Price: £17.99
Format: Vinyl
Artist: Old Fire
CatNo: KSCOPE941
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Old Fire Songs from the Haunted South vinyl ambient
Old Fire is the pet project of Texas based programmer John Mark Lapham, - of The Earlies and 4AD band The Late Cord fame.
 
Taking nearly a decade to make, Songs From The Haunted South is the project's acclaimed debut from 2016.

2017 double 180g heavyweight audiophile vinyl edition cut at 45rpm.

“Anyone missing This Mortal Coil, roll up..." 4/5 MOJO

"...stands toe to toe with the best Brian Eno has ever released... the kind of record that stays with you, permanently." 9/10 Outburn

"...could go criminally under the radar" Lauren Laverne, BBC Radio 6 Music

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Born from an album concept for a 4AD project with singer Micah P. Hinson (The Late Cord), the album was originally intended to feature different singers and musicians recording songs that were both covers and originals. After parting ways with Micah, Lapham remained determined to realize his vision for the album and sought voices he considered special or fitted the inspiration.
 
The first piece of the puzzle fell in to place after meeting the former owner of 4AD, Ivo Watts Russell, who introduced Lapham to singer/songwriter, Tom Rapp - who recorded a string of haunting albums in the late 60s and 70s under the name Pearls Before Swine. The vocals Rapp provided formed the basis of the track Shadows. In the following years, guest vocals were recorded by Sara Lowes (The Earlies), DM Stith, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club), Rebekka Karijord, and Alex Maas (Black Angels). 
 
The project also features a myriad of exceptional musicians including DM Stith - piano and guitar, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club) - Piano, Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive) - Guitar, Thor Harris (Swans) - Drums, Christian Madden - Rhodes piano & Organ and Semay Wu -Cello.
 
The 13 track album contains a selection of songs that in one way or another are dedications to people, some dead and some still living. Musically, inspirations range from ambient artists such as Brian Eno and Stars of the Lid to Psychedelic Rock, traditional Country and early 4AD.  
 
Sitting alongside the original Old Fire compositions are a selection of intriguing cover versions. Lapham uniquely interprets songs by Psychic TV ( The Orchids),  Low (Laser Beam), Ian William Craig (A Sight Grip, A Gentle Hold), Jason Molina (It's Easier Now), Camberwell Now (Know How) and Shearwater (Helix).
 
'Songs From The Haunted South' was produced by John Mark Lapham, mixed by JM Lapham and Mark Kuykendall, and was mastered by Ian Hawgood.
 
The powerful cover art was designed by 4AD's Grammy Award winning designer Vaughan Oliver, famed for his work with artists such as Mojave 3, Lush, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, The Breeders, This Mortal Coil, Pixies, Throwing Muses in addition to artists such as David Sylvian and Bush..
 
The cover shot taken in 1958 features Lapham's father during bivouac camping basic training in the foothills of the Ozarks, at Fort Chaffee.
 
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A
1. Old Fire 3 [03:21]
2. Along Came A Sadness [02:00]
3. Helix [04:29]
4. Know How [03:50]
5. It's Easier Now [04:56]
6. A Stranger in The Family [04:11]
 
B
1. Bloodchild [04:23]
2. Faust [02:04]
3. Shadows [05:26]
4. A Slight Grip, A Gentle Hold [03:56]
5. Laser Beam [04:22]
6. The Orchids [03:04]
7. Deadhouse Dream [04:13]