New album expected in autumn
1 March 2010
Kerry Ellis' eagerly anticipated new album is expected to be released this autumn according to Brian May's updated Soapbox:
The news is good … we are working towards a release in the Autumn. The album is huge, and is shaping up fast … I had the benefit of a few months where Kerry was not working in the theatre (though Christmas and snow got in the way!) so we have worked very closely on the new tracks now, and the album has grown into a very coherent project - I see it as a powerful statement of where Kerry is at, in the material she alone can really harness, with that incredible voice. If you liked Wicked in Rock … you will love this!
Brian then later adds:
I hadn't realised there were murmurings out there about me not making enough music …
Well, these people will be pretty surprised when they get to hear the Kerry Ellis Album. We had another huge orchestra session in Abbey Road on it last week, and I'm now immersed in sorting it all out and beginning the next phase of mixes. It's probably the most ambitious bit of production I've ever done. And … plenty of loud guitars!! (and loud drummers!) I think, somehow, we became a band! It's only worth-while, of course, because of the magnitude of Kerry's voice and talent. With all the production values in the world, a record is still about the singer and the song. But … I guess it's getting it across which is the trick! Contexts, arrangements, capturing the passion … breaking new ground …
Here's Ms Kerry Ellis in our final Abbey Road Orchestra session for her album. It was … huge!
Photo: Brian May
This is the control room of Abbey Road Studio 1 - it's an enormous studio … with an incredibly enormous sound for orchestras … and … loud guitars - though we were too busy to get to guitars that day. Most of that I do at my own studio.
Here's the view looking the other way from the control room, looking into the studio itself. It was a 65 piece orchestra, plus percussion … an amazing sound.
Photo: Brian May
There's the brilliant Steve Sidwell in the middle, conducting, on his podium, and you can see him on the TV monitor at top right, too. Steve and I work on the orchestra arrangements together … then I go away and piece it all together, with Justin and Kris. It has been a long road, but fascinating and challenging. And now … we are in mix mode, and the results are starting to fulfil the dreams. Well, for Kerry's stupendous voice, it had to be a stupendous record.
Update (5/3/10): Kerry has posted a new message on her official website on the music page:
I had a great day at Abbey Road last month recording an orchestra for my new album, it was such an incredible day they sounded amazing. This album just keeps growing and I can't wait to share it with you all.
Image credits: Brian May, 2010
Source: Brian's Soapbox and The official Kerry Ellis website
