Former Purson mastermind/multi-instrumentalist Rosalie Cunningham is back with a brand-new album. Since her critically acclaimed debut solo album was released in 2019, Rosalie has been crafting this new effort in meticulous detail. Lockdown restrictions meant Rosalie and her partner Rosco Wilson were somewhat forced to take their time building the sound up from initial loose concepts. It’s a process that has paid dividends with Two Piece Puzzle building considerably on her reputation as genre-spanning songwriter. Best known for her psychedelic roots and progressive sensibilities the new album features contributions from Fairport Convention’s fiddle player Ric Sanders throughout, and builds on those foundations, adding layers of saccharine pop, smooth lounge jazz and fuzzy heavy metal to the mix.
Rosalie had this to say about Two Piece Puzzle:
“With the restrictions of lockdown, getting together with a band wasn’t an option and so Rosco and I began jamming out my new songs at home with him on drums and myself on vocals and rhythm guitar. I would then flesh out the demos with a ton of solitary overdubbing, but the bare bones came from that chemistry we had rhythmically whilst the songs were so fresh. With no end in sight to the pandemic, the actual recording process seemed to take forever, although the exploration was worth it.”
As far as the creative process behind Two Piece Puzzle, it seems that an important element thrown into the mix is Cunningham’s partner Rosco Wilson:
She says: “I do not work efficiently without a deadline and can tinker indefinitely! Rosco was a good foil for me in that sense – co-producing and persuading me enough was enough. The album was a Two Piece Puzzle in that sense; the title stems from the themes of duality running throughout the lyrics. Songwriting and production wise, I have learnt the importance of economy. Much of my favourite music has a lot of space in it but it’s oh so easy for me to throw the kitchen sink at it. I had to use some restraint this time!”
The end result is an unpredictable, 45 minute collection of songs showcasing Cunningham’s vast array of influences that reside within the ’60s & ’70s psychedelic and progressive folk rock sounds of Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, The Doors, and even a pinch of Black Sabbath for good measure.
Two Piece Puzzle will be released on February 25, 2022. Cunningham’s first single from the album, “Tristitia Amnesia” is available on all streaming platforms for your listening pleasure!
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