Available NOW exclusively on Bandcamp: ‘Return’ - the official play-along backing tracks for bass, guitar, drums and keys.
Jam along with every track from Lydian Collective’s second studio album, including High 555, November and Shuffle Bubble.
“There is a great sense of groove about their music, bass lines especially coming through with a decided snap and rhythm, while Wheeler’s keyboards take the lead on most tracks with Todd Baker’s guitar playing a relatively traditional role in a Jazz format and adding some colour and fill rather than leading the line although when Baker does solo – as on ‘November’ it is a delight.”
Lydian Collective’s acclaimed second studio album ‘Return’ is out now - October 7th 2022 - on all platforms, including Limited Edition vinyl and CD available exclusively from Diggers Factory.
Tracklisting:
1.Shuffle Bubble view
2.Saintonge view
3.High 555 view
4.A.L.D view
5.Wide Open Space view
6.Space Samba view
7.Portals Reloaded view
8.Out of the Woods view
9.Kids view
10.November view
Also available on Limited Edition Double Vinyl: www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/247945/lydian-collective-return
And CD: www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/250958
And vinyl/CD bundle: www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/251071
March 21, 2022 – In the run up to the launch of their second studio album Return, Lydian Collective, the UK instrumental group whose music has been described as ‘genre-crashing’ and ‘life-affirming’, will release their fourth single November on April 15th on AWAL.
November - in its current incarnation - has been decades in the making. Originally written in 2005 by Aaron Wheeler (keys) and Todd Baker (guitar) in Aaron’s living room, the track had an experimental electronica sound. Creating the original riff with a DIY mandolin, acoustic guitar, percussive household items and vocal snippets, mixed with granular synth elements, November was quite far removed from the live jazz quartet piece it later became in 2014.
When the tune hit YouTube as a Lydian Collective piece, it celebrated immediate success. Over the years it has racked up almost 100,000 views and become a fan favourite, with many wondering why it didn’t make the cut on the band’s first album Adventure. “Some of the tracks just worked a little better conceptually for that record than November did,” says Aaron, “It has found a good home on Return, though. It wasn’t until 2021 that we actually managed to record November with a grand piano.”
The studio version of the tune still keeps the same emotional principles of the original 2005 concept: a brooding storm, calming into nostalgia and simplicity with a lilting, timeless melody on top. YouTube fans have said the relaxing serenity of the piece is their sunrise meditation soundtrack; a perfect accompaniment to their coffee and early morning walk.
November will be available on all streaming/download platforms on April 15th 2022. Pre-order / pre-save at lydiancollective.fanlink.tv/november
The forthcoming album - Return - will be available in a very limited run of double vinyl, available to pre-order now at lydiancollective.fanlink.to/return
Full tour dates will be announced soon at lydiancollective.com/tour
instagram.com/lydiancollective
January 28, 2022 – Lydian Collective, the UK instrumental group who’ve racked up multi-million Spotify streams and YouTube views and played world-famous stages in the UK and beyond, will release their second album Return on May 27th on AWAL.
Since their last LP (2018’s Adventure, which currently accounts for 4 million of the band’s Spotify streams) Lydian Collective have steadily built a reputation among fans, tastemakers, venues and critics as creators of ‘life-affirming music’ (Nick Luscombe, BBC R3) that makes ‘genre-crashing, boundary smashing music seem effortless’ (Clash Magazine). From The Jazz Cafe to Ronnie Scotts, Green Man Fest to Cheltenham Jazz, Lydian Collective have evolved their craft from the studio to the stage, finding a new fluidity and dynamism in their live shows.
It is precisely that live spirit that is celebrated in Return, an album that is evidently shaped by having explored many of the compositions on stage before bringing them to the studio. The final track November (a popular YouTube studio session, not available to buy or stream until now) embodies this spirit, having evolved into its current form through years of performing together.
Known widely for their infectious grooves, colourful arrangements, unconventional time signatures and catchy melodies, the music remains as instantly recognisable as it is hard to define. Aaron Wheeler - the band’s co-founder and pianist - says: ‘This record has our familiar sound - it’s just freer. Once Adventure came out and we started playing live, we were drawn to a slightly looser, groove-based sound - with more scope for improvisation. We’d always focused on precision, but it felt right to lean into the more natural dynamic of the live shows.’
The first three singles from of the album - High 555, Shuffle Bubble and Out Of The Woods - set three very different scenes. The first is a funk-fuelled, high energy track that one critic described as a mix of ‘Chic, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder and 70s cop show music’. Shuffle Bubble brings the tempo marginally lower with bouncy guitar hooks and nostalgic melodies that ascend into a vintage psychedelic jam, while the folksy magic of Out Of The Woods showcases the lesser-known sounds of the Swedish nyckelharpa courtesy of a collaboration with Lucie Treacher.
The band’s four musicians - Aaron Wheeler (keys), Todd Baker (guitar), Sophie Alloway (drums) and Ida Hollis (bass) - are looking forward to a UK tour in 2022, having been cut off in their performance prime due to the pandemic. ‘Our last show before Covid hit was at Ronnie Scotts,’ says Todd Baker. ‘It had always been a dream to play Ronnie’s, and we ended up being pretty much the last band on that stage before everything was shut down. We’re looking forward to celebrating live music again.’
Return with be available in a very limited run of double vinyl, available to pre-order now at lydiancollective.fanlink.to/return
Full tour dates will be announced soon at lydiancollective.com/tour
Further links:
lydiancollective.com
instagram.com/lydiancollective
facebook.com/lydiancollective
twitter.com/lydiancollectiv
For more information, interview and review requests, please contact: Hey Boo! Creative +44(0)7876 247 358 / alex@heyboocreative.com / heyboocreative.com
The new single ‘Shuffle Bubble’ is out today on all platforms. Taken from a forthcoming album, 'Shuffle Bubble' is an upbeat tune featuring bouncy guitar hooks and nostalgic melodies which drive the first half of the track, before things ascend into a vintage psychedelic jam worthy of the finest wizard hats - and ultimately a 1970's style fade out.
More than two years since the release of Lydian Collective’s debut album, ‘Adventure’, the 4-piece are now setting their sights on their second full length record - slated for release in Spring 2021.
First to be released from their new album, ‘Out Of The Woods’ sees Lydian Collective venture into the mystical realm of Scandinavian folk music, with a guest feature from nyckelharpist Lucie Treacher.
Taking the L/C’s trademark jazz-fusion sound, and marrying it with Celtic/Scandi folk vibes, ‘Out Of The Woods’ creates a mystical journey full of energy and wonder.
Buy/stream ‘Out Of The Woods’ everywhere from 13th November 2020.
Cheers to Prog Magazine UK for premiering the brand new video for High 555. Available to buy/stream on all good online platforms from November 30th.
"...it may prove to be the best instrumental album you hear this year." - Music-News.com 4/5* "
Pre-order the album here: https://lydiancollective.fanlink.to/preorderadventure
Our third single 'Cascades' premiered on Complex UK in January 2018! Buy/stream 'Cascades' now.
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London Jazz News interviewed Aaron in December 2017.
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