Gerard Starkie is one of the finest singers in England. That might sound like pure rhetoric but the evidence has long been evident from the two magnificent albums that Starkie recorded with his former band, Witness.
Those records Before the Calm in 1999 and Under a Sun in 2001 received the most extraordinary critical applause, some of which was especially reserved for Starkies own performances. The Times newspaper, for instance, claimed that Starkies vocals are imbued with that nebulous quality of soul fragile, sensitive and exuding a dignified stoicism doubtless born of experience while Q magazines review of Under a Sun stated that almost overburdened by yearning melodies, chief Witness Gerard Starkie sings about lifes travails in aching tones reminiscent of REMs Michael Stipe.
Witness were always a band that was meant to be. Even back in 1999 Uncut magazine was claiming that this time next year Witness will be a leading contender for best album of the year. Frustratingly, things didn't work out that way.
Formed in Wigan during April 1997, the band moved to Bristol following the release of Before the Calm three years later. In addition to formidable reviews, the album also found favour with the public on the back of a rising live reputation for the band, Before the Calm made the UK charts in the summer of 1999.
It was after the release of the second Witness album, however, that the band quit Island Records. Despite phenomenal reviews, the album stubbornly refused to realise its heightened commercial expectations. By the start of 2004 the band decided on a different direction, with Gerard Starkie now working as a solo artist.
"The band didn't split acrimoniously and there were no bust ups. Dylan Keeton (bass) is still heavily involved in what I'm doing now. Going solo doesn't mean I'll be playing with a bass drum strapped to my back and cymbals on my knees", says Starkie.
"Witness used to work democratically. It's a much more single-minded process now. Obviously that's going to have an effect", he says. "I've also been working songs on a computer rather than just an acoustic guitar and again, that alters the flavour but, at the end of the day, it's still me writing the songs, so don't expect a hip hop album."
Gerard has a new track entitled "The Whispering" available on a limited edition vinyl compilation. The record is priced at £5 and available here:
(securely via Paypal)
Gerards last album is available for download. The album is called Drawbridge. To thank the fans who have stayed with him all this time Gerard decided to give the album away free. It can be downloaded in its entirety below:
1. Password
2. Enemies
3. The Script
4. Fool Song ..1
5. Mind Your Head
6. The Recovery
7. Wrong Song
8. The Pretend Song
9. Mountain Of Pigs
10. Ghostwriter
11. Over And Out
Album cover
Album back cover
