Part Two of the Spiral Earth interview with Marianne Segal
How long did it take to record the album?
I counted up the actual time in days and it was 18 1/2 days, but it was from January this year up until October. It is a long time, but lots happened in betweeen and in a way it was great to step back from the initial recordings and take a look at what we had. I actually broke my ankle and my lower leg so that tied me up during May and June and then later I broke some toes on my other foot, so I was in the wars! But it gave me space to listen to what we'd done and where I felt I wanted to take it from there.
Do you feel there's a burden of expectation on the new album?
Oh yes ! I'm really scared! Scared and excited. I had a brief chat with Richard on this and he said 'well done for believing in your songs' I did have a faith in them as an independent thing, I felt very strongly about them. But there's always an element of fear where you just don't know how it's going to be received...
The other thing that struck me was how strong your voice is now. It's got continuity from the beginning of your caree, there's an undercurrent of lots of other things going on in your voice. It's still got that magic about it.
Thank you, thank you very much.
How did you come across Bill Steer? (plays guitar on new album, currently in Firebird, formerly of Napalm Death)
When we first went in, we laid the drum track down and did that at one studio and then it was time to layer and Michael said to me 'I think I'm going to bring Bill Steer in for a track or two', and I must admit, I hadn't heard of him! Anyway, I met him and thought he had a wonderful personality,was a lovely person. He just sort of plugged in the guitar and there it is!
He's had an incredible career...It's great bringing all that different talent together....
Yeah, it's great. Considering it's like a progressive folk album, to bring in that guitar and make it work, is exciting. I did the same with Root Cartwright, I brought him on on the last track I recorded, 'Dreamers'. We'd worked together in the 70s and 80s, and we got back in contact a few months ago, and I just thought, 'Gosh, if there's a chance I'm going try and get Root in on the album', and there was, so we met again after 24 years or so!
Are these new songs or were some of them written at the time of Jade?
Some of them are from the past and never used, probably about 3 or 4 of them are brand new and a couple of them I'd say were mid 90s....quite a selection really...I think they all blend in well, you can't really tell which era they come from.
Well that's true. You listen to a track like 'Swallow' and it could have been written yesterday, it could have been written at any point, it still has that contemporary feel to it. Have you got a release date yet for the album?
I've got a release date of November 30th. It just depends if there's day or two hold up at the manufacturers. It'll be up on the website initially and on Amazon. There's 500 special editions, I'm going to sign and number them by hand. And then we'll take it from there....see how it's received...
Any plans to release it on vinyl?
It would be nice! I think I might talk to a couple of companies about that...it would be lovely thing to do if the album is received with hugs!
'Fly On Strangewings' is being released again as a deluxe edition?
It's getting a second pressing in the UK with Lightning Tree records again. I think it's a special edition with a card cover this time, with an extra bonus track. It's also being reissued in Japan in December so that's lovely too.
So that will be out just before the Gathering album?
Yes. They might even be simultaneous!
What are your personal thoughts on the album? Which songs are the highlights for you?
I would have to say each song does something for me in a different way, but I think the one that touches me personally is 'kicking up the sands of time'....it's one of the newer ones, written last year. The actual vibe of that track, alongside the words, it touches my heart a little bit, so I would have to say that was my favourite.
Have you any plans to do any live dates?
No definite plans at the moment. Michael and I have chatted about this. If I'm offered any festivals, it might be grounds for me to approach Michael and discuss something. It's not easy to take something that would need intricate preparation and just take it to a couple of pubs... it just doesn't work like that anymore, not like the good old days!
Did a lot happen in the studio? Was there a lot of improvisation?
Yes, I would have to say so. In the sense that each musician expressed themselves
and then whatever didn't quite connect, we'd say, 'try it that way'...but yeah a lot of spur of the moment things. For instance, on the 'September' song I wanted to some percussion on it, not a drum kit, so I just picked up a wooden stool and said to Sam, 'look can you play this Bongo rythym on this stool'!
Sounds like it was a lot a fun! Was Michael the producer or did you produce it?
We co-produced it. Michael had what I call the 'soundscape'in his mind but the actual layering and choices we did together.
It sounds fantastic, it'll be exciting to hear the whole album.
Thank you very much.
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