Ani Glass ethereal new single ‘Phantasmagoria’ is out today 4th of July, it is the title track from her forthcoming second album. It comes with a beautiful and evocative video directed by Lowri Palfrey.
The single ‘Phantasmagoria’ weaves themes of water and sleep into a beguiling sonic landscape layered with mystical ethereal vocals invested with a restless need for stillness and comfort. Lush instrumentation is underpinned by synth pulses played by co-producer Iwan Morgan and swirling flutes played by Laura J Martin. “I’m the prophet of sleep and silence/Phantasmagoria/We’ll rest until summer” Glass sings touchingly, in the arms of chiming classical textures, there are echoes of early Goldfrapp or the enveloping vocal swoops of Enya. Yet, it’s a moment of warm, transcendent beauty and comforting self-realisation. Now we rest, the storm will pass.
In February 2020, just before the release of her debut album Mirores, Ani Glass (Cardiff-based artist Ani Saunders) was diagnosed with a rare benign brain tumour. The diagnosis marked the beginning of a personal journey that shaped her second album, Phantasmagoria (released on the 26th of September), a lush introspective concept album that delves deeply into her experience of navigating life with this diagnosis. With lyrics in Cymraeg (Welsh), Kernewek (Cornish), and English, as well as some BSL woven into her live performances, Phantasmagoria brings together all languages and mediums at Ani’s disposal to express a poignant time in her life.
Crafting a elegantly drawn sonic world underpinned by electronica, samples and synth pulses yet informed by the spirit of Arthur Russell who inspired her to learn the cello, Glass crafts her most personal and inspirational work yet, she stretches her sonic tapestry with live instrumentation and innovative vocal performances, that push into the realms of the avant-garde and forward-looking pop, Phantasmagoria fascinates and invigorates at every turn, revealing intricate and innovative details with every listen.
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"Cruising" is a classic soft rock tune about coping in the difficult times we live in, especially through somebody close to you. The song features brand new English lyrics by Jimmy Granstrom and Dave Prine to Lars Brundin's Swedish song "Du finns här" that he wrote with Herbert Tinz and Rebecka Molander. Lars is a singer/songwriter whose songs have been frequently played on P4 Malmöhus, one of Sweden's largest regional radio stations. His debut album Hotel Royal got a rave review by "Expressen", which is one of Sweden's largest newspapers.
The singer Jeanette Bengtsson has toured the USA and Europe as part of the ABBA tribute band "Arrival From Sweden". She has also performed and recorded vocals with singer/songwriter Michael Stolt and his band featuring Roxette guitarist Jonas Isacsson. Jimmy and Lars also have a connection with Roxette, as their previous collaboration "Only Summer" resulted in airplay on the SiriusXM show "Nordic Rox" co-hosted by Per Gessle.
Finally, Dave Prine came from a musical family (his "Uncle John" is indeed the legendary singer/songwriter John Prine). When he's not jotting down notes and chords, he works on endangered language revitalization. He's lent a voice to both the Navajo and the Ojibwe dubbing of Star Wars.
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| Photo - Lauren Massie |
Nicki Bluhm has just announced her eighth studio album Rancho Deluxe, due out October 3. A musical patchwork quilt that captures Nashville’s collaborative spirit, Rancho Deluxe finds Bluhm reflecting on well-earned lessons from nearly two decades in the music business. Along with the announcement, Bluhm shares her infectious new single “Cumberland Banks.” Laced with banjo (played by Mumford & Sons' Matt Mennefee) and dobro (played by Greensky Bluegrass' Anders Beck), it's a nod to her new home down South inspired by her time touring with the celebrated bluegrass group The Infamous Stringdusters.
Bluhm on the new song: "Canoeing down the Cumberland River was a favorite pastime of ours, until the day we found ourselves huddled under a bridge fearing for our lives in the midst of a Tennessee thunderstorm. This song is that story told in the form of a late-night summertime John Hartford and Roger Miller pick-along.”
Recorded as live takes over just five days, Rancho Deluxe takes its name from the Nashville home studio that Bluhm assembled with her co-writer, producer and partner Jesse Noah Wilson. Joined by first-rate musicians Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves), Jess Nolan (Jenny Lewis) and Cameron Neal (Elle King, Shakey Graves), together they pulled from a swirl of influences, including folk-rock, western psychedelia and ‘60s West Coast soul music. The end result features songs that are rooted in resilience, relaxation and the relationships she's built with like-minded collaborators.
"This is a harvest record," shares Bluhm. "It's a collection of the fruits of my labor. I've taken all these life lessons and experiences, and I've learned from them. Jesse and I have an amazing arsenal of friends and family that we recruited to play on the record, and that interplay lends itself to a freedom in the studio. We were focused on catching the moment, being in the room together, and experiencing something communally."
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