Caught in the Carousel

Astrid Williamson

By Alex Green

Astrid Williamson's Day Of The Lone Wolf is a striking collection of gentle pop numbers which bravely confront the realities of romance gone wrong, religious uncertainty and sexual desire. A classically trained musician—the Shetland-reared Williamson was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow—Williamson's luxurious compositions are made up of intricate layers of strings, pianos, cellos and violins which rise and fall through this gorgeous album in mesmerizing hushes and lusty crescendos. Whether it's the stunning "Another Twisted Thing" or the dreamy shuffle of "Forgive Me" (a number which openly longs for redemption from a "killer messiah with a holy load,") Day Of The Lone Wolf is a lustrous aural triumph. Just off the road supporting Michael Bolton in Europe, Williamson graciously submitted her Consummate Top 10 albums to Caught In The Carousel:

1. Joni Mitchell—The Hissing Of Summer Lawns

It took me a long time to like Joni Mitchell; then one night when I was working in Soho in London as a cocktail pianist one of the bar staff asked me to play anything from Blue. Everybody knows it's actually staff you should keep happy as they look after you, so I went out and bought it to learn for her. It was like an epiphany. I think The Hissing of Summer Lawns is Joni Mitchell's best record. It's just so beautiful and cinematic.

2. The Police—Reggatta de Blanc

This is the first record I ever bought. I was really disappointed at first because the concept of an album 'growing' on you was alien to me (up to that point I'd only listened to ABBA singles which were, of course, all brilliant). My favourite track is a Stewart Copeland song called "Does Everyone Stare"—it has a very cool opera bit at the start. He would have been my preferred 'squeeze' out of the members of The Police, I never fancied Sting.

3. Mozart—Requiem

Just the greatest piece of music ever written. Everybody should own this.

4. The Blue Nile—A Walk Across the Rooftops and Talk Talk—Spirit of Eden

Please let me have Talk Talk AND The Blue Nile.I think they are both sublimely beautiful. (Editor's Note: As you wish, Astrid.)

5. She Wants Revenge—She Wants Revenge

This is my new favourite album. I love them. I would have like to have had Interpol Antics, too, in this list but I had to choose and this album hasn't been out my iPod shuffle for two months.

6.Massive Attack—Mezzanine

This is the most potent record I've ever heard. Besides maybe some Led Zeppelin or AC/DC.

7.Neil Young—After The Goldrush

When I write songs I sometimes think, "What would Neil do now?" This approach never actually works but it does make me revisit his genius.

8.Radiohead—OK Computer

A perfect album.

9.Eurythmics—Sweet Dreams

I admire Annie Lennox very much (she's also from Aberdeen in Scotland, which is the next town to Shetland once you've crossed the North Sea for about half a day). I like that in spite of her beautiful voice she's never fallen prey to the whole 'folky' label which I detest even tho' I am in fact, a little bit folky myself. I also like she was part of a band.

10.Smashing Pumpkins—Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Where I come from, Rawk is King. Billy could be king of Shetland.

11.Fleetwood Mac—Rumors

I wish I'd written "Dreams."

Astrid Williamson's Day of the Lone Wolf is out now on One Little Indian Records. —Alex Green