Hi, it’s been a while I realise, but finally I am able to share the first preview of a track from the new album ‘Exploration and Ascent’.

The album as a whole is inspired by Himalayan exploration, and in particular by Shipton and Tillman’s search for a way into the Nanda Devi Sanctuary in the Indian Himalaya. The title of the album is actually taken from the title of a compilation of the journals by Shipton and Tillman, incorporating the search for a route, and the final ascent of the mountain. Originally the album was going to be much more strictly based on this, but it has evolved since the original ideas. However I still think of it as a kind of musical journey partly inspired by those real journeys, and the intention is for the structure and track titles to suggest that.
Musically, as I said before I think it is an evolution of the Northcape sound which incorporates some of the more textured ambience seen on the free download ‘Alluvial’ EP (while being more upbeat than this in many places), but in a melodic and rhythmic sense I think there is still a clear sense of continuity from ‘Captured From Static’. It’s been difficult at times to get here for a variety of reasons, both creative and otherwise, so it’s great to have something that finally will be released. Most importantly, I hope the album expresses something worthwhile as a self-contained piece of work.
Anyway this track is probably one of my personal favourites from the album, which will be out in early 2013. It is a ‘Northcape mastered’ version rather than the final mastered version that will appear on the album. Hope that you enjoy it, and look out for more prior to the release! If you want to stay updated, and also get access to some exclusive free downloads, please join the mailing list here!.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 1st, 2012 at 10:19 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.