On March 12th 2020 in Switzerland my prized Michael Grinter flute literally shattered on stage in what was to be my last gig until August 21st 2021.
We left Switzerland quickly before they entered full lockdown and returned home where we entered our own just a few weeks later.
Musicians’ lives, as we knew them at least, ground to a halt. Me and my little family were lucky enough to be living at the time in a small apartment at Lamb’s House in Leith (a beautifully restored former Merchant’s House built in 1610). With the whole place almost entirely to ourselves I decided after a few months of gloom and soul searching to try and look at the experience of isolation differently and started viewing this very unique time in Lamb’s House more as a residency than an incarceration. I recorded regularly over many months in different spaces with different acoustics of wood and stone. All late, late at night when outside noise was minimal and my daughter fast asleep. With my main instrument out of action and no chance of repair until restrictions were lifted, I tried all sorts of flutes in those months. Getting them from auctions and having them worked on, finding out about rarities through friends. Selling some on to buy others and eventually having the opportunity to buy an extremely special Rudall and Rose (the Stradivarius of the flute world if you will!), that is the main instrument on this recording and the inspiration for the first track.
Eventually I ended up with 40+ tracks of solo flute and 20+ flutes in various states. I added harmony using a Greek Bouzouki and with my other hat on as a Sound Designer I added modified flute parts, samples and textures of weather to thicken the real sounds coming from the open windows in the summer months. The editing and mixing process took almost as long as the recording and what you’ll hear are the final results that are at last being released. It’s been a fascinating and at times terrifying process and I can’t wait to share it with you.
