Wendy’s fourth album The Lotus Eaters takes us on an odyssey - a mythical and personal journey carried on an oceanic soundscape of richly emotive Siren songs. Fuelled by her lifelong passion for mythology and spirituality The Lotus Eaters celebrates the universality of life. Anchored in the ancient Greek myth of Odysseus, this extraordinary collection of songs sees Wendy as both the Journeyer and the Deities encountered. "It’s the nature of the journey that is necessary for the self … and I suppose I was doing my own Odyssey during the last few years. The personal became the mythic and the mythic became personal."
"This is music that will not only move you, but advance you into your very own realm."
Beat Magazine
Wendy’s musical exploration began over ten years ago. After years of developing her vocal craft though various jazz outfits, Wendy began writing her own material in the early 90s. Through a musical collaboration with keyboardist Craig Patterson and cellist Rachel Samuel she created her first album, Zero, which was released in 1996 to critical acclaim and strong sales. After performing many live gigs and touring Australia regularly (including a support slot on two national tours for legendary folk singer Donovan), Wendy recorded her second studio album, Deity, released in 1998.
"....Dark, sensual, sonic theatre...compelling stuff." - Rolling Stone Australia
In 1999 Wendy started work on her third studio album, co-producing with engineer Siiri Metsar at Melbourne’s Fortissimo Studios. She also conceived, produced and performed in the theatrical production An Underworld Journey, which featured several new songs that were to be included on the new album. World Between Worlds, released in 2000, was a remarkable achievement. Even more adventurous than the preceding albums, it placed Wendy’s songs in a warm, evocative sound-world, the lush keyboards of previous records replaced by the acoustic beauty of guitars, strings and percussion.
2001 saw Wendy finally take her talents overseas touring initially to the UK, Europe and the USA and then returning in October to the US just after September 11. Wendy arrived in New York, a city of death … beautiful but sad and grieving. It was during this trip that she wrote the material for The Lotus Eaters in a process of meditation and sorrow.
"…an extraordinary evening of mystical mastery interwoven with threads of timeless myths. Wendy’s voice and skilled songwriting touched our deepest selves and got us in touch with feelings often suppressed be over-worldly cares. The audience was moved, mesmerised, delighted"
Live review, New Mexico, USA
The response of audiences was so strong that she returned again to tour in 2002 to the West Coast of the US as well as Europe and the UK.
Wendy’s long awaited fourth album, The Lotus Eaters, was released in May 2003 and launched with an extensive Australian tour. An international tour in support of the album will commence in October and continue into 2004.
"I want," Wendy says, "to provide for people a way of journeying into the dream world with a sense of joy and liberation - not to be afraid of deep emotions like grief and love".
"There’s no one quite like Wendy Rule. Her albums are always visionary journeys full of the extremes of passion, from the most gentle to the most sweeping."
Rip it Up Magazine - Adelaide.
