You Are Wolf - KELD (2018)

You Are Wolf is the alt-folk project of award-winning composer, vocalist & novelist Kerry Andrew. You Are Wolf is the alt-folk project of award-winning composer, vocalist and author Kerry Andrew. Now working as a trio with multi-instrumentalist Sam Hall and percussionist Peter Ashwell, Kerry's second album KELD - an old Northern English word meaning "the deep, still, smooth part of a river" - explores and develops the theme of freshwater. Wild swimming is a key passion and inspiration of hers, and she can often be found dipping into lochs, lakes, rivers and the sea in all weathers. Though there are countless traditional songs about the sea, there are less about our inland waterways, and Kerry decided to use this as a challenge: to source traditional material and write originals all inspired by freshwater folklore. It was an aim of Kerry's to find songs that featured an array of strong female characters, and KELD includes traditional songs about waterfall banshees, killer female water sprites, drowning boys and powerful witches. Original songs are inspired by wild swimming, vengeful rivers, nymphs and naiads, and even an Anglo-Saxon charm. You Are Wolf brings these ancient songs and stories into the present, with bold arrangements inspired by leftfield pop, new classical music and electronica. The album is produced by MaJiker, best known for his work on French alt-pop queen Camille's Victoire-winning albums. He has also remixed / worked with Fever Ray, Nitin Sahwney and Gaggle, and brings an experimental pop sensibility to the album. Where Hawk To The Hunting Gone was heavily vocal, with lots of vocal looping - inspired by the likes of Camille, Bobby Mcferrin, Meredith Monk and tUnE-yArDs - KELD is more expansive. With a wider palate of sounds including drums, 'cello, vibraphone, trumpet, found sounds and field recordings, it's an album that not only draws from innovative contemporary folk but also by music outside the folk sphere: everything from minimalist composer Steve Reich to PJ Harvey, traditional Central African Pygmy music and Julia Holter. For fans of: Lisa Knapp, Julia Holter, Sam Lee, Karine Polwart, Julianna Barwick

TRACKLIST

1. You Are Wolf - The Baffled Knight / The Shepherd Lad (Intro)
2. You Are Wolf - As Sylvie was Walking
3. You Are Wolf - Breathe in Breathe Out
4. You Are Wolf - George Collins
5. You Are Wolf - Down in the Willow Garden
6. You Are Wolf - If Boys Could Swim
7. You Are Wolf - Dragonfly
8. You Are Wolf - Witch of the Westmerlands
9. You Are Wolf - Charm
10. You Are Wolf, Lisa Knapp - The Weeper
11. You Are Wolf - Drowndown
12. You Are Wolf, Robin Robertson - Let Them Be Left (Outro)