LOST HORIZONS, the project of Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde and Richie Thomas, of former 4AD labelmates Dif Juz, are set to release their new ultra-collaborative double album, In Quiet Moments, on which every track features guest vocalists, in instalments across this winter; and they’ve just dropped the green-screen video for a track taken from part the first, “One From Regret”, on which Dana Margolin of Brighton’s cool-as Porridge Radio steps up to the mic.
(We’ve embedded the video below; it’s pretty trippy and be warned, it does contain flashing imagery.)
Dana says: “The process of collaborating on ‘One For Regret’ was really fun for me.
“Simon sent me an instrumental to write lyrics and vocal melodies for, which isn’t a way I’ve written in the past and [which] helped me think about songwriting in new ways. It was really cool to be a part of this, and I’m excited to share this song.”
Simon adds: “I was clearing out my cupboards earlier this year and found the old drum machine and pedals I used in some of my early Cocteau Twins days and dusted them down and started messing about with them. The sonics that came out of my improvisation felt like they represented both elements of my past and my future.
“I’d wanted to work with Dana since I heard Porridge Radio a few years ago; we met at The Great Escape here in Brighton and I thought she might like the vibe of this piece. Once Richie added real drums to it, it felt dark and exciting and Dana really got inside the skin of it all and captured those feelings I had with her intensity and words.”
It’s the fourth single Lost Horizons have shared from the forthcoming album, following the bliss of “I Woke Up With An Open Heart”, featuring The Hempolics; “Cordelia”, featuring John Grant, and “Grey Tower”, featuring Tim Smith of Midlake.
In Quiet Moments has its pockets of loss but – aligned to the concept of ‘hope’ – the album is more about rebirth than death. “I think it’s more joyous than [previous album] Ojalá,” says Thomas. “But both albums have a great energy about them.”
We’re promised that those energy levels spread across a dazzling array of moods and voices – and with Penelope Isles’ Jack Wolter, his sister Lily (appearing as KookieLou) John Grant, Marissa Nadler, and Nubiya Brandon of The Hempolics featuring, we doubt that claim can be wrong.
“I think In Quiet Moments is more in the direction of where we’re going,” Richie concludes.
“People have retreated into their lives and, in those quiet moments, reflected on the world, how we fit in and who we trust. Maybe the next album will be about rebellion! But the road is long and winding. We just need to express ourselves in how we feel at the time.”
Lost Horizons have also announced news of a live date at London’s Scala on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021, for which tickets are now available.
Lost Horizons’ In Quiet Moments will be released in two instalments: the eight tracks comprising the first half will be released digitally on December 4th, with the second half and the full CD, trad black 2xLP and limited green and blue double vinyl following on February 26th next year; pre-orders are now being taken here.
