irish traditional singers). Also having met Seamus Heaney, it’s awoken a great love of language, with the opening track taking the lexicon of the shipping forecast and shaping it into a haunting musical seascape. The names themselves are unique and mysterious enough, Dogger, Rockall, North Utsire, South Utsire, but Lisa transforms them, as if Amphitrite herself has taken over airwaves.
We will bring you a full review and more closer to release, but in the meantime, Lisa will be playing the Green Note Café next Monday 5th August, Folk East Festival on 28th August and then touring from September onwards:
Tour Dates
05 August Green Note Camden
25 August Folk East, Glemham Hall, Suffolk + full band
14 September King’s Place, London + full band
18 September Farnham Maltings, Surrey
23 September The Junction, Cambridge
28 September Glee Club, Nottingham
12 October West End Club, Barry Island, S. Wales
13 October The Forge, Basingstoke duo w/Gerry Diver
26 October The Acorn, Parade Street, Penzance
8 November Ruskin Mill, Stroud duo
15 November Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, HANTS duo
22 November Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury, London duo
6 December The Atkinson, Southport
‘Hidden Seam’ is released on the 16th September and available to pre-order now from:
