Back in the mid-90s, much was expected of Daphne’s Flight, yet the five-piece seemed to simply glide off into the sunset after their debut album, never to return.
But now, over two decades after that brief first flight, the supergroup are firmly back with a new album, new music and a string of live appearances, including Towersey Festival (24-27 Aug 2018).
These things, it seems, just take time …
“I was aware that we were approaching the 20th anniversary of the release of our debut album and wondered how everyone would feel about the possibility of a reunion,” explains Julie Matthews of initial plans for the group’s return. “I brought it up with Chris (While) who thought it was a great idea, and a few weeks later we played on the Isle of Man where Christine Collister lives.
“She came along to the gig, we sang some songs together and later talked over the idea of a reunion. She was as equally excited at the idea as we were so that was it – we spoke to Helen (Watson) and Mel (Harrold) and we were all in agreement, we had to do this.”
But after checking diaries, they realised an extra year was needed for everything to fall into place.
“Alas we couldn’t make all our schedules fit for the actual 20th year so the tour and new album happened on the 21st anniversary,” Julie says.
Well established artists in their own rights, with hefty pedigrees, Helen Watson, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Chris While and Christine Collister first came together in 1995. Their eponymous debut arrived the following year to much applause, with some citing their appearance as a significant turning point in the role of women within the English folk movement.
“We knew what we were doing was unique to us and we were excited by the prospect of recording and performing together in 1995-96, but it’s hard to see the effect we have on the outside world,” says Christine when asked about their legacy. “Certainly, while we were in the middle of recording and performing, the focus was, and still is, purely on the moment. It’s what makes music so magical. And the energy we generated once we got underway was completely beyond our expectations.”
“However,” she continues, “at this distance it’s clear we had, and continue to have, a powerful and positive impact on audiences and critics alike. We are totally blown away by the connection we have at a festival, folk club, Arts Centre or theatre. We’re amazed and truly grateful!”
Despite the acclaim (and influence), Daphne’s Flight (DF) landed in the spring of 1996, after a series of live dates, and with the exception of occasional pairings by members and a one-off reunion for Chris and Julie’s Party On The Lawn in the mid-00s, that’s been it … until 2017’s Knows Time, Knows Change (described as “utterly sublime” by FRUK upon release) and accompanying dates.
“Time just whizzzzzzes on,” says Helen on the 21-year gap.
Such has been the response to that second album, the quintet have been quick to reconvene, and another flutter of live activity kicks off at Towersey Festival.
“Julie and I played at Towersey for the first time three years ago and we loved it!” enthuses Chris. “I had just come back from Greece and had food poisoning, but I recovered in time for our gig on the Sunday. This time we are bringing the caravan and everyone is camping, it’s going to be a blast.”
And a week later, they’re releasing their third album, Daphne’s Flight Live.
Says Julie: “We are blessed to tour with our own sound engineer, Richard Harrison, who not only is a great sound man but also a truly lovely man. Rich recorded the whole [2017] tour on digital multi-track. After the dust had settled, he sifted through all the songs, sorting out a list of usable tracks. He then brought the multi-tracks over to our studio (mine and Chris’s) where we picked the best 16 (three lead vocals each, and a joint one).”
DF Live’s tracklisting features versions of songs from both their studio albums, including Christine’s No One Knows My Name and Watson’s Gone, alongside new additions Out Of Left Field, From The Heart, and Tree Of Life.
Chris: “Tree Of Life is a co-write from me and Julie. It appears on our latest duo album, Shoulder To Shoulder, and has a percussion and double bass backing on the album. I just thought it would be a great song for DF to get their teeth into, and I was right, the energy goes through the roof and it’s a totally different feel to our version.”
Helen: “Percy Sledge’s Out of Left Field (written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham), was one of the very first songs we all did together. I had been performing it as a solo artist and it got truly souled when the girls joined in! It was in the original live set all those years ago, but missed out on the [debut] album.”
Melanie: “From The Heart (written by Susanna Clark and Richard Leigh) has one of the most inspiring choruses I know, it sings of hope and acceptance and of embracing love and life. Singing this song over the years has fed my heart, and it remains a favourite song with audiences all round the world.”
Alongside Daphne’s Flight, all members continue to work on their own distinct projects: Julie and Chris are performing with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night (9 Nov 2018), are involved in the all-star Ballads Of Child Migration tour, and will be celebrating the duo’s Silver Jubilee next year; Helen has gigs with Snake Davis (horns) and Dave Bowie Jnr (double bass) booked in; Christine has dates and recordings with Aussie guitarist Michael Fix lined up, as well as acoustic duo shows with Dave Kelly in the offing, while her first two studio albums (Blue Aconite and The Dark Gift of Time) are to be re-released; and Melanie is working on a new album with Harvey Summers, as well as various choral projects.
All of which begs the question, does this latest Daphne’s Flight reunion have wings? Or do we have to wait another 21 years?
“When we got together in 2016 it was purely an experiment,” states Christine. “Could we carry on where we left off? Would we gel? Could we find common ground after such a long time? And from the first moment together the answer was a resounding yes! If anything, we had a greater rapport and a deeper connection than before.
“Once we began arranging songs and recording we knew it was something we all wanted to do more of,” she continues. “But once the tour got underway … wow! The joy created by our friendship coupled with the harmonies and our pure love of singing rolls off and around us in waves, and audiences simply rise with us. It really is amazing!
“So yes … we plan to do more! We already have a plan to record a new studio album in 2019 with new original songs – some to be performed for the first time at Towersey! And a tour to coincide with the CD release in 2020!”
It’s an enthusiasm echoed by Melanie: “It is such a joy to be in a band with such wonderfully talented women.”
Daphne’s Flight play Towersey Festival on Saturday 25 August 2018, while Chris While and Julie Matthews take to the stage on Sunday 26 August. Other artists appearing over the weekend include Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Sharon Shannon (Fri 24 Aug); The Proclaimers (Sat 25 Aug); Beth Orton and Fisherman’s Friends (Sun 26 Aug); and The Shires, Knight and Spiers and Blair Dunlop (Mon 27 Aug). Tickets via: towerseyfestival.com
Daphne’s Flight Live is released via Fat Cat Records/ DF Discs on 1 September. The band tour throughout September. For full dates see: www.daphnesflight.com/tour-dates