Lookaftering

Once touted as "the new Marianne Faithfull" or "the female Bob Dylan", 35 years later she delivers her gorgeous second album!

It's not often you come across an artist you can genuinely refer to as a "cult legend", but Vashti Bunyan is truly that.

A full 35 years on from her only previous album, the singer returns with 'Lookaftering', a breathtakingly beautiful, stirring and affecting album, produced by fellow Edinburgh resident and FatCat label treasure, Max Richter.

Developing gradually and organically, 'Lookaftering' is anchored around Vashti's gorgeous voice and picked acoustic guitar and Max's piano. Rich with instrumentation - string quartet, oboe, harp, French horn, flute, harmonium and Rhodes piano - the album strikes a neat balance between gentle, sparse songs and heavier, orchestrated numbers. There's a beautiful play between the lush arrangements and incredibly intimate, in-your-ear presence of her voice.

Originally discovered by Rolling Stones guru Andrew Loog Oldham and signing to Decca, Vashti's history tells of the thwarted promise of early fame, disenchantment, long-term exile and eventual discovery. An essential release!