LOWB – Leap And The Net Will Appear
‘Leap And The Net Will Appear’ is the first release of my new project LOWB. It’s also the first release on my new label Ear Parcel Recordings so there’s a lot to celebrate. The album title refers to my internal philosophy and battle-cry of the last few years. It’s so easy to give in to doubt and fear, quenching efforts and dreams, and trampling the seeds of change which we cultivate. Leap and the net will appear is a zen quote which gives trust and reassurance. Leap, trust and the universe will catch you, as it wants you to succeed. You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
The songs on the album were written all over the planet – from India to Amsterdam – and then tinkered with and mixed near Brighton UK. My intention was to write and record an album with a strong sense of healing and connection, but also with plenty of grit and fun. I’ve mixed acoustic instruments with digital sounds and used guest musicians and vocalists to add their own brand of magic. Some of the songs were originally written for Film, and then turned out to be tracks in their own right. There’s no shortage of strange time signatures and off centre drums which, with or without Lamb, just seem to just pour out of me.
You can watch the mini-documentary about the making of the album at the top of the page. Or listen to a few songs, read some of my notes & watch some movies below. A full album preview can be heard in the store section. Enjoy.
LowbConsecration - feat. Jay Leighton
Inward Outburst - feat. Carrie Tree
Wheeler Dealer Healer
Wheeler Dealer Healer
Wheeler dealer healer is the opening song on the album and was written in Ibiza. One of my all time favourite places, it has a magical energy where like-minded souls seem to magnetically and effortlessly gather. I don’t mean the club scene, rather the more off-the-beaten track type of people and idylls. Whenever I hear this track I’m instantly transported back to this magical island.
Consecration
Adrian Freedman sang this during a plant medicine ceremony at my home near Brighton. He sung as he strummed along with his guitar and It was one of those rare moments when the potential of the song and all the inherent musical ideas for it came to me in a creative flash. It now sounds very different from that first listen in the Tipi, but my intention was to retain the same sense of spirit – powerful and dark, yet uplifting and sacred.
Digital Stone Age
What do you get if you cross beautiful harp and strings with in-your-face rock drums? …. Well, this I guess! I was feeling particularly emotional during a cold winter spell. I dried my eyes, sat at my Rhodes piano and this emerged.
Inward Outburst
Carrie Tree and I wrote this in India. We were shading from the stifling midday heat, on a covered part of the beach. She started playing the chords for the verse on her guitar and we both became inspired and penned the rest of the song together. I love Carrie’s fragile but determined voice, and the constant triplet (3 against four) feel of the track.
Haven
Nemo Jones came over to stay for a few days. I was making our breakfast during a beautiful spring morning while Nemo was jamming on his guitar looking out into the garden. A chord sequence caught my ear and we abandoned our toast and recorded it in one take in my home studio. I then played in the bass and the rest of the song seemed to arrange itself.
Lowb
I’d just bought a new wave drum and the first time I played it I felt so inspired I wrote this song on it. I love the dirty yet beautiful texture of this track. I wanted to write a song I could really move my ass to. Uplifting and epic but with plenty of grit.
Tears and Sparks
Carrie and I wrote this in Amsterdam. I got my hands on a hang drum, a strange and immensely pleasurable instrument to play, and the hang groove heard coming in in the first chorus started the creative process rolling. The song refers to the Yin and Yang of fire and water within a relationship, and the conflict and creativity that comes from their fusion.
Looking God in the Eye
To this day my memories of writing, playing and recording this song are vague. It seemed to be channelled from some distant place. I kind of remember starting to play the piano in the studio surrounded by candles, then the rest is a bit of a dream. I woke up at 6am and the song was finished. I played the song to a friend at the burning man festival in Nevada and they said it was “like looking god in the eye”…. hence the title
Compassion
Initially called Breathe To This, this was written in Manchester many years ago and has existed in numerous different guises. The snare sound is me throwing handfuls of pebbles onto the stones on Brighton Beach. My friend had to bribe the kids nearby with sweets and ice-cream so they’d be quiet for long enough to allow us to properly record the sound the stones made. If life seems tough and you’ve lost your centre, close your eyes and time your breathing to the beat of the track. Your breathing and heartbeat will eventually slowdown and you’ll feel you want to slow down too. A healing track from the heart.
