We have two new releases lined-up for the 14th of May and in the first of these, we welcome back Glåsbird with the next installment of their A Sonic Expedition series. Himalaya is as you might expect, based on the region which hosts the world’s tallest mountain ranges and this album traces a fictitious climbing expedition, with the sound representing the ascent and descent and all the emotions that follow the journey. The sound blends electro-acoustic, textured electronics with orchestral and regional influenced sounds. ‘Himalaya‘ will be up for pre-order this coming Bandcamp Friday, the 6th of May.
Then ‘Himalaya‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs, complete with art and design by Andrew Heath.
It will be released officially on Saturday the 14th of May. If you join our mailing list using the link below, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.
press release
“Glåsbird’s A Sonic Expedition series continues, arriving at the Himalayas as the destination for the 6th album installment of this global exploration. For those of you who are unaware, this is a project for this anonymous producer to explore far-flung geographic themes over the course of 10 albums. The series began inside the Arctic circle, moved into Scandinavia and surrounding area, onto Siberia and in this second half, it emerges in the highest mountain range on earth. It moves from expansive open landscapes and onto a new theme of treacherous peaks.
Himalaya was created as a fictitious film soundtrack, tracking the struggles and triumphs of a climber as they embark on and summit an unspecified mountain. The album begins with an ancient quietude, follows to snow-damped hikes before it delves into high-altitude ascents, with the music becoming ever more dramatic and at times, triumphant. The album closes with a descent, as the music gradually softens again but it carries with it, a sense of weary achievement.
As usual, Glåsbird has spent hours trawling archive film footage and documentary series’ as well as studying the terrain, through old maps and Google Earth. The album package includes photography by climber Jay Whiting, with the front, inner and rear images taken in the Himalayas during an expedition. Inside the sleeve, you’ll find some words provided by Neil McRoberts which give a poignant reflection on the Himalayas themselves, and the symbolism of mountains as a mammoth challenge. There is much to be discovered from a struggle and we hope that in some way, this record can provide inspiration, encouragement and some kind of peace.“
credits
Written and produced by Glåsbird
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Jay Whiting
Words by Neil McRoberts
Art and design by Andrew Heath
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