Name: Pearlies
Brand: Emma Anderson

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SCR250LP

Colour

White

Colour details

Pearly White

Discogs ID

[r28660369]

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-10-20

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5060853703157

Total Cap

White LP

SCR250LPS

Pink

Pearly Pink

Extended format: Yes

2024-10-04

5060853704390

9999

Pink LP

SCR250

Mini-LP Style Sleeve with Fold-Out Lyric Poster.

5060853703171

Artist

Emma Anderson

Genre GB

Indie Pop / Shoegaze

Label GB

Sonic Cathedral

Emma Anderson, born on June 10, 1967 in London, England, is a talented guitarist and vocalist. She is best known for her work as a member of the band Lush.
With her mesmerizing guitar skills and captivating vocals, Emma has made a significant impact on the music industry. Her contributions to Lush have helped shape their unique sound and garnered them a dedicated fan base.
Throughout her career, Emma's musical talents have been recognized and celebrated by both critics and fans alike. Her passion for creating music shines through in every performance, making her an influential figure in the world of alternative rock.

Sonic Cathedral Recordings is a UK-based label that was established in 2006 as an extension of the renowned club night Sonic Cathedral. With a focus on shoegaze and its influences, the label celebrates and promotes this genre through their diverse roster of artists. Founded and managed by Nathaniel Cramp, Sonic Cathedral continues to curate an impressive catalogue of albums and singles that capture the essence of shoegaze.&nbsp;

The 100 best albums from 2023 based on a year of listening, months of consideration, weeks of discussion and days of compiling. Every one of these albums has made an impact on us this year but to learn more about the ones that made the top 20, please <a href="http://blog.roughtrade.com/uk-albums-of-the-year-2023/">click here for the UK</a> and here <a href="http://blog.roughtrade.com/vinyl-albums-of-the-year-2023-rough-trade-us/">for the US</a>. To see all our the Rough Trade Exclusive editions from our top 20, released to celebrate our Albums of the Year, <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">click here for the UK</a>, <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">here for the US</a> and <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-de/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">here for Europe</a>.

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Following the news that all three Lush albums are going to be reissued, Emma Anderson, the band’s co-founder, releases her debut solo album, Pearlies, via Sonic Cathedral.

One of the most underrated British songwriters to emerge from the era that encompassed shoegaze and Britpop, she has teamed up with producer James Chapman (aka Maps) for this collection that combines effervescent electronic pop with psych and folk textures with lyrics covering themes such as confronting your fears, embracing independence and moving on in life. It arrives fully formed with a burnished beauty (aided by the mastering skills of Heba Kadry) that belies its somewhat protracted creation, which began with Emma feeling disillusioned after Lush’s 2016 reunion came to an abrupt end. Left with songs and bits of music originally intended for the band, she began working with cellist and string arranger Audrey Riley and Robin Guthrie, formerly of the Cocteau Twins, both of whom encouraged her to sing her own songs. Covid put a temporary halt on proceedings, but the decision had been made. 

When Sonic Cathedral introduced her to James Chapman at the start of 2022, Pearlies quickly took shape and blossomed into a masterpiece, the perfect mix of Emma’s incredible, idiosyncratic songwriting and James’ electronic production nous. Plus, a little extra guitar magic on four tracks courtesy of Richard Oakes from Suede. The finished album has somehow written its own narrative. By her own admission, Emma tends to write words and “see what comes out”, but Pearlies seems to tell the story of her decision to go it alone, with opener ‘I Was Miles Away’ posing the question: “See if I make it on my own”. The rest of the album provides the answer as it takes in everything from the unexpectedly funky first single ‘Bend The Round’, to folky finger-picking and film theme references, via psych leaning electronic pop reminiscent of Goldfrapp or Melody’s Echo Chamber. It concludes with ‘Clusters’, a stunning, Stereolab-style groove which begins with the line “and now the party’s over, the music’s at the end”. Thankfully, that is not the case. This incredible album is just the start of Emma’s long-awaited solo journey.

Pearlies

Music GB

Discover Pearlies by Emma Anderson. Debut solo album on Sonic Cathedral. Limited edition CD and LP formats available, including Rough Trade exclusive signed copies. A masterpiece of electronic pop and folk textures from an underrated British songwriter.