Embracing the world again... August 2018
Steve with Durga and Lorelei
Paul playing the didgeridoo
I'm thrilled to see how all the new album tracks are coming together as we now work around the clock to meet the record company deadline!
A ton of people are involved on this opus...
We have exotic instrumentalists like extraordinary talent Sheema Mukherjee on sitar. Her family had strong connections with Ravi Shankar and she is a top sitar player. Her playing is fabulously dexterous and powerful. Multi-talented Paul Stillwell on didgeridoo was able to create sounds on his didge which I had never heard before... bestial, yet mystical at the same time. It's Shamanic... I'm planning add the exotic sound of Malik Mansurov's tar as well. He transports us through time and space to the spirit of Eastern nomadic tribes.
We're also taken back in time to the soul of Afro-America through the strong and extraordinary vocals of Durga and Loreley MacBroom, who have both sung with Pink Floyd. Amanda Lehmann sings on several tracks with her exceptionally beautiful and varied voice, which raises the album to new heights.
Fabulously dynamic American drummer Nick D'Virgilio is on the album too, as well as extraordinary Icelandic drummer / percussionist Gulli Briem. On bass is hugely talented Swedish bassist Jonas Reingold, and amazingly versatile Rob Townsend plays on sax, duduk and bass clarinet.
As well as this international cast of artists, we have Christine Townsend on violin and viola and Dick Driver on double bass. As well as the international feel, there is a strongly orchestral thread to this album. Roger King is pulling the whole project together in an extraordinary way, with his own talent as keyboard player and his ability to deal with the complexity of all the multi-tracks.
Jo and I are constantly exploring musical ideas and lyrics... It's still not quite finished and at every turn there's a new surprise, but it's reached that exciting stage when you feel you're finally flying towards the finishing post...
Watch this space for more album news...
Steve with Amanda Lehmann, Roger King and Paul Gosling (who is filming some recording sessions)
John Hackett playing the flute
Christine Townsend playing the viola
Roger, Rob and Steve
Dick Driver playing the double bass
Sheema playing the sitar
