Meet this Cordova Bay/Ragged Pup Records Artist...

- Wyckham Porteous

sexanddrinking, is the newest release by the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Wyckham Porteous. A mixture of folk, rock, country and rap, this album stretches the already stretched envelope established by his earlier works. Tough and accessable. Well delivered.

In this world, by the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Wyckham Porteous, was written and recorded in the electric atmosphere of change. The result: The most diverse and satisfying album of his career, packed with tough-edged music, searing emotional moments, and powerful songs that hit hard.

Wyckham's previous album Looking for Ground, was a milestone in the Victoria-born artist`s decade long career. Recorded In Austin Texas, and released in September 1995, it was greeted with rave reviews in Canada, the United States and a number of European countries, and was hailed as "a roots rock masterpiece" by the Associated Press. The album, produced by Jimmy LaFave, reached the Top Ten on the Gavin Report`s "Americana" chart, and was named Best Roots Traditional album at the 1997 Pacific Music Industry Association`s annual West Coast Music Awards show.

For In This World, his first album for the ragged pup records label, Wyckham Porteous decided to move away from the roots-oriented folk/rock of his first three albums, and explore new musical ground. Morris Tepper the Los Angeles-based guitarist and producer best known for his work with Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits, Frank Black and P.J Harvey, was Wyckham's producer and guide to new directions.

Originally, the project was to be a collection of previously recorded but never released material, augmented by new spoken word and instrumental parts, but when Morris and Wyckham went to the rustic Nomad studio on Saltspring Island and started rehearsals with drummer Pat Steward (Odds) and bassist Rob Becker (Patricia Conroy), the original idea was scrapped. In five days, they had finished the basic tracks for ten new songs.

What Tepper brought to the studio was a greater diversity of sound - a harmonium Wyckham's son had brought back from India, Tibetan bells, toy pianos and an old Moog synthesizer were just some of the instruments used to explore new sonic territories. What Porteous brought were new songs that dug deeper than anything he had written before, and seemed more "real" than anything he had recorded before.

As sessions progressed in Vancouver, Victoria and on Saltsping, both producer and artist realized they needed a third party involved - a mixing engineer that could handle a "big" sounding album and give the music the sheen it deserved. After approaching a number of people, heard from Joe Chiccarelli; a friend of Tepper's to whom they had sent a tape for some ideas on who could do the job. They never expected that the veteran of sessions with Beck, Frank Zappa and U2 would end up offering to mix the project. When the final mix was done, Chiccarelli handed the finished tape to Wyckham and said: " This is your new jacket. Get used to it."

As a completed piece of work, In this world, is a summary of the artist's life to date. Wyckham Porteous has acted, written plays, recorded three previous albums, produced sessions for other artists, and sung in concert halls, bars, coffee houses and at festivals. He is, very literally, "in this world," and he revels in the varying experiences he has lived through. And, with the release of his new album, his future is bright, and more positive, than it has ever been.

Check here to see where Wyckham is touring...

Purchase From The Cordova Bay Record Shop...

• In This World
• Looking For Ground
• sexanddrinking