09. Rise and Fall
S.Rhatigan © 1995

It was the dawn of a new era for me, coming out of a very dark time.  I had lost my record deal, my home, my boyfriend (though that was probably a good thing) and my best friend.  I was on my uppers, but good friends and family and music kept me going.  Had I not been in that rather precarious position at that time I may never have written the majority of these songs, never met Mark and been introduced to John and subsequently the most exciting time of my life musically and personally, might never have happened…

This recording was the 1^st time I played with John Morrison.  I didn’t know it then but it was to mark the beginning of a friendship and song writing partnership that endures to this day.  I was introduced to John by my friend Mark Bandola a wonderful musician and songwriter who co-wrote ‘Hello’ with me, which is the last track on the ‘Late Developer’ album.  Some of you may remember him from his solo work and 80’s psychedelic folk band The Lucy Show.  I often like to piece together the friends and musicians I’ve met by whom and where we were introduced.  If I think back it was another great musician friend drummer Martyn Barker who introduced me to Mark and probably Matt Backer who introduced me to Martyn and back to Neville Farmer and Simon Long and Dave Barratt and back and back and well a long way back!

I can remember the day vividly even though so many more days would follow roughly the same template. Mark brought John to my flat in south London to record Rise and Fall. We were comfortable together from the beginning as if two streams had forged their way through valleys and hillsides over thousands of years before breaking through a sort of geo-musical crust and merging into a well from which all our songs for nearly 20 years would be drawn. A meeting of the waters kind of thing. Corny I know, but that’s how it felt…

Not surprisingly considering my life before this had pretty much disintegrated, I had a good deal of trepidation beginning new relationships.  I remember writing Rise and Fall at the beginning of the 1^st proper romantic relationship of my new life.  Perhaps it was a bit much to expect of that particular dalliance, but I guess I was starting to at least discover what I wanted in a partner and I just had to keep looking till I found the right one.  Thankfully I have now….

Suzanne Rhatigan Vocal guitar…

John Morrison Bass…

Mark Bandola Guitar…