This is the first track released from the new album 'Memory Lake'.
Strange how sometimes circumstance dictates events in ways we would never dream of.
Back at the start of 2011, my friend and photographer Dom Agius put up onto Facebook one of his amazing night-time shots of London. I buzzed him and told him to go and listen to “Io” from our previous album ‘Satellites’ whilst gazing at his photo, as the glacial-speed jazziness of that track fitted the picture.
Dom told me that it was part of a photographic album of his called ‘This Town’, so I went to investigate. It’s a wonderful collection of images – some oddball, some poignant, some haunting – and I said to Dom “I could write a track for those photos, you know”, an idea that, happily, he was into and agreed that we could use the photos for any subsequent video.
Many months passed, during which I’d started the ‘Memory Lake’ album (still then without a title…but that’s another story) and all the while having fleeting thought of “I must get ‘This Town’ sorted.”
Then, out of the blue, I had the tune in my head whilst walking home from the village shop, rushed home and committed it to disc. The result of that is what you hear in this track. I hope you think, as many do, that the music fits the photos (the video is up on Youtube, expertly assembled by Beth from Dom’s photographs).
It’s easily one of my favourites and would not have existed at all but for Dom’s talent, kindness, generosity and influence, for which, along with his valuable friendship, I will be eternally grateful.
So Dom, if you’re looking, this one’s for you, mate. It wouldn’t have existed without you.
Although the subject matter was/is London in this instance, this track applies to anywhere...my town, your town, any town.
Video for the track can be found at
www.youtube.com/Shardsy1
More photos @
www.domagius.com
from
Memory Lake,
track released April 21, 2012
Phil Lawton - Keyboards, basses, guitars, synths, drum programming
Beth Freeman - Keyboards, drum programming, occasional vocals