Country Darkness

As the nights draw in this winter, My Darling Clementine will present "Country Darkness". A new album that throws a spotlight on 12 hidden gems from the Elvis Costello repertoire and vividly reimagines them in the duet’s definitive country soul styling.

Released on November 6th, 2020, the album will see the familiar husband and wife pairing of Michael
Weston King and Lou Dalgleish joined by a very special guest in the form of The Imposters and The
Attractions original, Steve Nieve, whose inimitable keys and wisdom radiate throughout the release.

Teasing the release with a new single, “The Crooked Line”, the folksy "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane" era Costello number receives a ramped up and electrifying rework that sets a tantalising precedent of
what lies ahead on the upcoming album.

As avid admirers of Costello’s rich back catalogue since his 'angry young man' earliest days, "Country
Darkness" arrives as both a salutation to the man himself and something of a labour of love for My
Darling Clementine. Drawing together a collection of 3 different 4 track EPs for the 1st time, "Country
Darkness Vol 1-3", the upcoming compilation sees the band host some of the lesser known marvels
from Costello's repertoire and explore their potential for something entirely different, and often darker.

Reconfiguring the tracks with shades of gothic americana, outlaw country and heartbreaking folk, the trademark vocal duet of King’s lugubrious baritone and Dalgleish’s tender siren song unearth exquisite drama in Costello’s scriptures.

Offering a carefully considered and retrospective selection, "Country Darkness" sees the band take on
a representative range of Elvis’ multiplicitous and ever changing eras. From his work with the
Attractions, “Stranger In The House”, “Too Soon To Know”, “Why Can’t A Man Stand Alone”, to the
Imposters, “Either Side of The Same Town”, to cherry picking some remarkable solo efforts, “The
Crooked Line”, “I Lost You”, as well as reappraising a smattering of his inspiring collaborations with
Emmylou Harris, “Heart Shaped Bruise”, Loretta Lynn, “I Felt The Chill Before The Winter Came”, Paul McCartney, “That Day Is Done”, legendary Nashville singer songwriter Jim Lauderdale, “Different Finger” , and of course, his long standing right hand man: Steve Nieve.

Synonymous with the Elvis Costello sound, Steve Nieve has worked with Elvis since 1977, recording
with him for the 1st time on his 2nd album "This Years Model". He was a founding member of The
Attractions, and now, for over 20 years, one of The Imposters. A Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member,
Nieve has become one of the most in demand session keyboard players in the world with his playing
identifiable on countless classic records. Which now includes My Darling Clementine’s "Country
Darkness". As the band sought Nieve’s seal of approval for the project, the legendary keyboardist
went one better and offered his services to the project instead. Actively involved throughout working
with the pair in song selections and arrangements, his unmistakable style is evident throughout.

Further formidable accompaniment on the record comes from Richard Hawley’s esteemed backing band, Colin Elliott, bass, cello, Shez Sheridan, guitars, and Dean Beresford, drums. Having played on My Darling Clementine’s acclaimed 2nd album, "The Reconciliation", King and Dalgleish reunite with the trio to recapture the same magic here. Additional players on the record also include former Van Morrison and Nick Lowe horn players Matt Holland and Martín Winning.

Pre-produced at Steve Nieve’s home in France, the recordings were then transferred to Yellow Arch
Studios in Sheffield where they were produced in collaboration between King and Colin Elliot, who
has notably also produced Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, Duane Eddy and many more.

As something of an added bonus track, a completely original and previously unheard My Darling
Clementine composition, entitled “Powerless”, is also included on the upcoming album release. Guest
featuring Nieve’s playing and bearing Costello’s lyrical fingerprints, this smouldering country ballad
between King and Dalgleish closes a collection of remarkable reinventions with a track that confirms
there’s more than a little shared DNA between Costello and Clementine.

Speaking about the "Country Darkness" project, Michael Weston King says, “Making these recordings took me back to my 19 year old self, out buying a copy of 'Almost Blue' during my lunch hour. It was Elvis and Steve’s making of that album which set me, and I think many others of my generation, off along a country path to discover more about this form of music previously only viewed with suspicion. For me it became something of a pilgrimage, a vocation, even a career. So this feels like the completing of a musical circle of sorts, to record a selection of some of mine and Lou’s favourite EC country songs with the added thrill of performing them with Steve”.

And on working with Steve Nieve on the project, Lou Dalgleish adds, “Reflecting on those early years spent listening to my hero of the keyboard, accompanying my personal king of songwriting, EC, was it any wonder that in the spring of 2019, when he sat down right next to me and began his incredible intro to our 1st collaboration, that I couldn’t sing for crying? Thanks Steve, for making this sulky girl very happy”.