Miranda Sex Garden is an English band from London, formed in 1990 by Katharine Blake, Kelly
McCusker and Jocelyn West. Initially a trio performing a cappella madrigals, the group signed with Mute Records and released its debut album, Madra, in 1991. Its subsequent work incorporated elements of gothic rock, darkwave and industrial. The band released three further albums: Suspiria (1993), Fairytales of Slavery (1994) and Carnival of Souls (2000).
After the members pursued other projects in the early 2000s, including Blake's work with Mediæval
Bæbes, the band reunited in 2022 and released the EP Velventine in 2024. Produced by Tony Faulkner, the debut album Madra followed on 6 August. It consists of 25 a cappella madrigals and reached number 8 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. In 1991, founding member Jocelyn West left the band. With the addition of Ben Golomstock (guitar, bass, organ) and Trevor Sharpe (drums, percussion, bass), the band expanded beyond the a cappella madrigal style of its debut.
McCusker on violin and new member Donna McKevitt on viola and vocals. The new line-up performed alongside Nick Cave, the Balanescu Quartet and Levitation. McCusker left the band in late 1993 to pursue a career in classical music, leaving Blake as the only remaining original member.
Their later releases -- like 1993's Suspiria and 1994's Fairytales of Slavery -- saw the group moving
in a more rock/industrial direction, pitting their smooth voices upon layers of distortion, feedback, and heavy drums. Carnival of Souls was released in summer 2000. With the addition of rock instruments and strings, the style subsequently evolved into a blend of gothic rock and darkwave (ethereal wave), incorporating elements of industrial and experimental music. Carnival of Souls combined gothic and industrial rock with lounge jazz, shoegaze and soundtrack-inspired elements.
MIRANDA SEX GARDEN - FAIRYTALES OF SLAVERY 1994
Swirling with a rampaging intensity right from the start thanks to "Cut" and in particular Trevor Sharpe's absolutely massive drumming work in partnership with Donna McKevitt's strings, Fairytales of Slavery
is a lost delight of an album. Out of place in 1994's music scene and even more of a strange jewel when viewed at a distance, the only contemporaries for the group might well have been Cranes, but even that misses the essential differences between the two excellent bands. McKevitt and Katharine Blake aren't Alison Shaw, for one thing, their singing more straightforward and direct even when swathed in layers of music and stretched out syllable by syllable.
Miranda Sex Garden – Fairytales Of Slavery
Label: Mute – CDSTUMM129
Format: CD, Album, Nimbus
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1993
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Goth Rock, Experimental, Ethereal
TRACKS
01. Cut 5:01
Viola – Hepzibah Sessa
02. Fly 3:45
Performer [Stones] – F.M. Einheit
Viola – Hepzibah Sessa
03. Peep Show 3:55
04. The Wooden Boat 6:29
05. Havana Lied 2:13
Guitar – Kim Fahey
Music By – Kurt Weill
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Words By – Bertold Brecht
06. Cover My Face 3:59
Keyboards – Hepzibah Sessa
07. Transit 2:57
Performer [Drill] – F.M. Einheit
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Violin – Hepzibah Sessa
08. Freezing 2:25
09. Serial Angels 3:21
10. Wheel 6:23
Keyboards – Hepzibah Sessa
11. Intermission 1:39
12. The Monk Song 3:25
13. A Fairytale About Slavery 8:48
Guitar – Kim Fahey
LINE - UP
Vocals, Recorder, Glockenspiel, Piano – Katharine Blake
Viola, Violin, Vocals – Donna McKevitt
Bass Guitar – Kim Fahey
Drums, Percussion – Trevor Sharpe
Engineer [All Songs Engineered By] – Stern
Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards, Harmonium, Glockenspiel, Piano – Ben Golomstock
Lyrics By [Lyrics Written By] – Katharine Blake (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 13)
Songwriter [Songs Written By] – Miranda Sex Garden (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 13)
NOTES
All songs published by Mute Song except "Havana Lied" published by Universal Edition
Recorded at Connys Studio, at The Church and at Konk Studios. Mixed at Konk.
"Havana Lied" originally was part of the drama "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny" by Bertold Brecht.
1994 Mute Records Limited © 1994 Mute Records Limited
Flac Size: 546 MB
MIRANDA SEX GARDEN - CARNIVAL OF SOULS 2000
Reissue of this forgotten classic from London-based goth supergroup featuring Mediæval Bæbes
founder Katherine Blake, Miranda Sex Garden! Originally released in April 2000, Carnival Of Souls is the final album to be issued under the MSG name although the band recently reunited for an astounding live show at London's 100 Club! The lyrics are wonderful, and the lead vocalist is incredibly talented. I wish there was more to this album. Heavenly and haunting vocals with many layers of strings. Soaring vocals, dark atmospheres, and hypnotic rhythms make this an undiscovered gem worth checking out!
Miranda Sex Garden – Carnival Of Souls
Label: Cleopatra – CLP 0884-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue Jul 11, 2000
Country: US
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Goth Rock, Experimental, Ethereal
TRACKS
01. Are You The One? 4:27
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
02. Sleeping Beauty 3:33
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
03. Tonight 4:31
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
Saxophone – Robin Blick
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
04. All There Is 4:26
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
Vocals [Additional] – Audrey Evans
05. Broken Glass 5:02
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
06. Escape From Kilburn (Instrumental) 2:31
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
07. Token (Incidental) 0:42
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
08. Without Trace 4:35
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
09. Caravan 3:41
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Organ [Hammond] – Barney Hollington
Saxophone, French Horn – Robin Blick
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Vocals [Additional] – Rachel Van Asch
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol
10. Thrusty Bob's Hardcore Lounge (Incidental) 1:27
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
11. Close To The Sky 3:16
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
12. Ever & Ever 4:17
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
LINE - UP
Recorder, Vocals – Katharine Blake
Violin – Barney Hollington, Katharine Blake
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Carmen Schneider, Claire Ravel, Cylindra Shapphire, Marie Findley, Nichole Sleet, Nicole Frobusch, Ruth Galloway
Bass, Backing Vocals – Teresa Casella
Design – Marc Perilly
Drums, Percussion – Trevor Sharpe
Engineer – David M. Allen
Guitar – Ben Golomstock, Nick Marsh
Keyboards – Mike Servent
NOTES
Recorded at Purple Studios, Norwich and Magic Hat, London in August-September 1999.
Mixed at Eastcote Studios, London.
Thanks Kostas - i'm not familiar with that.
ReplyDeleteI knew that, but first, listen to them and if you like their music you can decide.
DeleteHaha...you know me well. I bought Fairytales got it cheap, without listening, figured it would probably be fine.
DeleteYou know that I don't post mediocre albums.
Delete