The former Wild Beast singer’s new LP is a beautiful, experimental release inspireed by Robert Macfarlane’s book of the same name, and is an ode to the wilderness of Suffolk’s coast’s mysterious ten-mile long shingle spit at Orford Ness, the site of former Ministry of Defence weapons development. It was used during both World Wars and the Cold War, but was laster acquired by the National Trust in 1993 and was left to re-wild, it to this day remains a place of paradox, mystery and constant evolution. Thorpe’s features the words of Macfarlane and the artwork of Stanley Donwood. As well as Thorpe’s high, pure, dynamic voice, the album features a variety of instruments and sounds - organs, horns, twittering woodwinds and strings (much played by Propellor Ensemble with band leader Jack McNeill arranging parts and playing clarinet) across the record particularly coming the fore on second track WTF Is That? which follows the gorgeous opener Merman, or the Moog Subharmonicon synth on V which a fabulous vocal arrangement by Kerry Andrew who contributes more to the album. Treasures are to be found throughout – vivid, unusual phrasing and lyrical images brought out by evocative playing. Other standouts including He, and She, or the arresting spoken narrative of They, which evolves into beautiful sounds, electronic and analogue, spooky In The Green Chapel, the staccato It, or the lovey lilting waltz time of As. A treasure trove from start to finish, filled with mystery and magic, connecting history with the present in such a tangible, beautiful, sensual form. Haunting, strange, unique, a work that has become it’s own living, breathing museum piece. Visit and revisit, and enjoy the beauty and the wonder. Out on Domino. Hayden is also out on tour - see details here.
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