Heather Nova - ‘The Orchard’ (new album)

[BoysForSeles]

Heather’s 13th studio album is out on October 30th. It doesn’t seem that long since the (very good) ‘Breath & Air’ but we’ve had the ‘Live In Europe’ set since then.

The first single suggests it’s a follow on in sound from ‘Breath & Air’, the album was produced by Tim Bran best known for his work with London Grammar.

 

[BoysForSeles]

Tracklist and first single below:

The Orchard
The Whole Horizon
In The Path of Hurricanes
The Frequency's Higher
Sleep in Snow
New Life
A Little Breath
This Wild World
Magpie
I Wish I Had A Mirror
On The Train
Anchored

 

[Mark R 3]

I had never heard of Heather if it wasn't for moopy, but I don't think she's my cup of tea. Not keen on The Orchard.

 

[jivafox]

 

[jivafox]

New Heather is always welcome, especially so soon!

The Orchard is a lovely start.

 

[BoysForSeles]

I had never heard of Heather if it wasn't for moopy, but I don't think she's my cup of tea.

I wouldn’t have thought so, no.

 

[FetchFugly]

Pleased Heather is back already and the first single is very lovely.

The album artwork is a bit of a throwback to her early days.

 

[jivafox]

Talking of Heather, and I may have asked this before, but does anyone have “Drive Away”? It was a b-side to “Beautiful Ride” and I’ve never been able to find it.

I had a shitty rip of a live version many moons ago and I’d love to hear it again.

 

[BoysForSeles]

Oh I’d practically forgotten about that song. She wrote it around the time of South as she performed it a few times then but used it for the Beautiful Ride single as you mentioned. It was on Spotify but seems to have disappeared completely from the web at this point. I’ll now be scouring the internet trying to find it again.

 

[funky]

Oh that’s gorgeous.

I’ve been relistening to the relistenable Heart And Shoulder this month actually, I added it to my car playlist, it’s quite summery

So I’m ready for a new album

 

[BoysForSeles]

^ Yes , Siren and Oyster before it are the two classic albums, I was obsessed with both but like Nerina there’s so many gems hidden in the catalogue.

 

[Sardonicus]

^ Yes , Siren and Oyster before it are the two classic albums, I was obsessed with both but like Nerina there’s so many gems hidden in the catalogue.

These are also the 2 HEV albums I got into the most, but I must give an honourable mention to the first Hev song I heard, I Have The Touch from The Craft soundtrack. Still love it so much now

 

[BoysForSeles]

These would be the two signature songs that she has to do at every show for any newbies browsing.

 

[Mark R 3]

I quite like London Rain.

 

[jivafox]

You “quite like” one of the greatest songs of all time? Ok!

 

[Mark R 3]

It's a good feel good song. Any other Heather songs I should check out?

 

[Mark R 3]

Is Siren a good album? I really do like London Rain, so is the album similar in sound?

 

[BoysForSeles]

Heart & Shoulder that @funky already mentioned is also from Siren.

 

[Mark R 3]

I like Heart And Shoulder too. I may need to buy Siren.

 

[Mark R 3]

Well you'll be pleased to know I've ordered Siren and her recently-ish released live album.

 

[Mark R 3]

I really like Walk This World too. And The Orchard is growing on me.

 

[jivafox]

 

[Mark R 3]

Thanks for posting those. I like them too. I'm becoming quite the Heather fan.

 

[Mark R 3]

I can't stop listening to London Rain and Heart and Shoulder.

 

[funky]

Heart And Shoulder is one of my most played song of the last few weeks. Talk about GOOD TIMING with this Heather REBOOT

 

[Mark R 3]

Just listened to the Siren album and really enjoyed it. Does Heather write all her own songs?

 

[BoysForSeles]

Just listened to the Siren album and really enjoyed it. Does Heather write all her own songs?

Yes, she writes the lyrics, the music, the melodies.

 

[Mark R 3]

She is so underrated.

 

[Sardonicus]

Yes, she writes the lyrics, the music, the melodies.

Apart from I Have The Touch, but her spin on that betters Peter Gabriel's original IMO. Practically a different song.

 

[BoysForSeles]

She is so underrated.

I feel like she is rated by those who know her, I’d say she deserves more attention. However, coming though in the 90s the radio stations and press still decided who could get proper coverage and who couldn’t and the industry misogyny decided there was only a quota of women who could have proper coverage.

 

[BoysForSeles]

This song is one of her more obvious lyrically but it really did me good during a rough spot a few years back and if I had to choose a song as a personal anthem from anyone it would be this one.

 

[Mark R 3]

That is a good song too, thanks for posting. I've liked everything I've heard so far by Heather.

 

[Mark R 3]

Has anyone seen Heather live in concert? Just listened to her live CD Live in Europe and it has really made me want to see her live.

 

[BoysForSeles]

I’ve seen her three times, once with full band and twice in an acoustic set up. The tours were alongside the ‘South’, ‘Storm’ and ‘Other Shores’ album eras.

 

[Mark R 3]

Just listened to Storm and I'm officially converted! It has a quiet magic to it.

 

[Mark R 3]

Just listened to Oyster and it's the same as Siren and Storm - a really solid album. So glad I've discovered Heather and it's all down to Moopy!

 

[jivafox]

Love it when we indoctrinate welcome new members to the Nova Cult

 

[Mark R 3]

So I listened to 300 Days At Sea last night and was impressed. I like both her acoustic songs and then herself with a band. Now I just need to order the rest of her albums.

 

[jivafox]

There’s not a bad one amongst them!

 

[Mark R 3]

Heather is performing at the Shepherd's Bush Empire this October. This is her only UK date so far. I hope she comes up North.