CD: WM17
RELEASED: 2005
LABEL: Words On Music

01. Understanding Heavy Metal Parts I and II
02. Home Run
03. The Last Mosquito Fight of Summer
04. Remarkable Things
05. Swans
06. The Swimmer
07. Be Forever
08. Snow Song
09. Will You Still Love Me Yesterday?
10. He Dreams of Spaceships
11. Illuminations

Lorna have contrived to come up with something very special in 'Static Patterns And Souvenirs', the second album of remarkably orchestrated songwriting of this Nottingham, England quartet. Lorna uses Scottish pop, postrock, Americana, and dream pop as signposts, but invigorates each of these genres by injecting a complex, yet seamless array of instrumentation, both traditional and experimental. 'Static Patterns And Souvenirs' is a beautifully crafted and executed piece of work. It's a total chill out with its soft, sensual rhythms augmented by some superb instrumentation and vocals. Typically, this work is recorded with a precision and clarity that allows the listener to hear every detail and nuance of every subtle sound. The lyrics are crystal clear and silky smooth and such is the complexity of its almost trance inducing quality that with each separate playing there seems to be something new happening with theremin, samples and programming snippets carefully dotted and slotted in and around the melodies. Forming the nucleus of Lorna's mind numbing sounds are Sharon Cohen (vocals and piano), James Allen (vocals and bass), Mark Rolfe, (vocals and guitar) and Matt Harrison (flute and guitar). Apart from their main instruments of choice Lorna throw the aural delights of pedal steel, classical guitar, vibraphone, viola, banjo, French horn, flugelhorn, harmonica and mandola all of which are combined with the experimental additions of theremin, synths, found noises and various electronic sounds. Adding the icing to this already tasty offering come the stunning, powerful yet graceful, musical arrangements which give Lorna their trademark relaxed, trance-like 'feel'. 'Static Patterns And Souvenirs' is a beautifully sleepy, peaceful piece of contemporary music oozing quality and finesse.

Influences / Similar Artists:
Coastal, Meeting Places, Should, Motion Picture