In October last year a video appeared on YouTube of the song Salt Bird by Jocelyn West (you can watch it on this page under "My top videos"). There was a mention of an album coming out soon. Jocelyn, along with Katharine Blake and Kelly McCusker, were the original trio of girls from the Purcell School of Music who would become Miranda Sex Garden, after being discovered by Barry Adamson while busking, singing madrigals. They did backing vocals on his album Delusion for Mute Records. Katharine and Jocelyn also sang on the single Heart On The Line by fellow Mute artists Fortran 5. They got their own record deal and recorded the album Madra. However Jocelyn's marriage brought her to the US and away from Miranda Sex Garden before the recording of Iris. In the States she teamed up with film director and musician David Lynch (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, etc.) for a recording of material by Hildegard von Bingen. This resulted in the critically acclaimed album Lux Vivens, where Jocelyn appeared under her married name as Jocelyn Montgomery. Since then there has been silence - until now. Jocelyn has in fact recorded a new album and this time it's entirely written and performed by her. I am pleased to be able to present you with the cover art and a short description of the album:

Jocelyn West's new album is 'Salt Bird'. It is a unique, exhilarating and haunting twelve song collection that sees the ex Miranda Sex Garden singer releasing her first album of original compositions. From the poignant piano ballad 'Trevelyan Boy' to the eclectic 'Mississippi' a song which defies genre description, this is an album that journeys across a musical landscape from traditional folk to advant garde soundscapes. The unifying presence throughout the album is the beautiful pure voice of Jocelyn West. Recorded in London and in a fisherman's cottage in a remote part of Scotland, Jocelyn plays all the instruments herself evoking the ghosts of the past, stirring deep emotions and creating intoxicating melodies. This is an outstanding debut.  
 
Salt Bird will be released very soon and more news will be posted here. If you would like to be kept up to date, then please click here to join the mailing list.