Out of Season

This is an Enhanced CD, which contians both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Enhancements include the video for the song "Mysteries."
Personnel includes: Beth Gibbons (vocals, acoustic guitar, vocoder); Rustin Man; Adrian Utley (acoustic & electric guitar, bass); Rachel Samuel (cello); Mark Feltham (harmonica); Steve McNichol, Paul Webb (accordion, piano, organ, programming); John Baggot (organ); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone); Simon Edwards (double bass); Clive Dreamer (drums); Lee Harris (percussion); Lauraine McIntosh, Rachael Brown, Joy Rose (background vocals).
Personnel: Beth Gibbons (vocals, acoustic guitar, vocoder); Adrian Utley (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, organ, Moog synthesizer); Neill MacColl , Pete Glenister (acoustic guitar); Paul Webb (electric guitar, accordion, piano, keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Perry Mason, Warren Zielinski, Mark Berrow, Christopher Tombling, David Woodcock, Eddie Roberts , Patrick Kiernan, Boguslav Kostecki, Gavyn Wright (violin); Philip Dukes, Peter Lale, Bruce White (viola); Jonathan Tunnell, Ben Chappell, Martin Loveday (cello); Andy Findon, Nina Robertson (alto flute); Mark Feltham (harmonica); John Barclay (flugelhorn); John Baggot (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Gary Baldwin (organ); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone); Simon Edwards (double bass, bass guitar); Mary Scully (double bass); Clive Deamer (drums, timpani); Lee Harris (drums, percussion); Martyn Barker (congas, percussion); Rachael Brown, Lurine Cato, Mitchell John, Joy Rose, Lorraine McIntosh (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Paul Webb; Phill Brown.
Recording information: Konk Studios; Sanctuary Westside; The Barn, Devon, England.
Photographers: Eva Vermandel; Peter Dickinson.
Arrangers: Paul Webb; Beth Gibbons.
Boldly eclectic, warm, and organic, OUT OF SEASON finds Portishead vocalist Beth Gibbons collaborating with former Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb (aka Rustin Man). Also featuring multi-instrumentalist Adrian Utley (Portishead) and drummer Lee Harris (Talk Talk), the album recalls both of these revered ensembles at times, but largely wanders down its own path, thanks to Gibbons and Webb's adventurous vision.
Beginning with the gorgeously angelic "Mysteries," OUT OF SEASON showcases Gibbons's range, as the British singer deftly shifts from a melodramatic croon (the smoldering "Tom the Model") to a spot-on Billie Holiday impersonation (the string-laden "Romance") to a forlorn whisper (the melancholy "Drake," a fitting tribute to doomed folkie Nick Drake). Showered with superlatives upon its U.K. release, this stunning record is a rare example of a work of art living up to its hype, and is highly recommended.