The debut album release from Bridget Storm 'Here’s What’s Left' was written, arranged, produced, recorded and mostly played by Julie McLarnon. Early limited 7” releases on both Analogue Catalogue and Bad Jazz saw Bridget Storm pick up a dedicated fan in the late John Peel and a publishing deal with Rough Trade.
The album surfaced in 2002 and was greeted with mighty praise from both the press and bands including Smog, Low, Willard Grant Conspiracy and Sparklehorse, all of whom invited Julie to tour with them.
“Sounding like a female-fronted Tindersticks but with a distinctive new-wave flavor (Julie McLarnon, in fact, once served time in riot-girl punk-popsters the Thrush Puppies), Bridget Storm has crafted what on the surface is sometimes called a sleeper of a debut but is in fact compellingly cinematic and memorable on all fronts.”
- 8/10 Magnet, July 2002
“Nylon strung guitar, cello and violin predominate, but there are also examples of the studio trickery that our host learned as a recording engineer with producers Martin Hannett and Chris Nagle. McLarnon's lower vocal range recalls Kate Bush, and on 'Losing It' and the title track, her readiness to probe the dark side of the psyche cements the comparison. In short, this is a challenging, blackly beautiful work.”
- 4/5 Mojo, June 2002
“Here’s What’s Left owes a lot to early Tindersticks, but the album adds a lot more than female vocals to the mix. 'Quaalude Interlude' is a version of 'Heartbreak Hotel' played on xylophone with My Bloody Valentine-type interference. 'Terrestrial Living' could be a glam rocker from the 70s. A serious new talent is emerging on this album. It might not sell millions, but it’s destined to become a late-night favourite for discerning listeners.”
- 4/5 The Irish Times, June 2002
credits
released June 3, 2002
All songs written by Julie McLarnon
Published by Rough Trade Publishing
Vocals, guitars, piano, moog and noises by Julie McLarnon
Violins by Angela Duddy and Cellos by Semay Wu
Bass and backing vocals by Paul Blakesley
Drums by Brian 'Magic' Edwards
Backing vocals on 4 and drums on 11 by Lauren Hyde
Guitar on 2 by John McCready
Additional guitar on 4,6,7 & 11 by Kara Leckenby
10 by Danny Hulme and 11 by Steve Sawyer
Recorded and Mixed by
Julie McLarnon at Analogue Catalogue
except tracks 4, 10 and 11
Mixed by Chris Nagle at Brofees
Mastered by Martin Giles at Alchemy Soho
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