Lost Horizons, the musical project of former–Cocteau Twin and Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde and Richie Thomas of early 4AD figureheads Dif Juz, have released ‘On the day you died’, inspired by and recorded on the day David Bowie’s death was announced. Previously only available via the Rough Trade Album Club on a limited 4 track bonus cd, the track, improvised on the morning of David Bowie’s untimely death, is bare, stark and plain sad – this is a conversation draped in pain between piano and saxophone, and is a frankly beautiful tribute, shared on the second anniversary of his passing.
Of the track Raymonde says: “It was a tough day, but quite an extraordinary one in hindsight. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do anything when I arrived at the studio, but when I sat at the piano something just happened. Richie grabbed his saxophone and our engineer Iggy just pressed record and the resulting improvisation is what you hear, warts and all. We didn’t talk much about it, but I can feel his presence on the track for sure. Several months later when I told Richie I wanted to use the track exactly as it was, he was quite surprised and said that he could play the saxophone much better now, and that he’d like to have another go. “Not a chance!” I said. “It may not be ‘perfect’ technically but the reason it has the poignancy it does is because of the circumstances. I don’t want you to change a note.” Thankfully, he agreed…”
Listen here.
