Out Friday 26 April 2024 | Braw Sailin’
Acclaimed Scottish musicians Charlie Grey and Joseph Peach have announced their fifth collaborative album A Breaking Sky, set for release on Friday 26 April 2024.
The duo’s innovative approach to music-making, marked by their distinctive visual interpretations and intuitive improvisation, sets A Breaking Sky apart as a truly immersive and evocative listening experience, combining both the rich traditions of folk with elements of instrumental and contemporary classical music.
Forgoing pre-arranged compositions in favour of free improvisation, the Glasgow-based duo sought to capture the essence of their creative process in its purest form with this record – resulting in an unparalleled level of originality, authenticity and raw emotion.
Central to the album’s sonic identity is the recording setting of Ardkinglas House on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll, renowned for its exquisite acoustics and vintage pianos. The decision to record entirely live, with Charlie and Joseph performing in the same room, lends an intimate and spontaneous quality to the music, further enhanced by the analogue mixing process overseen by acclaimed engineer and co-producer Mattie Foulds.
Charlie Grey said: “With this record, we aimed to capture the raw emotion and freedom we experience while playing together, uninhibited by audiences or other constraints. Our journey as a duo has been about translating that ineffable feeling into recordings and live performances. Working with Mattie and recording at Ardkinglas allowed us to achieve that vision, evoking the true essence of our musical connection.”
The first single from the album, A’ Mirean San Adhar, Gaelic for Dancing in the Air, is set for release on Friday 12 April. The stunning track intertwines calming melodies with uplifting rhythms and subtle changes in tempo, creating depth and adding a captivating level of interest.
Sorley’s Slide is the second single from the record, which will be released on Friday 19 April with an accompanying video. The poignant composition invites listeners on an emotive journey, showcasing the pair’s undeniable ability to craft deeply evocative and immersive sonic experiences with their chosen instruments.
Joseph Peach said: “At the heart of our music lies the interplay between tension and release, much like the movement of clouds in the sky. We wanted to evoke that sense of fluidity and unpredictability in our compositions, allowing the music to unfold organically. We are incredibly proud of this album and feel it is an accurate representation of our musical relationship and style. We hope that resonates with listeners.”
Together, Charlie and Joseph have been described as displaying ‘enthralling prowess and attunement’ (The Scotsman). Their journey began in 2016, with their debut release Waves Rise From Quiet Water, which was shortlisted for FATEA Magazine’s Instrumental Album of the Year. The following year, the duo reached the final of BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Award.
A Breaking Sky was recorded at Ardkinglas House in Argyll and was mixed at Eastbourne’s Echo Zoo studios by Mattie Foulds on a Trident TSM desk.
The album, as well as a video for the track ‘S Maise an Dòchas, will be available to stream and download from Friday 26 April 2024. An additional live video for the track Aignish will be released on Friday 3 May.