JOHN ILLSLEY – Testing The Water

Layout 1Testing The Water

Album release June 16th 2014 on Creek Records, distributed by Absolute via Universal

Multiple Brit & Grammy award winner John Illsley returns with a new studio album ‘Testing The Water’. Recorded and produced with Guy Fletcher at A-Bay Studios and British Grove, ‘Testing The Water’ sees the “engine room of Dire Straits” in fine form.

‘Testing The Water’ is a welcome return to the recording studio for John whose last album ‘Streets Of Heaven’ was released in 2010. I was missing being in the studio and playing music seriously. This record was an important one for me to make.” 

From the opening riff of the first single, ‘When God Made Time’, John’s classic sound is unmistakeable. As the man who was a significant element in the pace and feel of Dire Straits’ music from the outset, this familiarity is not surprising “that’s not me being influenced by the band, that’s just the way I’ve always played and it continues in my own work” he reflects. Written over the last three years these songs are deeply personal narratives, “the last few years have been so turbulent politically, militarily and personally and I wanted to try and create some songs that reflected these strange times and perhaps were worthy of sharing with others.”

“One can only make a record when it feels right and for me the time was right.” John Illsley

Testing The Water tracklisting:

1 Railway Tracks
2 Nothing To Do
3 Testing The Water
4 Sometimes
5 Run For Cover
6 Darling Heart
7 When God Made Time
8 This Is Your Voice

Musicians:

Vocals and Bass – John Illsley
Guitarists – Robbie Mckintosh, Simon Johnson and John Illsley
Keys – Guy Fletcher
Drums – Paul Beavis
Sax – Nigel Hitchcock
Trumpet – Tom Walsh
Trombone – Mark Nightingale
Backing Vocals – Jessica Greenfield and Jess Illsley

Artist’s website: www.johnillsley.com

John Illsley & his band at the Jazz Café

June 19th 2014 – tickets: £20.00 adv / £25.00 on the door www.ticketmaster.co.uk

John Illsley and his band at the East End Arms - 8th April 2014. Photograph by dai Jeffries
John Illsley and his band at the East End Arms – 8th April 2014.
Photograph by Dai Jeffries