PSR034

Linda Draper
“Needlessly”

Released August 2005
Produced by Kramer and Alex Sharkey

About

The second release via PSR for Linda Draper. The EP originally consisted of recently remixed tracks from fellow PSR labelmate Alex Sharkey (Pinkie) along with standout LP cuts "Super Zero" and "Candle Opera." It would rounded out with new live tracks recorded at the Bitter End and The Sidewalk Cafe. A cover of Belle And Sebastian's "The Boy Done Wrong Again" was considered along with recently penned "Going Going Gone" (now titled "Traces Of") but both failed to make the final track listing instead being substituted by two tracks ("It's Not All About Love" and "A Little Bit Goes" ) from the third LP "Patchwork.

Reviews/Press Quotes

Losing Today Magazine (UK) / April 6, 2006

Linda Draper ‘Needlessly’ (Planting Seeds). A release that we have to say without reservation possesses an absolute master class of exquisitely delivered song craft. Tall words you might think but then this 6 track collection lends itself to such a seldom witnessed breathlessly at ease and inviting nature that once accepted you soon find yourself hopelessly numbed and bewitched under its becoming spell. Linda Draper for those still in the dark has to date recorded three acclaimed full lengths, toured with the likes of Sunshine Fix and Boyracer and heralded as one of the leading lights by the anti-folk scene emanating from her home town New York. ‘Needlessly’ is in a way a kind of ‘bringing the greater public at large up to speed’ exercise as it features - save for the two Pinkie remixes - cuts culled from both 2005’s ’One, Two, Three, Four’ and 2003’s ’Patchwork’ full lengths. Produced by Kramer the reference points it signposts are clear for all to see, Draper gently dips her toes in territories more associated with Mazzy Star, the Delgados, Cat Power, Suzanne Vega and less obviously so - Nick Drake. For your entrance fee you are richly awarded with an array of lovingly considered slices of drifting and dust covered soft centred fancifully frail acoustically hued candy pop. To venture into Drapers’ world is to stumble upon a tiny undiscovered and undisturbed spot so far ignored and missed by pop’s cartographers, a place that’s been left, untouched and allowed to grow as nature intended free from distraction and the pressures, promises and plundering of a cruel uncaring outside society. Here Draper finds safe haven to weave her softly cured genteel craft and bruised personality, from the moment the wistful pop nugget ’Needlessly’ rears into view with its subtle dusting of keys the unrelenting beauty of Drapers’ melodic prowess sets about its task of ensnaring you in its longing headlights. Her chief and unique attribute is her ability to sound so loud when she’s so quiet, the compositions nakedly drawn resonate with a crushing crescendo without ever seemingly needing to stir from their resting slumber and with that in turn force you to gather in closer, none more so is this special knack best exemplified than on the enchanting ‘Super Zero’ and the divine ‘Candle Opera’. ‘Candle Opera’ is a towering and tearfully forlorn colossus of heart hanging arrangements lushly decorated by a angelic vocal delivery and a wintry like aspect reposed with an arresting stately church presence (of the kind that you feel the likes of Low might take one pace back to swoon in admiration at) - the point being that as spectral and hollow as it may seem there’s a sense of lushness at work here as though someone had given over a triangle and a basic two track recorder to Van Dyke Parks and Phil Spector and goaded then to do their worst. While on the attractively crisp but flooring ’Super Zero’ Draper, so it would seem, carves you to the core slowly picking away at your defences thread by thread with a sweetly ventured cortege of sun shining partly ‘so what’ whimsical dreaminess - kind of like being subjected to the delayed effects arising from a sucker punch delivered by a giant velvet gloved fist. Add in the kooky sounding ’The Broken Muzzle’ with its tip toeing spring showered strings and the timelessly honed and hurtingly honeycombed ’A little bit goes’ and you have yourself a remarkable and quite irresistible release of some measure.

Other Releases

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

©2001-2006 Planting Seeds Records. All rights reserved.