A long time Mute associate, James Brooks' Land Observations project has quietly gone about producing some enthralling music.
Retaining the motorik influences which filtered through Appliance, this new solo endeavour seems to be rooted in a sense of place.
Forthcoming album 'The Grand Tour' is billed as an "imaginary travelogue through Western, Central and Southern Europe" – a nod towards the Regency notion of the Ground Tour, a gap year of sorts for the 18th century aristocracy.
Deliberately imposing limitations on himself, James Brooks recorded the album within sight of the Alps and restricted himself to one electric guitar and an array of vintage kit.
Check out opening track 'On Leaving The Kingdom For The Well-Tempered Continent' below.
'The Grand Tour' will be released on July 28th. Tracklisting:
On Leaving The Kingdom For The Well-Tempered Continent
Flatlands And The Flemish Roads
From The Heights Of The Simplon Pass
Nice To Turin
Ode To Viennese Streets
The Brenner Pass
Walking The Warm Colonnades
Return To Ravenna
