deb montgomery

That bewitching combination of vulnerability and sheer rock energy - think PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, or even Emily Dickinson - comes easily for singer-songwriter Deb Montgomery. It's likely that Paul Simon guitarist Mark Stewart had exactly that in mind when he said he called her voice, "both powerful and fragile," and insisted that Montgomery, "makes you want to hear every word she has to say."

Montgomery has grown accustomed to dwelling in life's in-between spaces: she's a Canadian who lives in New York City, a rocker who plays acoustic guitar, and a religious vagabond. Ultimately, she's an artist who is only at home when she finds moments of enlightenment on her way from place to place, and her music springs from that transcendental worldview.

Ask for Angels, her first full-length record since 1997's “Fear” is full of songs that will surprise people with their force and longevity. Montgomery uses her voice with a freedom that few singers ever attain: she whispers, growls, winks, and grinds, sometimes all within the course of a song, and fans of her live music will pleased with this recording. Her achingly beautiful vocals and lyrics have finally been matched with the right production. After many years of acclaimed live performances, and a long search for the perfect producer, Montgomery wisely decided to trust her own vision and ears.

She brought together a personal all-star roster of musicians to help her realize the record, including bassist John Abbey (John Cale, David Poe), who she also tapped to co-produce. Ask for Angels also features drummer Sim Cain (Black Flag, Henry Rollins), guitarist Mark Stewart (Paul Simon, Bang on a Can), keyboardist Rob Schwimmer (Laurie Anderson), cellist Julia Kent (Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright, Anthony and the Johnsons, Rasputina), and Konrad Meissner (The Silos, Mary Lou Lord, Graham Parker).

Unlike many self-produced albums, Montgomery didn't choose the DIY path for lack of suitors willing to accompany her on her latest journey. She's been courted every since the film-like feel to her music prompted Virgin Record's in 1997 to pick up her song "The Tale" (along with tracks from Jane Siberry, Ani DiFranco and Holly Cole) for the soundtrack album to the award-winning movie The Hanging Garden starring Sarah Polley. After hearing Montgomery at a show in New Orleans, producer Ethan Allan (Kristen Hersch, Throwing Muses, Luscious Jackson, Nancy Griffith) invited Deb to fly back down to his own studio to produce a demo. Just after producer and writer/co-writer Kevin Bowe (Lucinda Williams, Etta James, Kenny Wayne Shepperd) produced a demo with Montgomery in Minneapolis.. Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls called her after hearing a demo to encourage her songwriting and to discuss her artistic direction and recording plans.

Recently Montgomery was the Canadian who joined 18 Songwriters from around the world to co-write songs on the Island of Inesheer of the coast of Ireland. She will reunite with Mikael Rickfors of Sweden December 2005 to Record their co-write "Stay" with Hector Castillo (David Bowie, The Brazillian Girls) at Looking Glass Studios owned by Philliip Glass in NYC. Mikael has written for Cyndie Lauper, Richie Havens, and Carlos Santana and was the lead singer of the Hollies from 1971-1973.

A regular at some of New York's hippest venues (The Living Room, CBGB's), listeners are her primary partner as she returns to focusing on her live shows- she's poised on the edge of finding a larger audience. Artists are natural risk takers, but what's remarkable has been the reaction: unabashed hunger for more of this kind of music. The audience's own risk in giving into that visceral need has had a great reward. Montgomery doesn't just sing the words they've been craving, but takes them with her through terror, anger, redemption, and finally to moments of pure beauty and tranquility. Montgomery gives people the feeling that light and love are on the other side of life's inevitable darkness and pain, and to not be afraid of either.

It's a testament to her success at achieving that end that people have called her shows everything from therapy to church, specially suited to those people who would never deign to attend either. Montgomery's ultimately positive message, whether it's growled or whispered, shouted or sung, is that the voyage won't be without storms-but sunrise can be beautiful.