ASTRID-BOY FOR YOU.

dereksmusicblog ♦ June 1, 2011 ♦ 2 Comments

ASTRID-BOY FOR YOU.

Often in articles I write about artists that many people will not, yet, have discovered. These artists have, for some reason, not made the commercial breakthrough their music deserves. This often, surprises not only the artists, but also many people within the music industry. Often, these artists, have an abundance of talent, like the one I am about to write about. To me, that demonstrates the unfairness of the music industry, where talent alone, is not enough to ensure commercial success. Astrid Williamson is a prime example of this. She is a hugely talented singer and songwriter, who has produced four albums, but sadly, as yet, commercial success has eluded her. In this article, I will write about Astrid, and her debut album, Boy For You.

Astrid Williamson was born and brought up in the Shetland Islands in Scotland. During the 1990s, she graduated from the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy, with a degree in music. She cofounded a band called Goya Dress, with Simon Pearson and Terry de Castro. The band released one album, Rooms is 1996. However, Goya Dress would split up in 1996, when Astrid Williamson signed to One Little Indian Records, and started to release solo material. The other two members of Goya Dress de Castro and Pearson joined David Gedge, who was the vocalist and songwriter with The Wedding Present in Cinerama. At the time Williamson started releasing solo material, she also founded Incarnation Records, her own record label.

1998 saw Astrid release her debut album, Boy For You, the album this article is about. The album was released on Nude Records, and was produced by Malcolm Burn. When the album was released, it was well received by music critics, but sadly, was not a commercial success. Part of the problem was, I believe, that the music was so different to everything else that was about. Williamson was, ahead of the curve, her music ahead of its time.

Williamson’s next recording was with Stephan Eicher on the album Louanges. This was in 1999. Eicher was born in Switzerland, and was formerly a member of the band Grauzone, who had a hit single Eisbar. Since becoming a solo artist Eicher has released seventeen albums between 1978 and 2007.

The following year, 2000, Astrid Williamson sang backing vocals on Twisted Tenderness, the third release by Electronic. Electronic were formed by Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths, and Bernard Sumner of New Order. 

In 2003 Astrid released her eponymous album Astrid Williamson. By this time, Astrid was recording as Astrid Williamson, to avoid confusion with a group also called Astrid. This was the long awaited follow up to Boy For You. The album was released on Williamson’s Incarnation Records. Astrid Williamson saw Williamson coproduce the album with Robert White. Like her debut album, this album failed to provide Williamson with the commercial success her music deserves.

Three years later, in 2006, Day of the Lone Wolf was released by Williamson. This was her third album, and was released by Incarnation Records. Day of the Lone Wolf saw Williamson produce the album herself. Sadly, the album did not prove to be a commercial success.

The last album Astrid Williamson released was 2009’s Here Come the Vikings. This album was released on One Little Indian Records. Without wanting to labour the point, Here Come the Vikings did not sell well enough to provide Astrid Williamson with the success her beautiful music deserves. My only hope is that her next record, is the one that brings her to the attention of the wider music buying public. Williamson’s concerts are well attended, and she has a loyal fan-base, one that appreciates, and loves her music. One can only hope, that sometime soon, more people will hear her music and make Astrid Williamson the huge success she deserves to be.

Having told you about Astrid Williamson, I will now tell you about her gorgeous debut album, Boy For You. The album opens with I Am the Boy For You. This track starts with Williamson singing and playing the guitar. What follows is Astrid singing some wonderful lyrics, that, at times, have a surreal quality. Theses lyrics feature some intelligent wordplay, and rhyming couplets, that make you experience a wide gambit of emotions. This is love song, but one with a difference. In the song, a lover writes about their qualities, and what they do for their partner, and at end of the song, warns not to toy with them. I have always liked this track, enjoyed the lyrics, their surreal quality and humour. Astrid sings the track well, and she demonstrates her talents as singer, songwriter and musician here.

On Everybody’s Waiting, Astrid changes the style, and the tempo. The song sees Astrid sing the song slowly, and here, she phrases the lyrics wonderfully. This has the effect of showcasing their quality, and beauty. Everybody’s Waiting, sees Astrid sing some thoughtful lyrics, about how every one of us, is waiting for something that will make us feel better than before, and will improve our lives, and often, that will be someone, someone who will make our live better. This track, features some intelligent and thoughtful lyrics and, in my opinion, is one of the best on the album.

What Do You is the next song on the Boy For You, and sees another change in style and tempo. This demonstrated Astrid’s versatility, as singer, musician and songwriter. She seems able to write and sing a wide range of styles. The song sees Astrid give a great vocal performance, and features layer upon layer, of glorious backing vocals, which accompany and compliment Astrid’s vocal. Like the two preceding tracks on the album, What Do You is a great track, one Astrid sings beautifully.

On World At Your Feet, Astrid slows things down again. The song sees Astrid in a pensive mood, singing about wanting a friend to meet someone who will make her happy. She seems to have embarked upon a series of doomed relationships, where she gives all of herself, but ends up getting hurt. At the end of the song, Astrid sings that if she had a wish, she would give it her, so she could find love, and her life would be complete. When you listen to the lyrics to this song, you are immediately struck by how a talented a songwriter Astrid is. She can write songs with a really strong narrative, that almost paint a picture, one that you can see clearly. This picture is so clear that you can visualise the characters in the song, so much so, you feel you almost know them, you can almost feel their pain and hurt. Astrid has produced a masterpiece of a song, one that demonstrates her wide array of talents.

Sing For Me is one of the slower tracks on the album. Here, Astrid is joined by former member of her old band, Goya Dress, Terry de Castro. He plays trumpet and sings backing vocals on this track. Like all of Astrid’s songs, the lyrics are well written, and bring the song to life. The subject matter of Sing For Me is either about unrequited love, or a dream. Either scenario would fit. The character in the song, is very much in love with someone, then at the end of the song, she wakes, and they are gone. Since Boy For You was released, I have always enjoyed this song, and the lyrics enigmatic qualities. 

Someone is easily the best track on the album. It is a beautiful, slow song, one that benefits from a simple arrangement. Astrid sings the song only accompanied by a steady, constant, drumbeat, and guitar. This adds to the dramatic affect of the song. The track features a beautiful, tender vocal from Astrid, where she carefully phrases, some insightful lyrics. Her ability to tell a story within a song is a rare gift, one that many musicians do not have. Here, Astrid has this abundance. The song is about meeting someone who, at first you are unsure of, then you are drawn towards. In the song there is a dichotomy, between whether the relationship will work, or not. This has always been my favorite of all Astrid’s songs, I love the lyrics, the vocal and the arrangement. Truly, it is beautiful song.

Hozanna is a much more upbeat song, than the previous track Someone. The song is one that makes a salient comment on modern life, and religion. The song tells the story of a television evangelist, one who seems sad, tired and lonely. As his popularity and television ratings rise, he becomes tired, tired physically, and tired of the people who come to watch him. Astrid tells the story well, and the subject matter of the song shows her versatility as a songwriter. A great song, sung and performed really well.

If I Loved You is a totally different type of song. It is a much more traditional pop song. What we have here is a bright and breezy upbeat song that is completely at odds from the rest of the album. However, Astrid’s trademark quality lyrics feature, as always. Although quite different from the rest of the album, it is still a good track.

Outside has an atmospheric start, the sound is quite full, and surrounds Astrid’s vocal. This is effective. Her vocal has an almost ethereal quality, and floats around in the mix. The instruments used in this song blend well with the vocal, and produce a magical soundscape.

The final song on Boy For You, is Say What You Mean. It starts gently, slowly, with Astrid singing softly, then, all of a sudden, the song opens out. As quickly as the tempo increases, it falls. Say What You Mean is about a failed love affair. However, there is still a bond between the former lovers. The potential problem though, is the attraction merely one way? This is a good song to end the album. Like all of Astrid’s songs they are beautifully sung, well arranged and have some wonderful lyrics.

Although I said that Say What You Mean is the final track, there is a hidden track on this album. There is space between Say What You Mean ending, and this beautiful track entitled If You See the Man. On the track Astrid sings and is accompanied only by a piano. This is lovely track, with beautiful, heartfelt lyrics. If You See the Man is too good a song to be a hidden track, it deserves to be part of the album, and given a more prominent place, so that more people are aware of it.  

Now that you have read this article, you will know more about Astrid Williamson, and her wonderful music. I hope that this article has inspired you to find out more about Astrid, and her music. What would be wonderful is if a lot more people were to discover Astrid and her music. Her music deserves a much wider audience. It is sad that such a hugely talented singer, songwriter and musician has not gone on to greater commercial success. This album is now thirteen years old, yet still sounds as fresh the day it was released. How many albums can you say that about. Boy For You is definitely worth purchasing. Should you do so, you will fall in love with Astrid Williamson’s music, and will be seeking out the rest of her back catalogue. If you wish to buy another Astrid Williamson album to accompany Boy For You, I would recommend her second album Astrid Williamson, or her third album Day of the Lone Wolf. Either of these albums would be the perfect accompaniment to Boy For You. What I can promise you is that these albums will be ones you treasure, and return to, time and time again. Standout Tracks: I Am the Boy For You, Everybody’s Waiting, Someone and Hozanna.

ASTRID-BOY FOR YOU.