The extraordinary In Memory Of My Feelings (2020) is the result of a one-off collaboration between Catherine Anne Davies (The Anchoress) and Bernard Butler (Suede).

 

The album was recorded over writing and recording sessions covering a four year period, but amounting to just fifteen days in total. Prior to the creation of the record, the two had never met. 

 

Needle Mythology label CD in gatefold card sleeve with lyric sheet. Includes a postcard signed by Catherine Anne Davies and Bernard Butler.

 

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Work on In Memory Of My Feelings was completed in 2014, but extraneous commitments forced Catherine and Bernard to postpone its release indefinitely. 

 

Of the record Butler says: "I'd got used to the idea that the record might never emerge. Occasionally, I'd listen to it on my headphones if I was on the bus, I always had the same thought, "I wish I could go to a record shop and buy this." Davies adds: "For me, the best thing is that we still don't know each other that well. The songs were the conversation.”

 

Catherine is best known for her work as The Anchoress. Her debut album Confessions Of A Romance Novelist was released to widespread critical acclaim in 2016 and was named amongst the Guardian critics' Albums of the Year, earned her the Best Newcomer prize at the PROG Awards and was also named HMV's Welsh Album of the Year. Since then she has played in the touring line-ups of Manic Street Preachers and Simple Minds. 

 

Bernard Butler is a founding member of Suede, with whom he co-wrote and performed two era-defining albums. He then went on to enjoy top ten success with McAlmont & Butler and as a solo artist before focusing on writing and production work with artists such as Bert Jansch, The Libertines & Duffy.