A-Side: Beachwalk*
B-Side: Home Prison

“… Helen spent a lot of time on her own immersing herself in a variety of books, and ultimately coming up with gorgeous songs like the opener; Beachwalk which is even dreamier and lovely than I would ever have dared hope for.”
Alan Harrison, @RockingMagpie

Digital Release on Gare Du Nord Records (GDN45056), distributed by Kudos Records and available here.

Beachwalk Video on YouTube

*Taken from the new album Drawing on my Dreams, CD and digital downloads available on Bandcamp here.

The Chefs | Interview | “Our positive sound, our harmonies” with Helen McCookerybook & James McCallum
by Klemen Breznikar
It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine
17th January 2023

“It’s really great to have you. Would you like to talk about your background? Where did you grow up and what are some of the early influences for you?

Helen (McCookerybook) McCallum: We grew up in a village in Northumberland (the north-east of England) called Wylam. Our parents were of Scottish and Scottish/American heritage, and had a quirky taste in music: as young children we listened to Ivor Cutler, Tom Lehrer, Fats Waller, and the chart singles that our dad bought regularly: Sandie Shaw, Nancy Sinatra. He was also a fan of Melanie, and Herb Alpert. … continued”

UPCOMING GIG: Helen McCookerybook and James McCallum (The Chefs) Special Gig at the Betsy Trotwood, London, on Wednesday 25th January 2023 – more details and tickets here.

Dexter Bentley’s Hello GoodBye Show
Resonance 104.4FM
10th December 2022

Chat and live performances of:
Beachwalk, All I Want,
Woodwide Web, Coffee and Hope
and he also played the track Pandora

You can listen to the show here
 

Michelle Ward’s Eat My Brunch show
Phoenix 98FM
11th November 2022

Interview and live performances of:
Beachwalk
All I Want

You can listen to the show here

11th October 2022
“Helen McCookerybook, formerly of punk-popsters The Chefs and Helen And The Horns, whose cowpunk was a firm favourite of John Peel, can write the simplest of songs with the greatest of effect. Drawing On My Dreams which is released on her own imprint Big Song Records, is no exception.”
Helen McCookerybook – Drawing On My Dreams: album review
by Paul Scott-Bates, @hiapoetry

15th October 2022
“I’ve been playing this album on and off for 6 or 7 days now; and … Deep breath … I think by any standards [it] is quite extraordinary… Helen McCookerybook has created a thing of beauty here that needs to be shared among music lovers of all persuasions.”
Helen McCookerybook: Drawing on my Dreams
by Alan Harrison, @RockingMagpie

30th October 2022
“With Drawing on my Dreams McCookerybook has signalled a new level of sonic independence as well as a willingness to experiment. The result is a stylish and clever album by a singer/songwriter who is perfectly at ease with herself and her work.”
Album review: Helen McCookerybook, Drawing on my Dreams
by Cazz Blase, @CazzBlase

31st October 2022
“Proof that, when you are an inherently talented songwriter with an engaging voice, you don’t need all the bells and whistles to produce a fine pop tune.”
Part Two: Reviews Of New Music: Albums & EPs
Also, Alt Rock & Indie (Beachwalk track review)
by Neil March, @TrustTheDocUK

3rd November 2022
“Listening to an album like this, in all its understated, deceptively simple and stripped back glory, makes you recognize the beauty of classic songwriting and engaging lyrics where every note is allowed its own space to flourish and every word can be heard, each sentence comprehended and the whole song embraced. Blooming wonderful.”
A quick catch up part 2 – Helen, Helen, Barbara, Gemma and others
by Dave Hammond, @smellyflowerpot

And …
“Helen McCookerybook has an excellent new record …”
Gideon Coe, @gidcoe, 22nd September 2022