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Moira Lambert History

(scroll down for the story and Moira's discography)

History

The story behind Moira Lambert, the mythical voice on Saint Etienne's first single Only Love Can Break Your Heart.

Moira began singing, playing acoustic guitar and song-writing as a child in Africa, largely influenced by the songs her Irish mother and Scottish father taught her. While at school in the UK she became a fan of the British indie scene, enjoying acts like The Smiths and The Cure, later exploring vintage records by artists like Sandy Denny, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. These influences can be traced in her bittersweet songs and sensitive vocal style that have been described as "a panacea for jaded ears". Moira's music is naturally eclectic ranging from folky to stylish pop. "Her luminescent, ethereal, dreamlike voice has evinced... many comparisons, most notably with The Sundays and Nick Drake..."

UK Chapter 1 1990-2002

The Ship (47 High Street, Croydon): "There was one pub in Croydon where everyone into alternative music went, The Ship. There was a really diverse mix of goths, indie kids, greebos and old rockers who drank there, with a couple of big skinhead lads on the door. That's where I met Pete's brother Danny (Wiggs) and we were very close for a few years. When his brother (Pete) and Bob Stanley decided to start a band they had the idea of using different singers for each song, so they asked Moira (Lambert) to record a couple of demos for them. It took about five hours to record from start to finish in a bedroom studio and was never even meant to be released. But it went on to be a massive cult hit - I still hear it on the radio thirty years later, it's amazing. They gave her some money when it became clear it was doing well. Whenever I hear it now it takes me right back to that bedroom studio." Mark Wilsher, Faith Over Reason (Quote taken from the Feb 25, 2024 interview by Cloudberry Cake Proselytism Blog)

Formerly of UK press darlings, Faith Over Reason, Moira Lambert has carved a reputation for her cool pure vocal performance that has seen her collaborate with Saint Etienne on the cult classic Only Love Can Break Your Heart (which went Top 40 in the UK and to No 1 in the US Hot Dance charts). Polygram gave her a generous publishing deal and UK independent label Big Cat Records signed Moira as a teenager. She stayed there, touring The UK with Lush and shoe-gazers Slowdive and Europe with label mates Jeff Buckley and Heather Nova (whose first recording Moira contributed backing vocals to) until the label was bought out by V2 records in 1996.

After co-writing a top 20 UK chart hit, Skin on Skin, with Paul Oakenfold for his Grace project, Moira formed Ova, releasing just one 3 track single, Universal Audio on UK independent label Global Warming. More contemporary than Moira's previous band, but retaining the same spontaneity and haunting beauty - Ova were fresh, original and uncontrived.

Since Ova broke up in January 2000, Moira collaborated with Freeloader and Data, both UK electronica acts in the vein of Massive Attack, and contributed backing vocals to Tram's album, A Kind of Closure, released on UK's Jet Set Records. (During this period Moira married Visual Artist Charles Campbell, changing her name from Lambert to Campbell.)

Canada Chapter 2002-2013

Upon moving to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 2002, Moira began studying at the Conservatory of Music, playing in coffee bars and seeking out new musicians to work with. Spanish cellist, pianist and composer Dan Anies shared her love of Celtic influences and they soon began performing together. Dan co-wrote two of the songs on Moira's album Coming Up Roses: Dancing Barefoot in the Snow and Would You Be Good?

Drums and percussion on Coming Up Roses were contributed by Andreas Kreischer (originally from Linz, Austria and now settled in Victoria). While visiting family in the UK, Moira dropped in on former band members Nick Rye and Giovanni Iaciofano at Rye's studio on a barge on the Thames, London and recorded some guitar and keyboard tracks. The rest of the album was recorded and co-produced by Evan Rabby at Company Zero in Victoria. Rabby also contributes bass and guitar. Coming Up Roses was released in October 2006 followed by live dates around British Columbia.

Moira collaborated on an album of club mixes with composer Luke Parkin released in 2007 and theme music for a Chum television documentary 'Survival of the Fittest: Stories from the West Coast Trail' with musician and producer Corwin Fox.

Moira's next project with Victoria's urban funky folkster Corwin Fox, Climbing Mountains in the Night, was a unique blend of electronic and folk pop. Featuring a guest appearance by the Tanya Gillespie the ep was released in July 2008.

UK Chapter 2 2013-2020

Moira moved back to the UK in late 2013 and continued to work in the non profit sector.

Fun Quote from Moira's daughter posted in the comments of Saint Etienne's video for Only Love Can Break Your Heart on Youtube around 2018

I'm the singer (Moira Lambert)'s daughter, and I didn't know about this song until last year, or maybe the year before that. She let me believe for the first 14 years of my life that, yeah, she had gigs and stuff, but nothing big - then I found out about this and at first I didn't realize that it was as big as it was. Tonight was my first time watching the video, and I think I've only listened to it once or twice before, if even that. I'm vaguely irritated that she kept this from me for so long, but also a super proud n lucky daughter."

Quick note: Moira did not appear in the video for Only Love Can Break Your Heart. It's Lucy Gillie miming to Moira's vocals in the video.

UK Chapter 3 2020-Now

Moira continues to work for a non profit organization south of London.

Recently Moira married fellow musician Matthew Clifton, changing her name from Lambert to Clifton.

Matthew and Moira recently appeared in Channel 4's show 4 in a Bed in 2025 in support of their Milberry Green Glamping site - a place for stress-free family holidays, glamping breaks for families and sustainable getaways in the UK (Note: Matthew and Moira, in 2025, made a decision to sell Milberry Green Glamping due to personal circumstances.

Moira Clifton, with Matthew, are part of a relatively new band called Midnight Sky based out of Warlingham, United Kingdom.

As of May 30, Midnight Sky were rehearsing for their upcoming appearance at Orphest Arts Festival in June. Here's what has been said about the setlist: "We've got a great set list lined up—some well-loved favourites and a rather unusual mash-up we think you'll enjoy. Any guesses? Here's a clue: it blends Saint Etienne Official with Lana Del Rey."

You can follow Midnight Sky on Facebook

Thanks to fan Richard Atkinson for his inspiration and input into this section of the discograpy.