THE SEAS AND THE STARS

This 2015 EP apparently "chronicles the collision between the Andromeda galaxy and our own Milky Way, the eventual end of everything, a celestial intervention and a return to where everything began - viewed from an impossible, empty shoreline." I couldn't have put it better myself. On this release, Richard provides acoustic, electric, classical, prepared and bass guitars, keyboards, melodica, accordion, kalimba, Appalachian dulcimer, rastrophone, bouzouki, glockenspiel, percussion, while Ileesha gives us some of her stunning vocals, and Amy Fry assist with clarinet, alto saxophone and flute. I have found this one of Richard's more difficult releases to write about, as each time I try to write about it I find myself spending way too much time listening to it and not enough time capturing any words!

Having the words above saying what this EP is about is a great help, as on this release, as with much of KE's output, this is incredibly visual, and I find myself playing a film in my head while listening to this. One unusual aspect is that Ileesha sings some words, whereas normally her vocals are wordless and eerie, but they definitely fit with the very science fiction feel of the whole piece. This may only be some twenty minutes long, but within the layers and depths the majesty and hypnotic style takes the listener to a far different place. Yet another essential release from Richard.