Best known as a long-time member of Tindersticks, David Boulter returns to Clay Pipe Music with a mini-album inspired by England’s North Yorkshire coast.
David Boulter’s latest album, “Whitby,” emerges from a profound connection with the desolate beauty of the North Yorkshire coast. Inspired by the evocative imagery of a sunset over Whitby Abbey and the raw power of the crashing waves, the artist translates a sense of stillness and natural drama into a quietly powerful musical meditation.
“I’m constantly inspired by my surroundings, or memories of them,” he says. “Sat on an almost deserted beach, halfway between Whitby and Sandsend, it really hit me. The absolute beauty – and how alien it seemed. It was quite a stormy day: grey skies coming in off the North Sea, sun breaking through. The way the light hit the rocks, scattered across the beach; the waves crashing. Walking up to the ruined Abbey at sunset, again almost deserted. I imagined human life disappeared.”
Rather than relying solely on field recordings, Boulter masterfully reinterprets the coastal atmosphere through instrumentation. Tracks evoke the experience of walking the Cinder Track (once a railway line connecting Scarborough to Whitby – listen to The Cinder Track below) or sitting on the beach, weaving a tapestry of sound that reflects on history, the enduring landscape, and humanity’s impact. “At a time when it seems we are pushing our planet to the edge,” Boulter muses, “I felt such calm and connection to the landscape – and how simple beauty can be. But we can change.” “Whitby” is a poignant reminder of nature’s resilience and a subtle call for reflection.
David Boulter – Whitby
LP/CD/DL + Enamel badge. 500 hand numbered vinyl copies
Pre-order now, release August 2nd 2025 on Clay Pipe Music
Available from both Bandcamp and *Greedbag
(*best option for those outside the UK)