Winter, Gesture will be released on Friday 3rd December 2021 with Josh utilizing the seldom-heard ondes Martenot alongside piano, clarinet, guitars, drums and electronics to create unique compositions featuring all manner of textures. The familiar comfort of Semans’ piano and ondes Martenot, laden with subtle electronics, is contrasted against bold, motorik, post-rock inspired outbursts in this genre-bending EP.
The EP also features guest appearances by pianist Simeon Walker, Ruby Lulham (aka Clariloops) on clarinet and drummer Steve Hanley.
On the making of Winter, Gesture, Josh writes;
As we were barricading ourselves in our houses, I found myself reaching out to people virtually in an effort to prevent creative isolation. I sent out sketches, ideas, and well-wishes to friends old and new. Ideas came back; kindling for the fire. Iterations began forming; the promise of warmth.
Born out of months in isolation, these pieces also draw inspiration from Jackie Kay’s poem, Winter Heart, first featured in Darling: New and Selected Poems and more recently in John Lewis-Stempel’s The Wood in Winter.
In the past year the industrious artist has released a joint single with composer Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres (Fall Fly Run – Piano and Coffee Records), played ondes Martenot on Lena Raine’s soundtrack to RPG game Moonglow Bay (developed by Bunnyhug) and created the LABS Ondes Musicales software instrument in collaboration with Spitfire Audio.
TRACKLIST:
- Winter Heart / Relentless Gestures
- More Relentless Gestures
- While the Stars Outside Shiver
- Running (One Last Relentless Gesture)
Winter, Gesture follows Josh’s double A sided single Marbles / Holding Pattern released in conjunction with Piano Day 2021 and acts as a precursor to his full length sophomore album coming in 2022 on Hidden Notes Records.