A Day In The Life: Memorial
We first found Memorial through their collaboration with Lomelda, the project of Hannah Read who we've championed for many a year here on GFP. 'Guardian' one of the single from Memorial's Redsetter, was a particularly beautiful moment in an album truly full of them. Marrying the voices of Ollie Spalding and Jack Watts with Read's signature timber, it's one of the year's most perfect songs, a tender and evocative reflection on a soured relationship and the shadow that remains.
The song led us to the aforementioned album, the band's second, released via Lucy Rose's Communion imprint Real Kind Records back in early May. Taken as a whole, Redsetter is a phenomenal achievement, a hushed, sunset-hued roadtrip that is both unfathomably pretty and richly rewarding.
Seeming to grow into the season, the songs bloom under different light. Tender ballads like 'White Campion' and 'Circle' holding the last of the dying light, evocative like a memory, like a lingering dream, while the more buoyant moments feel even sweeter under a warm breeze, the country-rock sheen of songs such as 'Corduroy' and 'Silver' digging in with an infectious glow.
It's very probably my favourite album of the year so far, and also one that will grow new wings when autumn comes, when winter falls, and these haunting, exquisite songs find news to tell their old stories, hushed and wistful and full of life.
We asked Ollie and Jack to soundtrack our day; so dig in to some of their key influences below - there's some real gems there too.
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What's the first song or album you reach for in the quiet of the morning?
Sun Kil Moon's Ghosts of the Great Highway is one that never seems to fade for us. It maintains a total resonance with our creative souls and its probably the only record that I’ve listened to a couple hundred times.
We’ve recently moved our studio to a farm and watching the morning sea mist roll in over the country side while sipping that first coffee of the day as this album spins through classic after classic is definitely a frequent spiritual routine.
What's the one song you play to wake you up and embrace the day ahead?
We can’t get enough of Youbet and I’m sure we’re not alone in saying that.
The new record Way To Be gets you going from track one ('Carsick') and holds you to the very end. With refreshing production choice’s & extraordinary song-writing it really sets you up for a day of being whatever you need to be.
What's your favourite song or album to drive to/accompany you on a road trip?
A Collection of Bird Songs by Acre Memos is a huge one for us, definitely our favourite record of the last ten years! And it was produced by our very own Tommy Read, all-round sweetheart & producer of our new record, Redsetter.
We heard this album in the lead up to leaving for Texas to record and immediately fell deeply in love with it. Eric is an incredible songwriter and arranger and this record is always the first thing to grace the speakers on a big road trip. It feels as though it’s made for being in motion.
(Editors note: also one of my favourite records of the last decade! Listen to it here)
What's a song or album that sounds best just as the sun begins to go down?
The Amperland version of Pinegrove's 'Skylight' has always been a comfort for us in hard times, the lyrics are so reassuring like a friends arms on your shoulders. This particular version is from Amperland - a live album recorded in Evan’s old house. It adds even more emotional weight when a room full of friends sing our favourite line together & remind us one more time that “whatever your feeling is natural”.
What's your favourite song or album to dance to when the dark of night has arrived?
If The Blue Nile's 'Tinseltown In The Rain' gets dropped on the dancefloor you can bet your bottom dollar Jack and I will come a runnin'. There’s something about the incredible 80's synth sounds and Paul Buchanan's wonderful way of crafting melodies that takes hold immediately. We can pin point this song to so many great memories. If Memorial ever did a DJ set you now know what's being played first!
And finally, what's the last song you play in the late-night quiet, when the day is over?
We recently met Hana Stretton in Cork at a festival called Sounds From a Safe Harbour and fell head over heels for her newest record, Soon.
'Can II' is a very special moment within that album. Recorded on a cassette recorder, this song has a meditative quality that makes us think of nature and the truly important things in life. When the day comes to an end, and the stars hang in the sky, this song brings about a reflective peacefulness perfectly paired with song-writing that gets more impressive with every listen.
Check it out! It’s very worth it…we promise.
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Read on GFP
Redsetter is out now, buy/listen here
three / six / five is a daily music-sharing project from gold flake paint; read more about the idea here
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