Age of Loneliness is the debut album from the magical funky hybrid that is Vamberator: the newest collaboration between surviving Shelleyan Orphan members, Jemaur Tayle and Boris Williams (also of The Cure), following the untimely passing of their longtime bandmate, Caroline Crawley. Earlier this year, Jem Tayle described for the press his and Boris’s transition from Shelleyan Orphan to Vamberator:

“After Caroline’s passing, I had been offered the chance to make a solo album. I had been writing on and off without a focus, and not having someone to bounce off was new to me. Boris is family, and we have played together with Shelleyan Orphan live and in the studio on and off for years, so it felt very natural for us to work on this together. I am extremely fortunate to have a drummer of his calibre pounding out the rhythms on this album.”

This close relationship goes back to when Jemaur Tayle and Caroline Crawley were recording the second Shelleyan Orphan album, Century Flower (1989), for legendary indie label Rough Trade, with producer David M. Allen. At the same time, Boris Williams was recording with The Cure for their landmark album, Disintegration, also with Dave Allen as producer. The Cure became fans of Shelleyan Orphan, whom Robert Smith invited to join The Cure on tour. The two bands became firm friends on the ensuing Prayer Tour, with the final show ending with Shelleyan Orphan joining The Cure onstage for the extended improvised finale, ‘Forever’. Both Boris and The Cure’s guitarist Pearl (née Porl) Thompson went on to play on Shelleyan Orphan’s third album, Humroot (1992), before Shelleyan Orphan effectively folded as a viable band, along with the Rough Trade label. In turn, Boris left The Cure in 1994, and with Caroline formed a new band, Babacar: also featuring Pearl Thompson, and Shelleyan Orphan bassist Roberto Soave. They were soon joined in the project by Jem Tayle and, following Thompson’s departure, Rob Steen, releasing the album Babacar in 1998. Jem, Caroline, and Boris remained close friends and family ever since, reuniting as Shelleyan Orphan for their final album, We Have Everything We Need (2008). Sadly, however, following a long illness, Caroline Crawley passed away in 2016. Days later, while on tour in Helsinki, The Cure dedicated ‘Last Dance’ to Caroline.

Since the earliest Shelleyan Orphan recordings, c.1984, Jem Tayle has been known for his innovative, sophisticated arrangements. Vamberator continues that tradition, while taking things in untold new stylistic directions with Age of Loneliness. Jem and Boris are joined on the album by a raft of performers and instrumentalists, with Jem in the central role of songwriter, bandleader, and multiinstrumentalist, performing lead vocals, guitars, bass, banjo, piano, synths and anything else the songs might call for. The songs are driven along and tethered together by Boris Williams’ highly musical, varied, and elegantly understated drums and percussion.

Bass duties are shared by Jem Tayle, fellow Shelleyan Orphan collaborator Charlie Jones (also of Goldfrapp and The Cult, and previously Robert Plant / Page & Plant, Siouxsie Sioux and others), and Unifaun Productions label head, Max Marchini. The album takes full advantage of Tayle’s lavish string and horn arrangements, performed by Italy’s Archimia String Quartet, and by Joe Northwood (tenor sax), Joe Bentley (trumpet), and Pete Johnson and Angelo Conti (both on trombone); while oboe from Luca Etzi, and sitar from Rebecca Magri also make strong appearances. Songs are augmented by the rich, soulful backing vocals of Jo Nye, and the dulcet tones of Unifaun Productions labelmate Annie Barbazza. Spoken word is delivered by both Ola Kot and Rocket Girl label founder Vinita Joshi; while both spoken and sung vocals feature from Jem and Boris’s goddaughter, Inky Crawley – daughter of Caroline.