Unadorned but unabashed, "Mumble" is where sentimentality and sensuality meet. Backed by a brilliant quartet that hangs on every intimate nuance of her gem-like compositions – Wendy Lands is, in a word – mesmerizing. The 11 original songs on Juno nominated, Wendy Lands' new release, ache with a vulnerability and an intimate undertow. Sparsely yet soulfully arranged, the tracks overflow with lyrical depth and a sexy, jazz-kissed "off the cuff-ness". In the late 1990s Wendy Lands wrote and released her debut album - "Angels & Ordinary Men", a moody and personal collection of beautifully crafted original songs that won her a record deal with EMI Music Canada and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music L.A. along with award nominations, rave reviews and a great deal of radio airplay, culminating in the title song hitting the top 15 spot at radio across Canada. Following the success of Angels & Ordinary Men, Wendy moved to L.A. and was chosen to record the companion CD to the Oscar winning film, "The Pianist". "Wendy Lands Sings The Music of The Pianist" was released in 2002 by Hippo/Universal USA and praised by Variety, USA Today, The Record and more. The organic and jazz influenced tone of that project inspired Wendy to create the songs that would eventually become her newest release, "Mumble". Lands co- wrote the 11 original songs on "Mumble" with the legendary Larry John McNally (Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, Don Henley) Emmy winner Don Breithaupt, JUNO winner Greg Kavanagh and life-long collaborator - Jim Gillard. Each of them is heard in every breath, note, blast and refrain that is "Mumble". Why "Mumble"? “To me,” states Lands, “a Mumble is the first utterance of the naked truth - the subconscious coming to the surface, unfiltered by the conscious. That’s what these songs are for me; what I feel and dream but can’t always say. So I sing.” So lean in and hear her sing. Close your eyes. Let her wash over and through you - and hear Wendy Lands "Mumble". Wendy's Song Descriptions: Inside a song words are not minced, eye lines are not diverted, cages rattle but there are no awkward silences. I can push thoughts into word shapes and yearning into notes that bend and fall wherever I want. I’m powerful; I have no choice but to write songs and sing them, they are my salvation. Mumble: This is a story of infatuation – the kind of desire you can’t wash off. You wear it like a neon suit – everyone can see that you’re smitten, vulnerable, transparent… like your heart is on display...beating so damned hard. Desire guides everything you do, takes you over, makes you lose your place… Slow Dance Hotel: Big, juicy, New York city, pulsating with all it’s New York-ness and in an old hotel on the upper east side there’s this tiny moment going on, a sexy, tender, slow dance to a Miles Davis tune that’s all distorted, blasting from the clock radio, luring the day into night. I told Greg and Jim that I wanted to try and create a kind of Bacharach/David environment, with a little Beach Boys thrown in for good 60s measure. We recorded this song 3 times from scratch until it felt retro-right. Party Girl: The Anna Nicoles and Marilyns of the world are represented here…tragic, tormented, vulnerable women who seem to love a party more then they love themselves. Brand New Juliet: Oh Van Morrison…how I love thee… Watching my man fall for a woman who seems to have everything I don’t. Bi-ch! Paris: A melancholy sketch of the city of lights, smudged on a creased napkin. Larry John McNally is one of the most legendary writers I’ve had the thrill to work with. He came up with the idea of Paris…a crumbling relationship, lives half lived – dreams fading. Paris is their last chance… Just a Little: Well… sometimes it’s so darn good, ya just want a little bit more, a little bit longer…like all night…that would be alright…don’t tell mom. Unsung: Wrote this song on earth-night, while my little girl slept in the next room, that’s why it’s so hushed. I lit candles and played a bass line on the piano, the story unfolded then and there… later, in the bathtub I came up with all these “unwords” – both existing and made-up, “unshy me, uncry me, unfurl me ungirl me…” I did that thing –jumped out of the tub dripping wet, grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled all these “un-ideas” down. The page is was a mess, ink running everywhere. Jim and Don jumped in with chords and form ideas…not then and there. I got dressed and stuff… Dancing on the Edge of Love: This song is a morning stretch, a playful admission of lust and the joyful acknowledgement that it’s about to become love. Don’t Make Me Laugh: Wrote this one with Jim and Tonio K who I have come to find out is a bit of a legend. He was amazing to write with, does the stream of consciousness thing that I do…talking out the story of the song, then, bang the lyrics just start falling from the sky. Recording this song was an almost holy experience, Don and Peter and I were so deeply in it together…the hugs after this very take were electric. Forget Everything I Know: What’s a girl to do? Everything she’s learned and experienced has left her with cold feet. So the obvious solution…forget everything you know. Don, Jim and I were eating Montreal bagels late at night writing this one - we got to part in the lyric where I say, “What am I what am I what am I gonna do?” …When Don said “I’m going to forget everything I know” and there it was. Sometimes I have to forget everything I know and everything I think I am, to get past fear and get the hell out of my own way. Beautiful Sinner: Don sent me this heart breaking piano track and told me that he had eavesdropped on a conversation that centered around the fact that we're all flawed, sinners, fallen from grace etc. Then he said, “ But the thought occurred to me that if everyone I know is a sinner, I certainly know some beautiful ones!” I took that and sat in the my parked car in downtown T.O. and all the lyrics just poured out of me on to the page. Mumble By Wendy Lands Credits All Songs Written By Wendy Lands With Jim Gillard (Songs 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) With Greg Kavanagh (2) With Don Breithaupt (1, 7, 8, 10, 11) With Larry John McNally (3, 4, 5, 6) With Tonio K (9) All Songs Produced By: Wendy Lands, Jim Gillard, Greg Kavanagh & Don Breithaupt Engineered By: Greg Kavanagh Horn And String Arrangements By: Don Breithaupt Mixed By: Greg Kavanagh Assistants To The Engineer: Miles Breithaupt & Darragh O' Sullivan Recorded At: Kavasound Studio Mastered By: Joao Carvalho - Joao Carvalho Mastering CD Graphic Design: Michael Wrycraft CD Photography: Jake Rosenberg 1.Mumble Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt – Piano, Synth Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh – Acoustic, Electric Guitar Jim Gillard - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals Jef ten Kortenaar - Violin John Marshman - Cello Orly Bitov - Cello Eric Paetkau – Viola 2. Slow Dance Hotel Wendy Lands – Vocals, Handclaps Don Breithaupt - Piano, Toy Piano, Vibes, Prepared Piano, Organ, Accordion Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh - Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals, Handclaps Jim Gillard - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals, Handclaps Gord Meyers - Baritone Kevin Turcotte - Flugelhorn 3. Party Girl Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt - Piano Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh - Electric Guitar & Background Vocals Jim Gillard – Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals 4. Brand New Juliet Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt - Piano Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh - Electric Guitar Jim Gillard - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet Gord Meyers - Trombone Turner King - Tenor Sax Vern Dorge - Baritone Sax 5. Paris Wendy Lands – Vocals Ted Quinlan –Electric Guitar Greg Kavanagh - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitars and Acoustic Bass Jim Gillard - Tibetan Bells 6. Just A Little Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt – Piano, Organ Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh – Acoustic, Electric Guitar Jim Gillard – Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals, Finger Snaps Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet Gord Meyers - Trombone Turner King - Tenor Sax Vern Dorge - Baritone Sax Band Members and Horn Players with Cameron Breithaupt and Miles Breithaupt - Shout Chorus, Handclaps 7.Unsung Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt: Piano Greg Kavanagh - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar Peter Telford - Upright Bass Jim Gillard – Flugelhorn, Percussion, Handclaps & Background Vocals Chloe Gillard - CDRack Strums 8. Dancing on the Edge of Love Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt – Piano, Organ Ted Quinlan - Electric Guitar Greg Kavanagh - Dobro Peter Telford - Upright Bass Jim Gillard - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals 9. Don’t Make Me Laugh Wendy Lands - Vocals Don Breithaupt - Piano Peter Telford - Upright Bass Jef ten Kortenaar - Violin Eric Paetkau - Viola Orly Bitov -Cello John Marshman - Cello 10. Forget Everything I Know Wendy Lands – Vocals, Background Vocals Don Breithaupt - Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer, Fender Rhodes Peter Telford - Upright Bass Greg Kavanagh – Acoustic, Electric Guitar Jim Gillard - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals 11. Beautiful Sinner Wendy Lands - Vocals Don Breithaupt - Piano Peter Telford - Upright bass Orly Bitov - Cello, John Marshman - Cello