News

John Illsley Returns With New Album

• 18th Mar 2014

Multiple Brit & Grammy award winner John Illsley returns with a new studio album ‘Testing The Water’. Recorded and produced with Guy Fletcher at A-Bay Studios and British Grove, ‘Testing The Water’ sees the “engine room of Dire Straits” in fine form.

‘Testing The Water’ is a welcome return to the recording studio for John whose last album ‘Streets Of Heaven’ was released in 2010. “I was missing being in the studio and playing music seriously. This record was an important one for me to make.”

From the opening riff of the first single, ‘When God Made Time’, John’s classic sound is unmistakeable. As the man who was a significant element in the pace and feel of Dire Straits’ music from the outset, this familiarity is not surprising “that’s not me being influenced by the band, that’s just the way I’ve always played and it continues in my own work” he reflects. Written over the last three years these songs are deeply personal narratives, “the last few years have been so turbulent politically, militarily and personally and I wanted to try and create some songs that reflected these strange times and perhaps were worthy of sharing with others.”

Musicians:

Vocals and Bass – John Illsley
Guitarists – Robbie Mckintosh, Simon Johnson and John Illsley
Keys – Guy Fletcher
Drums – Paul Beavis
Sax – Nigel Hitchcock
Trumpet – Tom Walsh
Trombone – Mark Nightingale
Backing Vocals – Jessica Greenfield and Jess Illsley

John also expresses himself through painting, a passion he has developed over the last twenty years, and has now had solo exhibitions around the world. “For me art and music are interlinked – you start with a blank canvas and work away until you are satisfied that you have made something which is as close as it can to be to what you are trying to achieve. There is a great element of mystery in both processes which can surprise you and upset you in equal measure.”

Returning to the stage, John will be embarking on a UK tour in September and October:

Sep 24 – Milton Keynes, The Stables
Sep 27 – Derby, Flower Pot
Oct 2 – Wolverhampton, Robin 2
Oct 3 – Fletching, Trading Boundaries
Oct 4 – Southampton, The Brook
Oct 5 – Norwich, Open
Oct 7 – Cardiff, St David’s Hall