Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening announce cloud horizons, their second album (out on September 1st via Resilient Records). Ahead of the release, she shares the video for their lead single ‘Long For Light’, also our Song of the Day.
It was in 2019 that award-winning Northumbrian roots musician Kathryn Tickell released Hollowbone, her first album with her band The Darkening. As Neil McFadyen said in his album review – ‘Hollowbone’ in Shamanism is an empty vessel to connect with the spirit world. A perfect title, then, for this mesmerising album from Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, an album that connects music and song with history, geography and people; music that transcends barriers, draws on ancient and contemporary voices, in a work that is as elemental as it is sophisticated...Hollowbone is a wonderful, brave, and intoxicating album.
In a follow-up interview, Kathryn spoke passionately of how traditional music can be forward-looking…as noted by David Weir. Surely, seeing the synergy of these players in action and hearing this cross-pollination of styles should dispel any such notion.
On Long For Light, the first single from cloud horizons, that synergy and cross-pollination couldn’t be clearer or more forward-looking/sounding. Global influences swirl beautifully throughout as an ancient Northumbrian language is reimagined. Downtempo trance meets tradition…reminiscent of the late Martyn Bennett’s global fusion, Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening are taking it to another level. Long For Light is also our Song of the Day.
Watch the accompanying video below:
The new record will be available on CD and digital download. Pre-orders: https://kathryntickell.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-horizons
Based in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall yet reaching out to the wider world, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years. Songs range from themes of freedom, nature and venturing out into the world after times of darkness, to a Roman inscription with links to Libya and Syria magnetically pulled into the 21st century by Amen-inspired breakbeats, ominous vocals and the wildest of piping…
cloud horizons is an album of extremes – Northumbrian traditions meet global influences. Dark, edgy soundscapes flare into euphoria with the razor-sharp precision of the pipes and accordion, bombastic effects-drenched octave-mandolin, haunting harmony vocals, skillfully programmed beats, evocative slow airs and wild, heart-pounding dance tunes. Lyres, clàrsach, sistrum, bone-flute and traditional Galician percussion add potency to the compelling ambience.
Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening is made up of four North-East England-based members: Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, vocals), Amy Thatcher (accordion, synth, clogs, vocals), Kieran Szifris (octave mandolin), Joe Truswell (drums, percussion, programming, plus Stef Conner from Cambridge (vocals, lyres, sistrum)and Josie Duncan from the Isle of Lewis (vocals, clarsach). Together these dazzling musicians create musical magic, dynamic and unique “Ancient Northumbrian Futurism”.
Tour Dates
To celebrate the release of cloud horizons, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening will play shows and festivals from August to October with dates as follows:
Fri 4 August Sidmouth Folk Festival
Sat 5 August Wickham Festival
Sat 19 August Folk East
Fri 1 Sept Lindisfarne Festival
Sat 2 Sept Civic Theatre, Gosforth
Thurs 7 Sept Victoria Hall, Settle
Fri 8 Sept Theatre, Chipping Norton
Sat 9 Sept Swanage Folk Festival
Sun 10 Sept Dartington Arts, Devon
Mon 11 Sept St Ives September Festival
Tues 12 Sept South Street, Reading
Mon 16 Oct Apex, Bury St Edmunds
Tues 17 Oct The Stables, Wavendon
Wed 18 Oct University of York
Mon 23 Oct Gala Theatre, Durham
Tues 24 Oct Waterside Arts, Manchester
Wed 25 Oct St George’s, Bristol
Thurs 26 Oct Cecil Sharp House, London
Fri 27 Oct Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Tickets: kathryntickell.com
In a storied career spanning over 30 years, cloud horizons is Kathryn’s 16th release and her first album of completely new material….yet the sense of rootedness within the music has never been stronger.
cloud horizons Tracklisting
- High Way To Hermitage
- Long For Light 04:00
- Caelestis
- Quilley Reel
- Freedom Bird
- Just Stop & Eat The Roses
- Bone Music
- Clogstravaganza
- Gods Of War
- One Night In Moaña
- Back To The Rede
Pre-orders: https://kathryntickell.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-horizons