PRESS RELEASE

Judith Owen, pierces to the epicentre of musical perfection with the launch of her latest album, the superlative, ‘Beautiful Damage’, released on 1 March on Courgette Records.  A collection of meticulously crafted songs from past and present, ‘Beautiful Damage’, is undoubtedly Owen’s most ravishing work of musical beauty to date.  Preceded by the launch of the single, ‘Here’, on 22 February, with a promo video directed by Jamie Lee Curtis; plus a hotly awaited live performance at the Purcell Room on 26 February, the fabulous Judith Owen is sure to ignite the emotions of audiences nationwide.

The album title- ‘Beautiful Damage’ –thematically reflects Owen’s recent two-woman show with Ruby Wax entitled, ‘Live At The Priory’.  An insightful look at the high wire balancing act between happiness and depression through comedy and music. The show features Owen’s bitter-sweet songs, some of which are included in this latest CD.

This new album is a collection of fifteen gorgeous emotion-wrapped packages, hand picked as the best from Owen’s six previous albums.  The album also features 3 brand new studio recordings: ‘Water’, ‘Cry Me A River’ and ‘When I Am Laid (Dido’s Lament by Henry Purcell).  The latter two tracks were specially chosen as they were the crowd favorites and critical highlights from Judith’s recent involvement with Richard Thompson’s ‘1000 Years Of Popular Music’ Tour.  ‘Beautiful Damage’ sees Owen’s collaboration with legendary arranger, Robert Kirby (Nick Drake and Elvis Costello), producing what is arguably, Judith Owen’s most beautiful collection of songs so far.

Judith Owen is an exceptionally sparkling jewel in the crown of musical talent.  With an incomparable gift of wonderfully crossing genre boundaries to fuse folk, jazz, pop and RnB, which are always seasoned with a sprinkling of surprise such as classical and theatrical influences, Owen has captivated fans worldwide.  But it’s her talent for introspectively delving into life’s chasm of emotions and crafting them into gorgeous melodic packages, then enveloping with her soulfully cool and alluring vocals, that have bestowed Owen with critical acclaim from both sides of the pond.

“Owen’s music…can be as difficult to categorise as it is easy to succumb to, from her Bob Dylan-ish penchant for artfully literary lyrics to the intrinsic melancholy in her subject matter….And that doesn’t fold in the jazz inclinations that can make her come across as a drier, hipper Norah Jones” - Los Angeles Times

Married to actor Harry Shearer, who was a member of the legendary rock group, Spinal Tap and best known for his longstanding role in The Simpsons, the British songstress released her first album, ‘Emotions On A Postcard’, in 1996.  Six further albums** have followed including the intensely intoxicating ‘Twelve Arrows’ and ‘Mopping Up Karma’***.  Amongst her most fervent advocates are some of the world’s finest contemporary musicians, which have led to Owen’s collaborations with the likes of bluesman Keb’ ‘Mo, saxophonist Tom Scott, Julia Fordham and Van Dyke Parks. Others include musical legends Burt Bacharach and Leiber & Stoller, jazz vocalist Ian Shaw, Shawn Colvin, Quantic and others.  But it’s Owen’s partnership with British folk-rock legend, Richard Thompson, that has been the strongest and most constant.  Their most famous, and arguably most successful, partnership came in the form of the Billboard inspired, ‘1000 Years of Popular Music’ tour and subsequent live DVD and CD.

‘Beautiful Damage’ is the absolute epitome of beauty in musical form.  Embellishing life’s rich tapestry of emotional wisdom, with divine melodies and exquisite vocals, this album is the culmination of Owen’s life works, gorgeously crafted into one spectacular collection.  A timeless classic that touches the deepest of emotions – truly beautiful.

Album, ‘Beautiful Damage’, is released on ADA Global on 1 March 2010

For more information on Judith Owen visit www.judithowen.net

Catch Judith Owen live at The Purcell Room on 26 February