The album HIGHER LOVERS is made up of songs written and recorded over a 2 year period, between September 2017 and December 2019. Although this was a long gestation period, the physical recording sessions amounted to around 14 days. Recording took place in short bursts over that timescale. 15 songs were recorded but only 9 have been included on the album. The songs are diverse as the mix of genres set out on the website confirms. A separate EP, 'Shamed' is slated for a follow-up later in the year, in order to maintain some semblance of stylistic consistency.
The first tracks, 'I Close My Eyes', 'You Are The Sun' and 'Apes Like Sheep', together with 'The Bread And The Wine', 'At Night I Dream Of Stars' and 'Dance Like The First Time' (all potentially from the 'Shamed EP', were recorded in October and November 2018, with overdubs and vocals being recorded in January 2019. Writing continued during that year with further tracks being recorded in June, July and August 2019.
The later tracks were more heavily oriented towards keyboards with the additional 'live' instruments being recorded using click tracks. The keyboards on the album were recorded at home via Logic and 'polished' in the professional recording studio, utilising the talents of Dominic Bailey-Clay at 9 Volt Leap Recording Studios in Melksham.
These tracks, 'The New Man', 'Give Me Reasons', 'Dive Down Under Water' and 'Higher Lovers', were recorded over the summer months, with Russ and Annabelle playing them for the first time in the studio, a tribute to their patience and talents.
Michelle Heckert, aka 'The Small American', added her fantastic vocal talents over 2 memorable mornings in June.
One of the tracks 'In The Rain', which has not yet been set for release boasted a horn section which was arranged by Pete Bernard and recorded by Tom Cory at Bath Spa University. The song has since gone through a bit of a metamorphosis and is destined to be re-recorded for a future EP.
The album was mixed by Dominic Bailey-Clay and mastered at 9 Volt Leap between September 2019 and January 2020.
It is finally due for release on 1st May 2020.
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