Month: August 2017

Review – My Tricksy Spirit – My Tricksy Spirit – by Emma Roebuck

‘Balinese gender wayang’, three words that don’t spring to mind, even to the most ardent musicologist let alone this enthusiastic amateur reviewer, but that is the instrument of choice of Nick Gray,the main driver of this project, along with Charlie Cawood (Knifeworld,  Mediaeval Baebes) and Rob Shipster (MatchMusic), latterly joined by Roxanne Aisthorpe as a guest vocalist and now a full member.

A Balinese gender wayang (mainly because I wanted to know what one looked like.)

In the current climate of “Is it Prog-gate?” I am loathe to categorise this album in any shape or form mainly because it does defy pigeonholing and I do not want to get involved in a pointless debate.

To the music; Nick lectures in South East Asian music and this is a central pillar of the album with a very western twist. Percussion and rhythm sit front and centre in the whole album, as you would expect. Equally there is nothing traditional in the structure and form of the album, despite there being 7 tracks, it flows from beginning to end in complete connectivity.

Always with You opens with beeps and tones going into an insistent rhythmic drive (from the said gender wayang) that gives an electronic dance music feel but not a 4/4 120BPM time signature. Roxanne gives a Rock In Opposition vocal performance, counterpointing the music beautifully. If it ran to 4 minutes then Radio One and the like would be all over this like a Bee is to nectar, but it runs to 10 minutes plus without repetition or tedium. This track sits very well in the current cadre of intelligent music coming from leftfield with no genre to call their own or willing to claim them. Her voice reminds me much of Mishkin Fitzgerald of Birdeatsbaby in tone and quality.

Free Of Stars takes me immediately back to my student daze (sorry, ‘days’) in the early 80s in Manchester. This is not because it sounds like the music of the time but because I spent much time in places like “The Band on The Wall” watching some of the dub reggae and toasting sessions with the sound systems of the time.  The heavy off beat bass line that is distorted in Dub style drifts through the track completely filling the sound,giving the sub woofer a great work out and it wipes out a few cobwebs in the process.

Dropping straight into Coming Down Again, a discordant violin and warped keyboard with Nick (I think) on vocals along with a sitar solo and, again, the east Asian percussion give this a unique feel and a sense of otherworldliness. Which I’m sure is the intention given the title.

Skipping a few tracks on, as I prefer to give a flavour rather than a blow by blow view letting interested parties find something to discover in this delightful album, we come to Circle of Light, which is very much the closest to western song structure and something that I can give potential purchasers a comparator to act as a frame of reference. If you own a copy of ‘Live Herald’ by Steve Hillage then add what he is up to these days with System 7 and then you will be close. I can see a remix of this working fantastically in the likes of Creamfields or, for the older ones among us, Tribal Gathering. It is trancy, danceable and contagious in a good way.

The album closes out with Dub of Stars which, as the advert says, does exactly what it says on the tin. Wide open spacey and full of huge bass and Dub “echoiness”, this is 2.00am crank the volume up bassiness to annoy the neighbours and have a groove to music. I defy anyone not to move to the rhythm of this song as they listen to it.

Now this is not music for the unadventurous, if you are a pastoral classical western music fan with a love of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, middle eight, verse, chorus, and instrumental close mentality, then maybe avoid it but you will miss out on something rather special. Fans of Gong, both the Daevid Allen and Pierre Moerlen versions, Firefly Burning, Steve Hillage, World music, Peter Gabriel or Kate Bush you will get something from this album. Bad Elephant Music is more and more becoming a beacon for quality, whether you like the output or not; there is no argument about that in my eyes. This album has that quality and its rich layered multi-instrumental structure dares to explore places that few are looking. However it remains accessible and not even vaguely in the ‘difficult to listen to’ box.

Released 1st September 2017

Buy ‘My Tricksy Spirit’ from Bad Elephant Music here

 

 

THE PINEAPPLE THIEF – RELEASE WHERE WE STOOD – THE CONCERT FILM ON 29TH SEPTEMBER THROUGH KSCOPE

THE SPECTACULAR FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THEIR YOUR WILDERNESS TOUR FEATURING GAVIN HARRISON ON DRUMS

Bringing to close an unforgettable 14-date European Winter tour of their 2016 summer hit album Your Wilderness, The Pineapple Thief, led by post-progressive mastermind Bruce Soord and reinforced by Gavin Harrison (King Crimson) on drums with Darran Charles (Godsticks) on guitar, gave the sold-out Islington Assembly Hall in London a truly awe-inspiring gig on 11th February 2017. Where We Stood showcases a powerful performance from both band regulars and guests on new tracks from Your Wilderness, including “In Exile“, “No Man’s Land” and “The Final Thing On My Mind“, and of the classics from previous albums, “Nothing At Best“, “Show A Little Love” and “Simple As That“.

Bruce Soord says about the show and release “It was our last show of the tour and our biggest headline show ever. We had 15 cameras, a massive jib, but more importantly – a sell-out crowd!  The pressure was indeed on, but it’s safe to say that the stars aligned for us that night and it turned out to be one of the most memorable performances of our career so far.

We’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this special edition blu-ray.  It has the full show; documentary footage and interviews; and 2 different 5.1 surround mixes (one natural, one discrete) – all in high resolution 24/96 stereo.  It also has our last album ‘Your Wilderness’ in stereo and surround, plus the special ‘8 Years Later’ album in stereo with a brand-new surround mix too.  All of that plus 5 acoustic tracks (also stereo and surround) and loads of bonus videos. This is without doubt the definitive ‘Your Wilderness’ release.” 

Where We Stood will be released on the following

Deluxe 12” 4 disc hardbook featuring:

·       48-page hardback book includes additional photography from the gig and back stage by PROG magazine’s Kevin Nixon. 

·       2 x audio CDs containing the live concert recordings with a bonus live recording 

·       1 x DVD and 1 x Blu-Ray disc featuring:  the concert film with two 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mixes (one natural, one discrete) and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the original Your Wilderness album in both 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the previously exclusive and sold out 8 Years Later bonus material 24/96 hi-res stereo audio plus a previously unreleased 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mix; an acoustic 5-track bonus album in 24/96 hi-res stereo audio and 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround; a Where We Stood documentary film a making-of video for the single “In Exile”; Soord’s acoustic studio performance of “Tear You Up”; and the official videos for “In Exile” and “No Man’s Land”. 

2 Disc CD & DVD Mediabook

·       20 page booklet

  • CD Where We Stood 14 original album tracks 

·       DVD-V Where We Stood the concert film with two 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mixes (one natural, one discrete) and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the original Your Wilderness album in both 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the previously exclusive and sold out 8 Years Later bonus material in both 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; an acoustic 5-track bonus album in 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; a Where We Stood documentary film a making-of video for the single “In Exile”; Soord’s acoustic studio performance of “Tear You Up”; and the official videos for “In Exile” and “No Man’s Land”.

 

Blu-Ray featuring:

·       The concert film featuring:  the concert film with two 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mixes (one natural, one discrete) and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the original Your Wilderness album in both 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and 24/96 hi-res stereo audio; the previously exclusive and sold out 8 Years Later bonus material 24/96 hi-res stereo audio plus a previously unreleased 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mix; an acoustic 5-track bonus album in 24/96 hi-res stereo audio and 24/96 DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround; a Where We Stood documentary film a making-of video for the single “In Exile”; Soord’s acoustic studio performance of “Tear You Up”; and the official videos for “In Exile” and “No Man’s Land”.

Double gatefold 180g heavy weight LP featuring:

·       live recordings from the performance as a double LP pressed on to 180g heavyweight audiophile vinyl presented in a gatefold packaging 

 
The Pineapple Thief will be returning to the live arena for further Your Wilderness shows in September 2017 – dates below

Soord continues “Watching the show back, it’s reminded us of how much we’re looking forward to getting back on stage again in September for Part 2 of the ‘Your Wilderness’ tour.  If it turns out to be half as much fun as the last one then we simply cannot wait!

September 2017

6th – DE Dresden, Alter Schlachtof

7th – PL Warsaw, Progesja Music Zone

8th – PL Krakow, Kwadrat Music Club

9th – Czech Republic Brno – Melodka

10th – DE Munich, Backstage Halle

11th – CH Zurich, Dynamo

12th – DE Stuttgart, Universum

13th – DE Cologne, Luxor

14th –  NL Zoetermeer, De Boerderij

16th – UK London, ULU

17th – UK Bristol, Bierkeller

(Godsticks in support)

What the press said about Your Wilderness:

“Prepare to fall in love.” Kerrang! (UK)

“‘An outstanding and astonishingly refreshing release’ 10/10 Powerplay Magazine (UK)

‘Amplifier busting riffage’  – Prog Magazine

“…technically close to perfection but also emotionally intoxicating.” 8/10 – MBEAT (DE)
“…reveals this band’s skill in balancing individually accessible tracks with a larger emotive concept. The Pineapple Thief is a band to watch out for” PopMatters (USA)
“you will fall in love with what you are hearing, a decisive piece of artistic wonderment.”  9/10 Wall of Sound (AUS)

‘…Soord stole our heart again…’ IO Pages (NL)

‘…really beautiful album…’ LustForLife (NL) 

The Pineapple Thief online:

Website: www.thepineapplethief.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepineapplethief

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pineapplethief

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepineapplethief

Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4lrBMUSk8PiNnCEZfsmPAk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6401DB011BD837E

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-pineapple-thief/id278648772

Threshold Announce Manchester show

British Prog Rockers THRESHOLD have announced a third UK date as part of their European ‘Legends Of The Shires’ Tour. The band will play Manchester on Saturday 18th November at the Rebellion Rock Bar venue.

“We’re really stoked to add a third UK show to our Legends tour. Our home fans are amazing and we can’t wait to share our new songs with you.” Richard West

Tickets are on sale now available from the following link:
http://www.seetickets.com/event/threshold/rebellion-rock-bar/1141629
Don’t forget to RSVP on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/607841926053034/

Threshold have been gearing up to release their first ever double album ‘Legends Of The Shires’ which will be released world wide on Nuclear Blast 8th September.
They recently released the official video for ‘Small Dark Lines’, check it out here:

Listen to the 10 minute epic first single ‘Lost In Translation‘ here:

The band will also be playing a London headline show in December as well as performing at HRH Prog in Wales in November. Don’t miss the chance to see these brand new tracks come to life for the first time.

Get tickets for HRH Prog in Wales on Nov 17th here:
https://www.hrhprog.com/tickets.htm
Catch the band on December 10th at O2 Academy Islington. Tickets here:
http://www.songkick.com/concerts/28850284-threshold-at-o2-academy-islington

Pre-order Legends Of The Shires:
Limited Edition Gatefold Double NB Anniversary Green Vinyl inc signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store:  http://bit.ly/ThresholdShop
Limited Edition Digipack CD and Limited Edition Gatefold Double Vinyl inc signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk:  http://bit.ly/RSThresholdl

Review – Threshold – Legends Of The Shires – by Progradar

Threshold return with their 11th full length release ‘Legend Of The Shires’. One of progressive metal’s most enduring bands formed in 1988 and released their first album in 1993, twenty four years later their “colossal double concept album” sees them stretching the boundaries of the genre once again.

Described as “A monster of an album…” by Threshold’s Richard West, it is also the band’s first ever double album.

If that wasn’t enough to get me drooling then the outstanding artwork by Russian artist Elena Dudina only heightened the anticipation even more. Of the art Richard also had this to say, “I love it when a cover tells you what sort of record you’re buying. This one really shouts “progressive” and reminds me of some of the classic prog albums from the 20th century.”

With vocalist Damian Wilson moving to pastures new and the return of Glynn Morgan to fill his substantial shoes (more of that in my interview with Karl Groom coming soon) the scene has been set for one of 2017’s most eagerly awaited releases…

‘Legends Of The Shires’ is possibly Threshold’s most complete album yet which, with a back catalogue like theirs, is really saying something. It flows from beginning to end, like one complete musical journey and is a true concept in both musical and lyrical terms. A concept loosely based on our country’s current position in the wider world and also how we, as individuals, fit into the wider scheme of things is worked intelligently into some of the band’s best recorded material of the last few years.

Keyboardist West and guitar guru Karl Groom are the main songwriting masterminds and, as well as Glynn (who also adds guitar parts), Johanne James (drums) and Steve Anderson (bass) make up the rest of the band. Production, engineering and mixing duties were also handled by Richard and Karl.

Richard discusses the new album title and whether or not the band were influenced by Tolkien:

The return of Glynn Morgan has added even more power to the vocals and yet he can also provide moments of sentiment and passion on tracks such as The Shire (Part2), State Of Independence and the emotive album closer Swallowed. Glynn also adds fervor and a rawness to hard riffing songs like the brilliant Small Dark Lines and the heavy On The Edge and Superior Machine.

The added emphasis on the song and the soundscapes is wholly evident on the two heavily prog-infused epics that grace this great album. The superb The Man Who Saw Through Time was never intended to be a longer track but just evolved into the wonderful musical odyssey it has become. An involving and powerful song which holds your attention and pulls at your heartstrings before opening up into a wide musical panorama with intricacy and vibrancy, you’ll find yourself transfixed. Lost In Translation is just over ten minutes of near musical perfection from the euphoric opening right through the hypnotic and entrancing verse and the addictive chorus to the uplifting close and the great interplay between Karl’s guitar and Richard’s keys, this is songwriting at its best.

There are no filler moments on the album, the progressive-metal standard Trust The Process has all the prerequisites than any such track should have and reminds me of Dream Theater at their original best and one of the stand-out tracks on this stand-out album is the exceptional Stars And Satellites with it’s Frost* like innovations and incredibly catchy chorus. Snowblind is another superior song with an exceptional musical narrative and one that I know Karl is especially pleased with.

Another highlight is the return of original bassist (and one-time vocalist) Jon Jeary who guests on vocals on the lovely The Shires (Part3) a delightful, if short, piece of music that compliments the rest of the tracks perfectly.

I make no excuses for my effusive praise of this new release from Threshold, ‘Legends Of The Shires’ is a triumphant return from one of the UK’s foremost progressive-metal artists and is an album where the song and the journey take precedence over technical wizardry and musical scales and deliver an expansive and immersive musical adventure that transfixes and captivates in equal measure. From beginning to end, the music flows perfectly and the album should ideally be consumed in one sitting, 2017 has given us some superlative musical releases already but, in ‘Legends Of The Shires’, Threshold may just have delivered the finest one yet.

Released 8th September 2017

‘Legends Of The Shires’ is available to pre-order on a variety of formats from Nuclear Blast here:

 

 

 

 

 

ANATHEMA’S PIONEERING SONGWRITER DANIEL CAVANAGH RELEASES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM – MONOCHROME DUE FOR RELEASE ON 13TH OCTOBER THROUGH KSCOPE

Riding the waves of his success with Anathema’s latest album The Optimist, which includes a worldwide headline tour, multiple summer music festivals and an Album of the Year nomination for the 2017 Progressive Music Awards, the band’s driving force, Daniel Cavanagh releases his debut solo album, Monochrome.

Monochrome is a deeply reflective and personal offering, inspired by internal feelings of love and loss, Daniel Cavanagh explains “The album has a late night, candlelit feeling, evoking the light of dusk as the summer sun sinks below the horizon, setting the scene for thoughts and meditations that many people will relate to.”

Elaborating further on the album and songs he continues “A lot of this material could easily have made it on to the last Anathema album or any future album; that’s how highly the band rate it. There are several highlights: ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The Silent Flight of the Raven Winged Hours’ are among some of my best works of the last decade. Taking them from the band was not an easy decision but I am glad; they’re so personal as to not need more input.”

Monochrome , whilst written & performed by multi-instrumentalist, Daniel Cavanagh, does feature guest performers – Anneke Van Giersbergen – ex-vocalist for The Gathering, who has since sung with Devin Townsend, Árstíðir, Anathema and Arjen Lucassen appears on 3 songs – “This Music”, “Soho” and “Oceans Of Time”. The album also sees the exceptionally talented Anna Phoebe providing violin on “Soho”, the Poe inspired “The Silent Flight Of The Raven Winged Hours” and “Dawn”.  Recorded at Grammy Award-winning Parr Street Studios, engineered by Andrea Wright, mastered by Anathema’s Daniel Cardoso, and with artwork by illustrator Danny Branscombe (https://www.dannybranscombe.com ).

Daniel introduces the first song from the album to be premiered fans “The Exorcist” was considered so good by Anathema that the rest of the band would have made this the centrepiece of an Anathema album, taking it from the band was not an easy decision but I am glad I did!”

Monochrome will be released on CD / LP and digitally with digital pre-orders receiving the track “The Exorcist” as an instant download – pre-order HERE

Anathema are currently on tour in North America in support of their critically acclaimed new studio album The Optimist. The UK & European tour begins on 22nd September in Glasgow and concludes inn Luxembourg on 18th November before they head to Australia for the first show in Brisbane on 6th December.

Anathema UK Tour dates (w/ Alcest)

22.09.17              UK          Glasgow Garage
23.09.17              UK          Belfast – Limelight 2
24.09.17              Eire       Dublin – Academy
26.09.17              UK          Manchester, O2 Ritz
27.09.17              UK          Sheffield, Plug
28.09.17              UK          Bristol, The Marble Factory
29.09.17              UK          Exeter, Phoenix
30.09.17              UK          London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Anathema online:

facebook.com/anathemamusic  

instagram.com/anathemamusic.com  

www.anathema.ws  

THRESHOLD – RICHARD WEST DISCUSSES HAVING GLYNN MORGAN BACK ON VOCALS + THE CAMEO OF FOUNDER MEMBER JON JEARY

UK progressive metal quintet THRESHOLD are set to release their colossal double concept album Legends Of The Shires on September 8th via Nuclear Blast. In anticipation of the new release, the band have started rolling out trailers discussing various aspects of the album. In today’s trailer, keyboard player Richard West discusses Glynn Morgan returning to take on vocal duties for the first time since 1994’s Psychedelicatessen album, as well as the cameo appearance by founder member Jon Jeary:

Watch the stunning official video for ‘Small Dark Lines’,

Speaking about the track and video, Karl Groom commented: “The people at Sitcom Soldiers have created just the right atmosphere in our new video clip and it was an enjoyable experience to film for the band. We managed to find some excellent extras and tortured them with freezing showers in the clip, with some travelling as far as Sweden for the pleasure! It is great to have Glynn back in the band with Small Dark Lines showcasing all his power and versatility. This single should give people another glimpse into the double album Legends of the Shires and an idea of what is to come on release day 8 September 2017.”

Legends Of The Shires is available to pre-order on a variety of formats:

Limited Edition Gatefold Double NB Anniversary Green Vinyl inc signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store: http://bit.ly/ThresholdShop
Limited Edition Digipack CD and Limited Edition Gatefold Double Vinyl inc signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk: http://bit.ly/RSThreshold

One of THRESHOLD’s founder members Jon Jeary, who last performed with the band in 2002 also appears on the new album. Jon can be heard performing vocals on ‘The Shire (Part 3)’.

Speaking about his cameo, Jon commented: “I always look forward to hearing a new Threshold album and this time I’m doubly excited because Glynn will be singing and also, I am proud to say, there will be a small cameo vocal performance from me on ‘The Shire (part 3)’. It’s great to be able to appreciate what Threshold do now as one of their faithful army of fans and a privilege to make a small contribution.”

Jon Jeary was the band’s bassist and also performed backing vocals on songs such as ‘Eat The Unicorn’. He co-wrote a number of the band’s early classics, including ‘Sanity’s End’, ‘Into the Light’ and ‘The Ravages Of Time’. Jon previously appeared on the THRESHOLD albums Wounded Land (1993) to Critical Mass (2002).

Catch the band on December 10th at O2 Academy Islington. Tickets here: http://www.songkick.com/concerts/28850284-threshold-at-o2-academy-islington

They will also be making an appearance at HRH Prog in Wales on Nov 17th. Buy tickets: https://www.hrhprog.com/tickets.html

Electric Guitar Soundscapes – Anna Coogan Heads To The UK

US singer-songwriter and former fisheries biologist, Anna Coogan is excited to announce her return to the UK on tour following the release of new record The Lonely Cry of Space & Time, including a show at London’s Sound Lounge on Thursday 19th October.

Take a listen to single Burn For You taken from the recent album:

The album, a virtual two-person effort which features Willie B (Brian Wilson) on drums and Moog bass, combines Coogan’s three-octave soprano vocals, electric guitar soundscapes and pointed social commentary into a fierce cohesive piece which combines the personal and the political, in a musical hybrid of rock, country, pop and classical opera into a unique whole. Her new direction was born from her series of performances in her adopted hometown of Ithaca, NY, in which Anna and Willie B created live musical accompaniments for vintage silent films.

A true independent, Anna releases her own albums and books her own tours, which have taken her all over the world, including international festivals like the Blue Ball in Lucerne, Switzerland, Maverick in Suffolk, UK, as well as the Glasgow Americana Festival and Celtic Connections in Scotland. She has also played extensively in Germany and the Netherlands, and toured as a member of the Johnny Dowd Band.

ANNA COOGAN UK TOUR DATES
Wednesday 18th October – Loves Cafe, Weston-Super-Mare
Thursday 19th October – The Sound Lounge, London
Friday 20th October – Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey
Saturday 21st October – The Band Room, Farndale
Sunday 22nd October Tape – Community Arts Center, Colwyn Bay

 

Threshold Premiere Stunning Official Video For New Track ‘Small Dark Lines’

UK progressive metal quintet THRESHOLD are set to release their colossal double album Legends Of The Shires on September 8th via Nuclear Blast. In anticipation of the new release, the band are proud to announce the premiere of their stunning new video for ‘Small Dark Lines’. The video was directed by Sitcom Soldiers LTD, who developed a powerful narrative involving people from varying backgrounds marking their bodies with paint to symbolise their regrets in life. Water then cascades over them to wash away the lines, as if wiping the slate clean. Watch the band’s second offering from their much anticipated forthcoming album, here:

Speaking about the track and video, Karl Groom commented:  “The people at Sitcom Soldiers have created just the right atmosphere in our new video clip and it was an enjoyable experience to film for the band. We managed to find some excellent extras and tortured them with freezing showers in the clip, with some travelling as far as Sweden for the pleasure! It is great to have Glynn back in the band with Small Dark Lines showcasing all his power and versatility. This single should give people another glimpse into the double album Legends of the Shires and an idea of what is to come on release day 8 September 2017.”

Legends Of The Shires is available to pre-order on a variety of formats:

Limited Edition Gatefold Double NB Anniversary Green Vinyl inc signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store: http://bit.ly/ThresholdShop
Limited Edition Digipack CD and Limited Edition Gatefold Double Vinyl inc signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk: http://bit.ly/RSThreshold

GUY ANDREWS SHARES STORMLAPSE VIDEO FOR ‘IT CANNOT SURFACE’ – ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM DETAILS

StormLapse aka Chad Cowan is an award-winning photographer, licensed UAV pilot, and filmmaker who has been chasing storms across America’s Tornado Alley over the past 10 years and 150,000 miles. His goal is to capture the awe inspiring beauty of nature in the most extreme and violent weather on earth. His footage struck a chord with Guy Andrews leading to it being used in his new video for ‘It Cannot Surface’ which you can watch here:

Speaking on Chad’s work, Guy comments, “He manages to capture the evolving power of nature and its humbling sense of scale. Nature is an unparalleled force to overpower almost anything that stands up to challenge it. A constantly evolving force which cannot ever be fully controlled; it makes our efforts seem futile when trying to dominate this planet. Mother Earth can exercise huge levels of restraint against human’s intentions to interfere: this is the concept which ‘It Cannot Surface’ is based on.

Influenced by the principals of nature’s power, I decided to create a dynamic element in the composition which has the ability to override what would be key features of a song. I did this by creating a chaotic sea of reverb that drowns the prominent elements of the track – the drums and melody – occasionally letting them rise to the surface for air, only to be submerged once again.”

‘It Cannot Surface’ is taken from Guy Andrews’ new album ‘Tåke’ [Norwegian for “mist” or “fog”]. Released on 22nd September via Houndstooth it is a brooding aural landscape, weaving textures and soaring rhythms with energy and restraint to draw upon the haunting sense of change in our time, and explore the space in which we find ourselves.

Guy Andrews is a London based musician known for creating dark, atmospheric music by combining an array of influences from post-rock, techno and electronica to create expansive cinematic masterpieces. His new album was inspired by his visit to Scandinavia last year.  A cancelled return flight from Norway due to fog left Guy with some time to explore his surroundings.

He comments, “I had some extra time to explore Bergen, the city where I was staying. I ended walking up a small mountain and at the top was greeted by a stunning view of Norway’s fjords – it was such a stark contrast to where I was living at the time that it inspired me to write music that reflects the reward you get from exploring new environments.

Writing ‘It Cannot Surface’, it almost felt like the sounds were being submerged, briefly coming above water for air, then being sucked back down. The drums barely surface from the reverb they’re being drowned in – it was an exercise of restraint.”  

Having scored for world-renowned photographer Nadav Kander, as well as collaborating with Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja in the past, ‘Tåke’ sees Guy Andrews working with acclaimed musician Alev Lenz on the haunting and stunning track ‘The Clearing’ and the sinister and pulsating ‘Feelings’. Her music was recently featured in the final episode ‘Hated in The Nation’ of season 3 of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror.

The artwork for Tåke features an oil painting commissioned by critically acclaimed painter Jake Wood-Evans, whose recent work is being currently featured in Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery following a solo exhibition in Unit London.
Following his début album last year on Houndstooth with Our Spaces, 2017 has already seen Guy Andrews record at the legendary Maida Vale studio with Masayoshi Fujita for BBC Radio 3.

After a period of writing and producing ambient music under various aliases, Guy Andrews’ eponymous discography includes music for the critically acclaimed Hemlock record label, Erased Tapes and Scuba’s Hotflush, gaining support from tastemakers Bonobo, Massive Attack, Mary Anne Hobbs, Ulrich Schnauss, Max Cooper and Ben UFO.

Tracklist:  
1 – Guy Andrews & Alev Lenz – The Clearing
2 – Guy Andrews – Trails
3 – Guy Andrews – Fjell
4 – Guy Andrews – It Cannot Surface
5 – Guy Andrews & Alev Lenz – Feelings
6 – Guy Andrews – There Was Nothing You Could Have Done
7 – Guy Andrews – Buried Within
8 – Guy Andrews – The Clearing (Reprise)

Review – Talitha Rise – Blue EP – by Progradar

“There is beauty in the unspoiled innocence of music, a beauty that cannot be quantified but one that fills the soul with empathy and love.”

I wrote that after my umpteenth listen to the first EP from Talitha Rise – ‘Blue’, I like music that has pomp and circumstance and power and glory but I also love music that has the power to move me with it’s grace and beauty and ‘Blue’ fits perfectly in the latter category.

Talitha Rise is the solo project of Jo Beth Young, Jo Beth has been likened to artists such as Tori Amos, First Aid Kit, Mazzy Star and Stevie Nicks all the while remaining a striking and unique voice that hypnotizes the ear.

Whether recorded or live her music grabs the listener from the first few notes and plunges them into the deep with a combination of diverse and haunting vocals, melodical journeys that makes you wonder where on earth you have been for the last 30 minutes.

Her EP ‘Blue’ (co-written and co-produced by Martyn Barker (Shriekback) introduced a forest of unfurled noise where a plethora of strings and lush unexpected sounds wind themselves around stories and understated guestings from artists such as Juldeh Camara (Robert Plant) and Chris Difford (Squeeze).

Six atmospheric songs of understated grace, ‘Blue’ opens with the dreamlike Magpies, a track with an otherworldly feel to it and one where the ethereal qualities of Jo Beth’s gorgeous vocals just draw you in. It’s Folk music but like nothing you’ve really heard before, the pared back rawness of the music adding a primal gloss to everything. Shadow Navigation carries the theme further with a delicate guitar and strings guiding the haunting vocal along a hidden path. These songs were conceived and inspired by the surrounding nature of East Sussex and you can almost feel the life-force running through them. A plaintive violin adds pathos and humility to the stark beauty at the heart of Jo Beth’s elfin-like voice.

There’s an impish tone to Golden Moon, a track with a more traditional folk edge to the music, Listening to Jo Beth I imagine myself in a mist-shrouded dawn as her elegantly lilting tones bewitch you. This song has a more serious overtone, darker, more intriguing as it segues into progressive-folk with its allegorical connotations, slightly devilish and wild. The most pared back song on the EP, Deadwood is a delicate and sublime piece of music, the fragility barely held back as Jo Beth delivers her halting vocal like an ancient troubadour, backed by the bare essentials of instrumentation. There’s a ghostly, intangible sensation that hangs over the whole track and you find yourself getting lost in its inestimable charm.

Wide-eyed innocence flows from Jo Beth’s voice as she sings the opening words to Morning, another simple and yet delightful piece of music that plucks at your heart strings with its naiveté and guilelessness. Perhaps more Art Pop than folk, it fits in with the rest of the songs perfectly. There’s no complications to music when it is as simple and unpretentious as this and it lifts the heavy weight of life from your soul. Too soon the EP comes to a close with Doves, perhaps the most progressively tinged track with its enigmatic aura. A passionate and ardent song, Jo Beth gives us her most powerful vocal performance and yet she never loses that childlike innocence from her voice. The vibrant music delivers a colourful soundscape that envelops all and closes out the EP in elegant style.

Captivating and bewitching from the first note, the ethereal beauty and childlike grace of Jo Beth Young’s vocals are at the core of ‘Blue’, a wondrously engaging collection of songs that serve notice of a musical talent to watch out for. She is currently finishing the debut Talitha Rise album due for release in late  2017. The Lake is the first single of the album.

Released 14th February 2017

Buy ‘Blue’ from bandcamp