“I wanted to create a dialogue evocative of the emergence of increasingly interconnected but ethereal, even alien, spaces and experiences in the 21st century.“
‘Lillies’ is an emotional statement of intent. Deeply contemplative yet dynamic, the music takes you on a journey through sound worlds created with synthesizers, field recordings, percussion instruments and intense electronic processing. Expect sparkling synths, stylish drum breaks and percussion, deep layers of reverb and delay, and bass that reaches to the bottom of your soul. ‘Knote Strasse’ features an introspective solo from trumpet virtuoso Ned Ashcroft.
The EP is inspired by Leonard’s Geography degree, questioning our relations to the environment, and each other, in the contemporary world. ‘Natural’, acoustic, electronic and human sounds are juxtaposed and warped into an intricate, bottomless and potent musical ecosystem which seeks to come to terms with the realities of 21st century pollution, ecological decline and the legacies of colonial power relations.
Influenced by an open approach to improvisation, ‘Lillies’ pays tribute to the legacy of jazz musicians such as Yusef Lateef and Sun Ra, as well as the electronic musician Suzanne Ciani.
The artwork is a physical collage, photographed and edited electronically.
Out April 23rd on Electronic Ecology [ELEC001].
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