Lullabies in a Glass Wilderness

Infobox Album
Name = Lalleshwari Lullabies in a Glass Wilderness
Type = studio
Artist = KatieJane Garside


Released = 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative
Length = 1.3 hours
Label = Independent
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =

"Lalleshwari/Lullabies in a Glass Wilderness" is an independent solo album by the musician KatieJane Garside. She is also the frontwoman of Queen Adreena, Ruby Throat and formerly of Daisy Chainsaw. The name 'Lalleshwari' comes from an ancient Hindu poet.The artwork for the regular edition consisted of stills taken from mobile phone film by Katiejane.

There was also a limited edition (Lalleshwari / Lullabies in a Glasswilderness) of which only 300 copies were published. This included different artwork and packaging, a DVD and a song titled 'Play for us'. The first hundred copies featured KatieJane's handprint in purple paint, as well as her signature and the number out of 100. However, the tracks 'marybell (rides into town on pig)' and 'in the birdcage part.1' were only included in the regular edition.

There are four episodes on the DVD itself:

1. In The Hallway
2. In The Bedroom
3. At The Window
4. In The Kitchen

In Episode 1 KatieJane is at one end of the hallway and the camera at the other and she proceeds to crawl on her hands and knees. Every few seconds are played over and over again to give the feeling of perpetual movement without actually getting anywhere. The video is the longest and lasts 17 minutes and 13 seconds.

Episode 2 is played in slow motion and has KatieJane dancing in the dark while holding a string of lights that illuminate her body. The slow movement and eerie, droning background music make her seem very etheral. KatieJane is almost totally naked in this video also, except for her knickers and shoes - but there is no provocative body language and the soft movement of the lights along with her body make her seem like a goddess. KatieJane has commented before that she hates clothes because they are constricting. The length of this video is 8 minutes and 33 seconds.

KatieJane dances at a window in Episode 3, and the music to this episode is simply white noise while her voise sings softly over it. As within all the episodes so far, KatieJane is at the centre of the screen and little else around her is seen. There is only a single window surrounded by darkness in the video that gradually gets bigger. This episode is played in fast motion and KatieJane appears to be putting on a show, much like Episode 2. This video again has a shorter length than the previous one, ending at 5 minutes and 18 seconds.

Like Episode 3, KatieJane if filmed through a window in Episode 4, but this time she is in her kitchen. She does not face the camera and appears to be at a sink but we never see. Following the pattern, this last episode is the shortest - lasting only 1 minute, 16 seconds. There is no music on this episode, just a voice over of KatieJane echoing sentences such as "I thought maybe I should have done it/ I could have gone anywhere/ I could step sideways right now/ Shall I do that right now?/ What do you think?/ God will show me a sign/ I'll wait 'til I see a sign". Here KatieJane questions herself elaborately, and it seems as though KatieJane is talking about herself in that very moment because she almost has her back fully to the camera. KatieJane doesn't move from her position throughout the video which is a clear contrast between the previous three episodes where she dances and does not stay still.

Each video if filmed in black & white and offers no interaction with other people, so the feeling of isolation (whether intentional or not) is quite potent.

The Lalleshwari package offers unique artwork and lyrics presented in the form of a sketchbook. There are also pictures of KatieJane exclusive to the package and appear nowhere on the regular edition of the album. The first 100 limited edition versions of Lalleshwari sold out within 24 hours, costing the buyer £35. Astoundingly, some of these then went on to eBay and sold for £180, £220 and higher. Unfortunately the eBay sales didn't benefit KatieJane or her team. The regular edition of the Lullabies in a Glass Wilderness album is only available online, through KatieJane's website and MySpace.

Track listing

#"genica pussywillow"
#"roadkill"
#"lesions in the brain"
#"marybell (rides into town on pig)"
#"awaiting you"
#"darkangel"
#"sleepslikewolves"
#"gaslight"
#"too busy sinking"
#"puppylove"
#"for you i hold my breath"
#"lost upon the flame"
#"subterranean values"
#"in the birdcage part.1"
#"justoneday of endlesslove"
#"handheld spoonfed"

External links

* [http://www.katiejanegarside.com KatieJane's website]
*myspace|katiejanegarside|KatieJane