On June 16th, Alison Moyet releases her new album Other via Cooking Vinyl.
Other sees Alison once again teaming up with composer, producer and songwriter Guy Sigsworth. They last collaborated on her 2013 album, The Minutes, which debuted at No.5 in the national charts and won critical acclaim.
Guy has a dazzling back catalogue which boasts collaborative work with Bjork, Madonna and Imogen Heap. It’s not difficult to see why Alison should choose to work with him.
“He’s a brilliant person for me to work with because he gets me,” Alison says. “I haven’t got to explain myself to him. There is a whole language that we both know.”
I met Alison to discuss the excitement surrounding her first album for four years. Much like its predecessor, Other is a totally captivating listen, but it prides itself on a few factors that push away from previously heard elements. Both records have the richness of an intricate electronic palette, but the latest collection of melodies are perhaps less instant and more rewarding over repeated listens. Standout track ‘Reassuring Pinches’ has already been selected as the next hit for radio, and it’s a brilliantly dramatic highlight that will sound terrific on the forthcoming tour.
“The new album is probably a little bit more experimental in some ways,” Alison says. “The hardest thing when making music is to figure out how not to recreate what you’ve done before and to try and make that journey continue, and I think we managed that.”
Other is an interesting title, perfectly representing a selection of songs that sound poetic and mysterious, yet relatable. Many subjects are covered here: Dyslexia, locked-out syndrome, doggedness, the Internet and diversity.
“Diversity is probably the main element of the album,” Alison says.
“As we know diversity comes in many different forms. It’s not just sexual, it’s social. There are lots of ways that we are diverse, and we connect with other minority groups for understanding that. So it’s not a case of feeling more brave writing this way, I just think it’s about age and the language we use. When you’re younger, you’re more bothered by the language of romance. As an older woman, that’s not what does it for me.”
Alison moved from Radlett to Brighton four years ago. That experience of upping sticks has had a big impact on the one-time Yazoo frontwoman.
“Instead of being completely introspective, I’ve started to become more voyeuristic,” she says. “There is a lot of watching, a lot of feeling, and a lot of empathising.”
Following the release of Other, Alison will embark on a worldwide headline tour, including UK and Irish dates from October 27th until November 28th.
● Marriott Meets: Alison Moyet broadcasts on The Phil Marriott show on Gaydio on Sunday 14th May 11:00 BST. Other is released through Cooking Vinyl on June 16th.
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