The lushly orchestrated ‘Walking With The Angels’ has been released as a new single by the alternative rock musician, producer, writer and artist David J. Renowned as the co-founder, co-songwriter and bassist of legendary post-punk bands Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, J has also enjoyed a successful parallel solo career with sixteen solo albums released to date.
‘Walking With The Angels’ was recorded in Prague using two dozen musicians from the city’s Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras hand-picked by lead violinist Karel Holas, with Jan Valta orchestrating and conducting. “The song came about very spontaneously, as I was actually there to produce an incredibly talented singer-songwriter who shall remain nameless,” admits J. “However, he had some very self-destructive traits and was in no fit state to enter the studio, so the sessions were cancelled. But, we still had the orchestra booked for two days, so I stayed up all night writing this song about the situation, venting my frustration over what had gone on. I went into the studio the next day and did the vocal in one take.”
A video for ‘Walking With The Angels’ has been made by the actor Marc Warren (Van der Valk), a friend of J’s who attended the recording session. “I had the good fortune to witness the inspiration, birth and production of the song, which had a synchronicity to it that only the magic of Prague could manifest," explains Warren. "For the video, I back projected (out of focus) the inspiration for the song onto a wall of the studio and shot David in front of it in one take. Only we know what’s in that projection.”
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‘Walking With The Angels’ follows the recently issued ‘Requiem For The Rose Garden’ a protest song about the Trump administration. Both tracks are included on J’s new album, Postcards From The Afterlife, out on 27th November via Label 51 Recordings on 2xLP coloured vinyl, CD and digitally.
A musically diverse 14 song set with numerous autobiographical references that climaxes with ‘Walking With The Angels’, the album features a revolving cast of musicians including the talented multi-instrumentalist Julian Shah-Tayler, who co-wrote three tracks with J. Several songs feature string arrangements, with others ranging from the soulful to hazy ‘60s orchestral pop influenced, and from Leonard Cohen-esque Euro-style chanson to the alternative rock for which J is best known.
“This album is essentially about the poignant persistence of connection, be it in life or in death,” states J. "Schisms and transitions. Love found and love lost. Requiems, reflection and revelation.” The front cover is a painting by the artist Stefan Prince that features a large owl, a classic ‘psychopomp’ acting as a guide from the earthly realm to the afterlife. It is fitting for what J says is an album that “acts as an escort of sorts, leading the listener through the corridors of the liminal where some doors close as others open and the moon illuminates the path.”
J will play nine UK shows in December and also has upcoming dates in Portugal, Germany and Greece. The full itinerary is as follows:
27th November PORTO Auditório CCOP (PT) tkts
28th November LISBON RCA Club (PT) tkts
1st December LONDON Moth Club (UK) tkts
2nd December READING Face Bar (UK) tkts
4th December HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades Club (UK) tkts
5th December LIVERPOOL Rough Trade (UK) tkts
8th December EDINBURGH The Voodoo Rooms (UK) tkts
9th December GLASGOW Stereo (UK) tkts
10th December NEWCASTLE The Cluny (UK) tkts
11th December BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds (UK) tkts
13th December BRIGHTON Daltons (UK) tkts
15th December ATHENS Death Disco (GR) tkts
17th December BERLIN Frannz Club (DE) tkts
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