Lost girl plays for home

The former This Mortal Coil and The Hope Blister vocalist released her first solo album in early 2014 through her own label, Jock Records, funding it through direct-to-fan platform PledgeMusic.

The product of a writing partnership with Irvin Duguid (known for work with Paolo Nutini and Fish), the album featured in The Extra in February, with Louise commenting that it “reflects my own personal journey in writing again after many years.

“For the first time I have a body of work that truly reflects who I am as a person and as a musician.”

Louise isn’t short of career fodder to draw upon, having started out with the band Sunset Gun in the 1980s before working with film composer Craig Armstrong under the name The Kindness of Strangers.

She lists influences in Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, and the parallels are plain to hear, as the solo album showcases pared back melodies never overshadowing Louise’s clear, husky and strong female vocals.

And it’s fair to say that Scotland’s musos are impressed too, with devoted fans including radio DJs Janice Forsyth, Roddy Hart, Tom Morton, Billy Sloan and Jim Gellatly.

Louise performed the album live in Edinburgh yesterday (Thurs), with the beautiful Voodoo Rooms venue providing backdrop, and plays Glasgow’s CCA tomorrow (Saturday), at 7.30pm (18+). Tickets are £12 from 352 4900 or www.cca-glasgow.com.