aaamusic | On 11, Oct 2014

English actress and singer, songwriter Marianne Faithfull has had a recording career for five decades. Sometimes referred to as a sixties ‘wild child’, her early work in music in the 60s and 70s was overshadowed by stories about her personal life. In 1979 her album Broken English was critically acclaimed.

Marianne Faithfull’s 20th studio album Give My Love To London was released in the UK on September 29, 2014 via Dramatico Entertainment. It’s produced by Rob Ellis and Dimitri Tikovoi and mixed by U2 producer Flood. Most of the articulate lyrics are written by Marianne, whilst the music is by Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Steve Earle, Nick Cave, Tom McRae, Pat Leonard and Anna Calvi.

In ‘Sparrows Will Sing’, with music by Roger Waters, Marianne’s lyrics are cuttingly critical of the modern world: “A child breaks the ice and peers into the hidden depths / And tries to decipher the whole of this unholy mess / I have no doubt he will figure it out some day.” In contrasting ‘Love More Or Less’ we find a sad, gentle and delicate folk song with music by Tom McRae, whilst the expressive, beautiful ballad ‘Late Victorian Holocaust’ has music by Nick Cave. ‘Falling Back’, an orchestral, cinematic song co-written with Anna Calvi, is about joyful love and the anti war drama ‘Mother Wolf’ is inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

Throughout the album Marianne part sings, part recites poetry and works with old friends and new collaborators. Fans have variously described these eclectic songs as fierce, stunning, soulful, creative, intimate, sensitive and emotional. She says they’re “very much who I am,what I am” and, to me, they reflect a confident, outspoken and adventurous aspect to her personality.

In October, 2014, Marianne begins a European tour and USA dates are planned for 2015. Her band comprises Rob Ellis and Dimitri Tikovoi along with Portishead’s  Adrian Utley, Ed Harcourt and Warren Ellis and Jim Sclavunos of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

There are plans to illustrate Marianne’s life story with a luxury photo book Marianne Faithfull: A Life On Record, published by Rizzoli and edited by herself and Francois Ravard. It will show iconic images of her by well known photographers including Bruce Weber, Helmut Newton, David Bailey, Cecil Beaton,  Ellen Von Unwerth and Robert Mapplethorpe.

★★★★★

Anthony Weightman