Ian Arkley - Two

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  IAN ARKLEY - TWO

  LABEL: OPA LOKA RECORDS

  RELEASE DATE: JUNE 1st 2022

  Dark feathers and brittle bones, gliding through the roiling skies, beneath clouds that seethe, boil and tumble from shape to shape and form to form. Above lochs like silvered mirrors and slopes of shale, casting brief and flickering shadows upon the numberless leaves that dance in the gusts of wind that ripple the forest seas. Past the stones that have stood since men dragged them from their rest and on, on into the solitude of sunset’s fires. Black eyes capturing, recording and remembering, the scribe of history on the wing...

  Some see the world differently to others. Some still see the reflections and shadows of an older time and of a time that never was. Some feel the resonance of magic in the drift of dust motes through golden light and the ensnaring grasp of thorn and bramble. And some can breathe those ghosts and visions in, then breathe them out once more as music that can captivate and transport those who stop to listen and bask in the chiming notes of nature and artifice conjoined. Ian Arkley’s second solo album, called simply Two, is a remarkable outpouring of organic sound and dreams. Recorded completely acoustically in Arfryn, south west Wales, over the final, winter months of 2021, Two is steeped in the natural beauty, the history and folklore of the region where it was brought to life. It’s medieval, it’s pagan, it’s shamanistic, magical and ambient; it draws from folk, neo-folk and tribal sounds and rhythms; it captures the pulse of the earth and the heartbeat of nature. Be it the combination of chaotic flurries of notes and stately undercurrents that form ‘From Forest From Sea’, the pulsing, warm depths of soil and water that let ‘Der Fund’ blossom, the shimmering visions of ‘Chrysalis’ or the stunning three-part journey of ‘Raven Valley’, no element of Two is anything but a glittering treasure. Transcending any form of genre, taking giant strides beyond expectations and nimbly bypassing constricting definition, Two is breathtaking music for the soul.

  Ian Arkley has made his name within the ranks of Seventh Angel and the marvellously mercurial My Silent Wake, yet in his solo work he has uncovered another part of himself, allowing light to shine upon the deepest depths of his creativity. Following on from the warmly received One, Two will be released by Opa Loka Records on June 1st, a truly solo endeavour, with Ian being responsible for all the music, recording, mixing, artwork and photography. Utterly haunting, Two is an album that will touch the hearts and fire the imagination of those who open themselves to its embrace. A spell, a gift, a lost tale – an unforgettable listening experience.

  Genre: Ambient/Acoustic
  For Fans Of: Arcana | Dead Melodies | Wardruna | Jo Quail

  Line-up:
  Ian Arkley – all music and voices

  

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