Warn Defever had always displayed a gift for the unexpected, but the record he delivered at the beginning of 2001 offered a breathtaking stylistic shift. Someday My Blues Will Cover The Earth (CAD 2101) was a record built around the vocal talents of Lovetta Pippen, who had contributed to Ft Lake, but who now took centre stage. The songs - a series of hushed, skeletal laments - took their cues from the purest blues, jazz and soul, while the immaculate, sparkling production drew inspiration - and a parade of leftfield touches - from contemporary urban R & B. The album - by turns sensuous and sorrowful - was unlike anything released by His Name Is Alive or 4AD before and it remains an unheralded gem.
Kristin Hersh was also in fine form - her fourth solo album Sunny Border Blue (CAD 2102) is one of her best, and its combination of melodic sweetness and raw emotional honesty was warmly received. Tracks like "Your Dirty Answer" and "Spain" quickly took their place alongside the most treasured moments in the Hersh repertoire, while the cover version of "Trouble" - by Cat Stevens - drew in new listeners. In a break from v23 tradition, the record's artwork was again designed by former bandmate David Narcizo.
New signings Piano Magic - an ever-changing vehicle for the restless, chameleon talent of Glen Johnson - opened their 4AD account with the soundtrack to the film Son De Mar (MAD 2105). Directed by Bigas Luna (the Spanish auteur responsible for Jamon Jamon and The Tit And The Moon, amongst others), the film was a visually ambient tale of love found, lost, regained and lost again, set against the backdrop of a beautiful Valencian Summer. The music was equally beguiling, a warm, melodic drift in six untitled sections which worked just as well without the visual accompaniment.
4AD spent more time polishing up its catalogue in 2001. Amongst the beneficiaries this time were The Wolfgang Press, whose Everything Is Beautiful (GAD 2104) was a convincing retrospective illuminated by acerbic and perceptive sleevenotes, penned by Michael Allen. Colourbox's simply-titled Best Of 82-87 (GAD 2107) was exactly that - and the inclusion of Pump Up The Volume by M/A/R/R/S meant that such a title was for once entirely accurate. Finally, a lavish Dead Can Dance boxed set (DCDBOX 1) offered three CDs (and 47 remastered tracks in total), a DVD of the Toward The Within concert (plus promo videos), and a 108 page book which included lyrics and extensive interviews with Brendan and Lisa.
2001 closed with a welcome return - that of Tanya Donelly, who released her first new music for nearly five years in the shape of the Sleepwalk EP (BAD 2108). The 4 songs served as an introduction to the dreamlike world of her second solo album Beautysleep, which would follow in 2002.