If…, is the debut solo album from Bill Ryder-Jones, released November 14th. If… was recorded to soundtrack Italo Calvino’s meditation on writing in the post modernist novel If On A Winters Night A Traveller and lays out grand orchestral movements side by side with stark, nakedly emotional vocal led pieces that weave a bleak but beautifully visceral accompanying narrative. You can listen to the track Give Me A Name here:
Ryder-Jones left The Coral after the fifth studio album Roots & Echoes, on which his arrangements hinted at a deeper and spectacular compositional talent. If… has since provided the framework necessary for Ryder-Jones to explore his musical potency in full detail.
Taking its cue from Abel Korzeniowski’s off-kilter soundtrack for Tom Ford’s acclaimed film A Single Man, If…’s influences are eclectic and diverse, from modern cinema composers like Michael Galasso (Seraphine) and Clint Mansell (The Wrestler, Black Swan) to psychedelic sorcerer Syd Barrett, Nick Cave and nineties Welsh indie-psych disciples Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. The results often sound like musical pieces in search of a film and it’s Bill’s intention that the listeners minds conjure their own to accompany the album.
If… was recorded in various locations around Ryder-Jones’ hometown of Liverpool including the Scandinavian Church and the Grade II listed warehouse Elevator Studios and his mother’s house. Musicians, friends and even the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra pulled together in order for If… to become a reality.
If… will be available on CD (DS037CD) and via digital download (DS037D). Click here to pre-order: http://www.dominorecordco.com/if. The tracklisting is as follows:
1. If… 6. Enlace
2. The Reader (Malbork) 7. Intersect
3. Leaning (Star Of Sweden) 8. The Flowers #3 (Lotus)
4. By The Church Of Apollonia 9. Give Me A Name
5. Le Grand Desordre 10. Some Absolute End (The End)
Official Facebook Page
