Sorrow - Under the Yew Possessed
by Keith How
published: 27 / 11 / 2018

Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Keith How examines recently re-released 1993 lost classic 'Under the Yew Possessed', the debut album of Sorrow, which featured Stawberry Switchblade's Rose McDowall and her then husband Robert Lee.
An album that was originally released in 1993 'Under the Yew Possessed' finds new life in 2018 with a re-release on both CD and vinyl. I was certainly unaware that the band Sorrow are, to all intents and purposes, Rose McDowall and her then husband Robert Lee. I was also unaware that Rose McDowall was part of 1980‘s hitmakers Strawberry Switchblade. Further research reveals that, after Strawberry Switchblade broke up at the end of the 1980s, McDowell found herself a member of the legendary leftfield outfit Current 93 and guesting on albums by artists such as Coil and Nurse With Wound. Quite a different world to that of chart success and pop music. 'Under the Yew Possessed' is a melancholic affair full of whispered vocals laced with an eerie ambience that is both intriguing and fascinating. Gorgeous harmonies intertwine with spoken lyrics housed in otherworldly orchestrations. Opening with 'Die', the listener is drawn into a dream like state. McDowall‘s vocals are angelic, and a twelve string guitar chimes like a harp lending an almost baroque feel to the track on this slow, hypnotic opener. As 'Under the Yew Possessded' progresses the sense of quiet melancholy remains throughout. Songs conjure up a pictures of a wistful faerie-like creature wandering between joy and despair. Whispered poetry echoes over an orchestrated ambience on 'Dew of the Sea' before the slightly poppy and uptempo 'Emptiness'.The vocals are again spoken while the backing is flute lead and catchy. The guitar break is delightful. After twenty-five years 'Under the Yew Possessed' is still difficult to classify. There is an underground Goth feel but the overall sense of despair and beauty are never far away. Hailed as a lost classic 'Under the Yew Possessed' never really departs from a feeling of feminine fragility. The settings to the songs is clever and often neo-classical, reflecting Robert Lee‘s influence and desire to present the songs in a serious manner. A very intriguing re-release that captivates and delights. Photographs by Gilbert Blecken https://gilbertblecken.wordpress.com
Track Listing:-
Also In ReView
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blue Nile (2014)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Gene Clark (2019)
Giant Sand (2020)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
John Cooper Clarke (2016)
Joni Mitchell (2021)
Lapre (2020)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
Neil Innes (2020)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
Ub40 (2015)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)
Band Links:-
https://rosemcdowall.bandcamp.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_McDowall
https://www.facebook.com/RoseMcDowallandSorrow/
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-



digital downloads
soundcloud
reviews |
Dreamstone (2013) |
![]() |
Pleasant but unremarkable debut album from British producer and electronic artist, Sorrow |
most viewed articles
current edition
Robby Krieger - Set The Night on Fire, Living, Dying, And Playing Guitar with The DoorsBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Lida Husik - Interview
Cathal Coughlan - Interview
Rick Wakeman - Interview
Peter Doherty and Frederic Lo - Cavern Club, Liverpool, 27/3/2022
Cliff Richard - Not Fade Away
Simon Bromide - Interview
Candlelight Tribute to Coldplay - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 1/4/2022
Wolfgang Flur - Interview
previous editions
World Party - InterviewSam Brown - Interview 2008
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Eric Chappell - Interview 1
Pete Brown - Interview
Ruskin Arms - The Image That Made Me Weep
Half Man Half Biscuit - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Melanie Blake - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
most viewed reviews
current edition
Rupert Wates - For The PeopleBanjo Jen - Fine Line
Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri - The Long Ride Home
Bonham-Bullick - Bonham-Bullick
Dead South - Easy Listening for Jerks Parts 1 and 2
Family - A Song for Me
Loop - Sonancy
Stereophonics - Oochya!
Weather Station - How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars
John Mayall - The Sun is Shining Down
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Adrian P
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Carl Bookstein
Chris O'Toole
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank