Eleanor McEvoy : I’d Rather Go Blonde

Diverse Records are delighted to announce that a new Eleanor McEvoy studio album, entitled “I’d Rather Go Blonde”, is to be released on 25th September 2010. The album features eleven new songs, nine of which were penned by McEvoy, one by former Beautiful South man Dave Rotheray and, finally, there’s a cover of “Good Times” by Sam Cooke.

“I’d Rather Go Blonde” is the eighth the eighth album in a twenty year career that has seen McEvoy establish herself as one of Ireland’s most accomplished singer / songwriters. Never one to shy away from the big issues, this album sees McEvoy tackling themes such as alienation, hypocrisy, recent Irish history and romance. The songs are typified by a lyrical élan and often leavened with a touch of humour – “For Avoidance Of Any Doubt” features a plaintive soul using her solicitor to berate an absent lover for not returning calls, and the title track is built around a phrase that just made McEvoy laugh!

As she says herself, “I always try to express myself clearly and honestly. I was the odd one, the tubby girl with glasses who had to go to violin lessons after school. The ray of sunlight was the radio with its music. The escape was learning to sing and play instruments and play with others and write and just get out there. Anyway this album is all me, and I am very proud of it.”

Her music has evolved and developed over her career and this album is a confident statement. Her continuing absorption and influence by other forms of music continues to delight and confound any listener who may attempt to pigeon-hole her simply with reference to the winsome ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’ which appeared on the massively popular album “A Woman’s Heart” back in 1992. That was then, this is now! “I’d Rather Go Blonde” has been mixed by Ruadhri Cushnan’ who did the breakthrough Mumford & Sons record of this year and has a wilfully contemporary relevance.

Throughout her career, McEvoy has earned accolades and picked up various awards – not just for her work but also for the super high-end audio approach she has taken on various albums.

I’D RATHER GO BLONDE

Eleanor McEvoy

Recorded at Westland Studios, the team, of Eleanor McEvoy, Mick O’Gorman, Peter Beckett (co producers of LOVE MUST BE TOUGH) and Ciaran Byrne Engineer, has expanded with the addition Gavin Fox (Ex Idlewild), Ross Turner (Cathy Davey, Jape) and the Mixing skills of Ruadhri Cushnan (Mumford and Sons)

All Arrangements Eleanor McEvoy
Line-Up:
ELEANOR McEVOY – Vocals, Guitars, Violins, Violas, Piano, Hammond Organ, Keyboards
PETER BECKETT – Piano, Keyboards, Harmony Vocals
GAVIN FOX – Bass
ROSS TURNER – Drums, Percussion
Plus
GERRY O’CONNOR – Banjo (Deliver me, Away From You)
PAT BURKE – Gregorian Chant (Deliver Me)
CIARAN BYRNE – Harmony Vocals (Deliver Me)

Produced by Mick O’Gorman, Eleanor McEvoy and Peter Beckett; recorded by Ciaran Byrne; mixed by Ruadhri Cushnan; mastered by Ian Cooper; mastered for vinyl by Miles Showell