''Velvet Lined Shell'' is a
mini-album
A mini-LP or mini-album is a short record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A mini- ...
by the British singer
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, actress, and television presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 ...
, released in 2003 by her independent label Vertical Species.
Background
This release consists of six tracks, recorded in Toyah's hometown of
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
. Three of the musicians on this album, Anthony Bishop, Tim Elsenburg and Alistair Hamer, are members of the
experimental rock
Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, wit ...
band
Sweet Billy Pilgrim.
The material has a deliberately raw feel to it, and what Willcox described as a "darker direction". The singer named the likes of
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...
,
Garbage
Garbage, trash (American English), rubbish (British English), or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to a perceived lack of utility. The term generally does not encompass bodily waste products, purely liquid or ...
,
Mogwai
Mogwai () are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drums). Mogwa ...
and
Marilyn Manson
Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer and the only original member remaining of the Marilyn Manson (band), same-titled band he founded in 1989. Th ...
amongst her newer influences.
Three tracks on this album had first appeared on the 2002
EP ''Little Tears of Love'', which was sold exclusively via Willcox's website, and strictly limited to 1000 signed copies. One track from that EP, the Tim Elsenburg composition "Experience", does not feature on this album.
''Velvet Lined Shell'' was included in the ''
Toyah Solo'' CD box set in February 2020. The following month, it was reissued on purple 10" vinyl.
Track listing
All tracks written by
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, actress, and television presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 ...
and Tim Elsenburg.
# "Every Scar Has a Silver Lining" – 3:25
# "Velvet Lined Shell" – 4:14
# "Little Tears of Love" – 3:23
# "You're a Miracle" – 3:00
# "Mother" – 4:20
# "Troublesome Thing" – 4:21
Personnel
*
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, actress, and television presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 ...
– vocals, producer
* Tim Elsenburg – guitars and backing vocals, producer, mixing
* Jon Cotton – keyboards, producer, mixing
* Anthony Bishop – bass guitar and backing vocals
* Alistair Hamer – drums
*
David Singleton
David Singleton (born 1961) is an English record producer, audio engineer, record label director, musician, songwriter, author and Internet entrepreneur. He is best known as the production and business partner of Robert Fripp of King Crimson.
...
– mastering
References
External links
Official audio streamon
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
The official Toyah website
{{Authority control
2003 albums
Toyah Willcox albums