Davey Woodward and the Winter Orphans

While Davey Woodward had a long history on the British independent music scene, his group Davey Woodward and the Winter Orphans marked a new creative direction for the vocalist and songwriter. Following the post-punk jangle pop of the Brilliant Corners (1993-1993), the smart fusion of indie pop and trip-hop of the Experimental Pop Band (1995-2012), and the lean but melodic guitar pop of Karen (debuting in 2016), Woodward's music with the Winter Orphans found him exploring elements of vintage folk-rock and country-rock. Without abandoning his characteristic melodic approach, with the Winter Orphans Woodward made music that was more open and buoyant than his previous work, but still smart and full of emotional gravity. In 2013, Woodward organized a Brilliant Corners reunion, and the revived edition of the group toured in 2013 and 2014. After the reunion ran its course, Woodward returned to writing new material and formed a new group, Karen, a trio whose music resembled the Brilliant Corners but in a more efficient manner that toned down the jangly guitars in favor of a more direct and tuneful sound. Karen released their first single, "Ocean" b/w "Invisible Friend," in January 2016. After recording and touring with Karen, Woodward penned a new batch of songs that melded his pop sensibilities with his love of vintage folk-rock and country-rock. Eager for a fresh approach, Woodward chose to record them with musicians he hadn't worked with previously. To this end, he formed Davey Woodward and the Winter Orphans, with Julian Hunt on guitar, Mark Van Vasey on bass and piano, and Steve Dew on drums. The group went into the studio in July 2017, and over the course of a weekend cut the basic tracks for a full-length album. The finished product, Davey Woodward and the Winter Orphans, was released in August 2018. The group scheduled live work in support of the album, and Woodward told journalists he expected to record a second album with the combo.
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