When Vashti Bunyan issued “Lookaftering” back in 2005, it was much more than sensational, but the English chanteuse’s return to show business felt rather hushed, so befitting her career arc of vanishing into obscurity while shaping up a legend. The singer’s 1970 debut “Just Another Diamond Day” sank without a trace, with her disappointment leading to disappearance from public eye, yet produced strong ripples over time – forceful enough to make Bunyan an influential artist, with the nu-folk likes of Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom praising Vashti’s tunes for the masses to become interested in her music. Interested to such an extent that she returned to action with the Max Richter-produced album which featured those youngsters – and which will be expanded to two CDs, or two LPs, twenty years after it first saw the light of day.
Out on February 7th, less than a month before Vashti’s 80 birthday, the new edition of her sophomore effort features, on the second disc, ten additional cuts, mostly demos of the album tracks recorded between 2001 and 2005 as well as one piece recorded in concert and an alternative version of another one. All of these demystify “Lookaftering” – though only to an extent, because insights into Bunyan’s original ideas render the final results even more endearing.
Lookaftering
CD 1:
1. Lately
2. Here Before
3. Wayward
4. Hidden
5. Against The Sky
6. Turning Backs
7. If I Were
8. Same But Different
9. Brother
10. Feet Of Clay
11. Wayward Hum
CD 2:
1. Lately (live, The Echo, Los Angeles, 2006)
2. Here Before (demo, 2005)
3. Wayward (alt. take, 2005)
4. Hidden (demo, 2002)
5. Against The Sky (demo, 2004)
6. Turning Backs (demo, 2003)
7. If I Were (demo, 2001)
8. Same But Different (demo, 2005)
9. Brother (demo, 2002)
10. Feet Of Clay (demo, 2002)
