Welsh singer-songwriter The Anchoress has unveiled her new track Show Your Face. The grungy, guitar-laden number – which was given its first airing by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 yesterday – is the lead single from the multi-talented instrumentalist’s upcoming album The Art Of Losing, which is due out next March.
Show Your Face‘s fiery lyrics and its brooding, horror film-influenced video (which opens with one of Donald Trump’s most sinister quotes) introduce the themes of misogyny and male aggression which look set to feature heavily on the new Anchoress LP. The Glynneath-born artist spoke to NME about her determination to address the uncomfortable subject matter.
She said “Amidst the #MeToo headlines, I was thinking a lot about toxic masculinity and how hard it is for women to call-out men in power. The title is also an allusion to Psalm 102 – the prayer of the afflicted – a text that is deeply woven throughout the whole album’s lyrical themes about how we make sense of trauma.”
Show Your Face incorporates guitar from Manic Street Preachers icon James Dean Bradfield – who previously linked up with The Anchoress on the Gwent trio’s 2018 track Dylan & Caitlin – and was mixed by long-time Manics collaborator Dave Eringa, who has a plethora of production credits to his name for work with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild and Roger Daltrey. The track also features a cameo from veteran American musician Sterling Campbell, who has previously drummed for Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran and David Bowie.
The release of Show Your Face caps off a busy 2020 for The Anchoress (also known by her birth name, Catherine Anne Davies), who recently collaborated with Suede and The Tears’ guitarist Bernard Butler on their joint album In Memory of My Feelings. The LP, which reached #14 in the official UK Albums Chart, was hailed by the Sunday Times as “a wonderful album of intense rock music.”
“A wonderful album of intense rock music.” SUNDAY TIMES
“A terrific record!”
⭑⭑⭑⭑ MOJO“Like the most dissolute moments of Bowie’s Heroes.”
⭑⭑⭑⭑ UNCUT“A splendid showcase for both artists. Simply mesmerising!“ PROG#InMemoryOfMyFeelingshttps://t.co/jURDZ9GiWF pic.twitter.com/aHBz62Y9tF
— The Anchoress (@The_Anchoress) October 19, 2020
Davies’ upcoming solo album The Art Of Losing follows on her 2016 debut Confessions Of A Romance Novelist, which was nominated for the Guardian critics’ Album of the Year and the Welsh Music Prize, and won HMV’s Welsh Album of the Year. Three EPs, a live album and the collaboration with Bernard Butler have been released in the interim; while last year the prolific songstress launched a podcast series (also entitled The Art Of Losing) delving into the difficult issues of grief and loss.
The Anchoress will showcase songs from The Art Of Losing with a return to the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Central London on Friday 12th March 2021. Tickets for the show are available here. Fans can also pre-order the new album ahead of its release on 5th March on her website.
A huge honour to have @steve_lamacq premiere “Show Your Face” on @BBC6Music. Amazing guitar courtesy of James Dean Bradfield @Manics.
“The Art of Losing” is available now to pre-order now! Signed bundles are exclusive to my official store & ltd in number: https://t.co/2F4lV80hG7 pic.twitter.com/kVYvFo5UNr
— The Anchoress (@The_Anchoress) November 2, 2020
