Martha Wainwright's most "sonically daring" (NPR Music) work; 'Goodnight City' out 11/11

Esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Martha Wainwright will release ‘Goodnight City’ on November 11 (PIAS). The 12-track album is confessional, impressionistic and dynamic – songs that twist and turn with a surging intensity, showcasing her distinguished songwriting craft and commanding voice. ‘Goodnight City’ includes several original works as well as songs written for this album by Beth Orton, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Ondaatje, Glen Hansard and Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs. The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard) and Brad Albetta (Angus and Julia Stone. Teddy Thompson). Martha will perform an album release show in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge on November 18, with more dates to be announced soon.

NPR Music’s Songs We Love unveiled “Around The Bend,” calling it “more sonically daring than anything Wainwright has previously released, while still delivering the sense of shared confidences that Wainwright's fans adore."

Listen to it here: http://n.pr/2coxGah

‘Goodnight City’ smoothly segues from lush, contemplative pop and piano-driven folk to electrified rock and even sinister dance grooves, peppered with melodies both haunting and joyous. It was recorded mostly live with little overdubbing, sessions that capture a soaring, loose band and vocal performance by Martha to match.   

Says Martha: "Making ‘Goodnight City’ was the most fun I've had in a long time. Thomas (keys), Brad (electric/bass), Phil Melanson (drums), and I would sit in a circle and work out arrangements for these vividly different and very good songs. Recording them live with very few overdubs the focus remains on the integrity of the song and our ability to play together as a band." She continues; "It was often exhilarating and sometimes for me, who was the most out of practice, quite exhausting. My fingers bled, my voice got sore but we pushed through to get to the sound of oneness which I think is achieved on this record."

Martha was born in New York City to folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III. She is Rufus Wainwright’s sister and they often collaborate in shows and on records. Martha is also half sister to Lucy Wainwright Roche and they recently made a record together, “Songs In The Dark,” to much acclaim including a JUNO nomination. She has spent time on the silver screen playing characters in Martin Scorsese’s “Aviator” and more recently in the HBO special “Olive Kitteridge” alongside Frances McDormand. Currently Martha is finishing up a book titled “Stories I Might Regret Telling You.”

TRACK LIST:

1. Around The Bend
2. Franci
3. Traveller
4. Look Into My Eyes (Written by Anna McGarrigle, Lily Lanken and Martha Wainwright)
5. Before the Children Came Along
6. Window
7. Piano Music (Words by Micheal Ondaatje, music by Thomas Bartlett)
8. Alexandria (Written by Beth Orton)
9. So Down
10. One Of Us (Written by Glenn Hansard and Martha Wainwright)
11. Take The Reins (Written by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs)
12. Francis (Written by Rufus Wainwright)