Lost Horizons have today shared a video for a dreamy new standalone single “Florida” featuring the vocals of KookieLou aka Lily Wolter from Penelope Isles. Of the track and video Lily comments: “Like most videos my brother Jack and I make, this one was most certainly trial and error. A lot of the time we find ourselves surrounded in a jungle of paints, flowers, glitter, string, lava lamps and makeshift green screens and say, ‘what have we gotten ourselves into?’ Despite the hours of drawings and the former attempts to make something that suited the trance-like, flowing, softness of the song, we got there in the end! The lyrics are about a time I spent on tour in America a few years back. We wanted to show an abstract journey overlooking all sorts of weird and wonderful views. I’ve always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon, but I reckon it would be pretty damn scary. Big thanks to our mum for assisting with the papier-mâché balloons, to our dear friend Josh for the helping hand, and to Lost Horizons for wanting me to sing on their music, I’m once again, truly honoured.”
In other news, due to unforeseen circumstances, Lost Horizons have been forced to reschedule their headline Scala show that was due to take place next week. The show, which will feature a multitude of guests including John Grant, C Duncan, Porridge Radio, Penelope Isles, Laura Groves, Ren Harvieu and many more, will now take place in June 2022.
To celebrate the 31st anniversary of Cocteau Twins’ Heaven or Las Vegas, Simon Raymonde is launching a prize draw of exclusive memorabilia from some of his many prestigious music projects to help raise funds for The Clock Tower Sanctuary. This organisation is dedicated to helping provide a safe space for 16-to-25 year olds who are homeless in and around Brighton, UK. They provide a place where young vulnerable individuals can feel safe and also have access to much needed services and support. All funds raised through this prize draw go to help continue their amazing mission. Enter HERE.
To accompany the announcement of more special guests for their London Scala show on 19th October, Lost Horizons are thrilled to debut the video for “Unravelling In Slow Motion” featuring Ren Harvieu. Made by Ren and Romeo Stodart, who also co-wrote the song, the track features on the band’s acclaimed In Quiet Moments LP that came out in February this year.
Of the video Ren says: “Sometimes you find yourself playing catch up with yourself, that emotional rollercoaster within slowly finding it’s sense of calm. I wanted to weave the two together, there was something very sensual about the music Lost Horizons had created and I wanted to add to that my own innate sense of feminine intuition that guides me through life. The video is meant to reflect those inner bursts of colour that explode within you when you are at your most free.”
Joining the previously announced John Grant, C Duncan, Penelope Isles, Laura Groves and Scott Matthews for the Lost Horizons Scala show will be four extraordinary female artists: Ren Harvieu, who will be performing “Unravelling In Slow Motion”, Gemma Dunleavy (“Linger”), Emma Tricca (“Marie”) and Lily Fontaine of English Teacher singing “I Woke Up With An Open Heart”.
If that isn’t enticing enough, Bella Union’s A.A. Williams will be the main and only support for the show, giving a stripped-back performance of tracks from her acclaimed Forever Blue.
Bella Union are thrilled to announce the signing of Scottish composer C Duncan and announce his guest appearance at Lost Horizons’ one-off London Scala show on 19th October. To mark the announcement Lost Horizons have shared a video for “Circle”, the track from their acclaimed In Quiet Moments album on which C Duncan guests.
Commenting on the track C Duncan says: “Circle explores themes of repetition and tiny changes. Going round and round in circles for days and days whilst the world very gradually changes around you, finding comfort in not remaining static and yet not going too fast. This is reflected in the video, which is built up of videos I had taken on my phone, traveling through countryside. Nothing moves too fast or changes too quickly, yet by the end of the video you have moved through the landscape of the west coast of America to the west coast of Scotland, nothing seemingly too contrasting or out of place, yet totally different.”
Born and raised in Glasgow by two classical musicians, C Duncan studied piano and viola before taking up guitar, bass, and drums in his teens, eventually studying music composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His Mercury-nominated debut ‘Architect’ was released in 2015 and after a spell of touring the UK and Europe he returned to his home studio and began work on his Twilight Zone inspired second album ‘The Midnight Sun’ which was released in 2016 and shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year. He supported Elbow on their UK and North American tour which led him to record his third album ‘Health’ at their studio in Salford with Craig Potter, which was released in 2019 and also shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year. Now back in his “new and improved” home studio, Chris has worked on new songs and soundtracks, as well as classical compositions. He is also a keen artist, and paints all his own album artwork.
Commenting on signing C Duncan Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde says: “Since hearing Chris’s debut album Architect in 2015 I have been dying to work with him. We had exchanged quite a few messages over the last few years, and after getting the train up to Glasgow to meet him over a year ago now, I knew it could become a reality. He’s unbelievably talented that’s obvious from his previous work but being involved with him initially via working on this song “Circle” for Lost Horizons and more recently as he works away on his first album for Bella Union, I have been almost speechless at what he’s capable of. Proud that we created this song together and SO thrilled he’s going to come down from Scotland to sing it with us at the Scala this October.”
Following excellent reviews for new album In Quiet Moments, and with current single ‘Halcyon’ selected as Shaun Keaveny’s Record of the Week on 6Music, Lost Horizons have announced news of their first set of guest vocalists for their one-off London Scala show on 19th October. The band will be joined by label-mates John Grant, Laura Groves and Jack & Lily Wolter from Penelope Isles, all of whom will sing their respective tracks from the LP, while Scott Matthews will perform the track “Grey Tower”, originally written with Tim Smith from Midlake. Many more guest vocalists will be announced over the coming months.
Additionally, Lost Horizons today share a video for the track “Blue Soul” which features guest vocalist Laura Groves. Of the track and video Groves says: I filmed the performance myself at home using the very basic tools I have – very much the same way as my music video for “Infinite Wisdom”. These restrictions were imposed by the lockdown we were under at the time, but were also reflective of the words that I wrote for ‘Blue Soul’; themes of solitude, inner worlds and landscapes, connection with nature and a very personal creative process that permeates and is often interchangeable with everyday life, and maintaining those connections on a planet that is endangered.”
Acclaim for In Quiet Moments:
“Second album from super-duo contains multitudes… With the knowing retro-etherealism of Every Beat That Passed (featuring Swedish vocalist Kavi Kwai) or Cordelia’s new age tides controlled by John Grant, In Quiet Moments opens out its own space to wander, a many-moods piece for complicated times.” MOJO – 4 stars ****
“The array of moods and a distinguished cast of guest singers on this album dazzles and delights.” The i – 4 stars ****
“Former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde’s search for a vocalist as distinctive as Liz Frazer continues on Lost Horizons’ second album. He and partner Richie Thomas strike gold with Swedish newcomer Kavi Kwai on the ethereal ‘Every Beat That Passed’ while Gemma Dunleavy comes close on the mysterious ‘Linger’, as does a sumptuously serene Ren Harvieu on ‘Unravelling In Slow Motion’.” Classic Pop – 4 stars ****
“Lost Horizons return with a 16-song set that expands their palette considerably, including jazzier ventures with Ren Harvieu and soul singer Ural Thomas. Lest anyone forget about Raymonde’s past life as a Cocteau Twin, reverb-soaked collaborations with Kavi Kwai and KookiLou ensure there’s plenty of the old shimmer and spangle to savour, too.” Uncut – 7/10
“Lost Horizons triumph on second album In Quiet Moments… There’s some textbook ethereal elegance but also much restless energy and joy.” PROG
“Melodic, heartfelt and healing… John Grant’s vocal on ‘Cordelia’ will lift you out of this world and into the cosmos… A warm blanket of an album in every way.” HiFi Choice – 5 stars *****
“Lost Horizons involves the former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde and multi-instrumentalist Richie Thomas constructing tracks out of loose jams. Collaborators include John Grant on the choral ‘Cordelia’ and the soul singer Ural Thomas on the jazzy title track.” Sunday Times
“Absolutely breathtaking… A masterpiece of concept, design and execution.” NARC – 5 Stars *****
“With experienced mood masters Raymonde and Thomas at the tiller In Quiet Moments is holistic audio balm to soothe, hug and give hope in these ‘unprecedented times’ and beyond.” Music OMH – 4 Stars ****
“Impressive and captivating… Penelope Isles shine with a statement piece of charming dream-pop while John Grant provides the records most impressive and emotive moment.” The Line Of Best Fit – 7/10
“An epic 16 track record of quite stunning beauty… A masterful sonic journey of discovery.” Contact Music – 5 Stars *****
Lost Horizons is the project of Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde and Richie Thomas of Dif Juz. The band’s new album, In Quiet Moments, was released in February via Bella Union.
Lost Horizons today share a video for their track “Halcyon”, taken from their recently released album In Quiet Moments, which features frequent collaborators and close pals Penelope Isles. Speaking of the track, Simon Raymonde states…
“Loved Penelope Isles from the first time I heard them and loved them even more from the first time I saw them! I released their debut album on Bella Union and my wife Abbey and I also manage them. Jack and Lily were the first people I asked to be on the album. Penelope Isles supported Lost Horizons on our first UK headline tour and set the bar incredibly high every night.
The music for Halcyon started with Richie and I improvising in our studio in Brighton but when I brought that track back home, I ditched the music and just started again from scratch. I had just bought an old Tokai guitar in a local guitar shop that reminded me of the guitar Alan Curtis had used in Richie’s old band DIF JUZ and the second I plugged it in for the first time, and played along with Richie’s lonely drum track, the notes just fell out of me. Within an hour or two the track was done and I sent it over to Jack. I adore what he’s done and love that Lily also sings on the song in that glorious section at the end. It was always going to start the album and now I am thrilled it is being released as a single.”
Jack Wolter of Penelope Isles, who also made the dreamy visuals that accompany the track had the below to say…
“The video for Halcyon is made up of footage I collected during my early twenties, whilst studying and living in Cornwall. I felt the need to film a lot in this period of my life. When I started writing the lyrics and getting into what this song was going to be about, I found myself reflecting back to the importance of this time, the people I shared it with and the days we lived. Beautiful relationships providing unworn conversations although all tangled up in warped spaces and darker moments. The song and video are a reflection into the past and how certain times stay with you forever.”
In other exciting news, Lost Horizons will perform a live show, with special guests, at the Scala in the Autumn of 2021. Tickets for the show, which will feature an array of the album’s collaborators, are on sale now. See HERE for more details.
The wait is over… Today Lost Horizons release their anticipated and acclaimed new album In Quiet Moments via Bella Union. To celebrate the release the band have shared a video for the closing track on the album, “This Is The Weather”, which features Karen Peris from the innocence mission on guest vocals. Of the track Karen Peris says: “It is a joy for me to be part of another Lost Horizons album. There was a beautiful spaciousness in the track of piano that I received from Simon, that allowed for hearing and seeing a melody and a scene, with a melancholy that connected immediately with the feeling of missing someone very dear to me.”
In further celebration of the album release Tim Burgess will be hosting one of his legendary Twitter Listening Parties for In Quiet Moments on 4th March while on the 5th March Lost Horizonswill participate in a Reddit AMAat /r/indieheads at 6pm GMT.
“Second album from super-duo contains multitudes… With the knowing retro-etherealism of Every Beat That Passed (featuring Swedish vocalist Kavi Kwai) or Cordelia’s new age tides controlled by John Grant, In Quiet Moments opens out its own space to wander, a many-moods piece for complicated times.” MOJO – 4 stars ****
“Lost Horizons return with a 16-song set that expands their palette considerably, including jazzier ventures with Ren Harvieu and soul singer Ural Thomas. Lest anyone forget about Raymonde’s past life as a Cocteau Twin, reverb-soaked collaborations with Kavi Kwai and KookiLou ensure there’s plenty of the old shimmer and spangle to savour, too.” Uncut – 7/10
“Lost Horizons triumph on second album In Quiet Moments… There’s some textbook ethereal elegance but also much restless energy and joy.” PROG
“Absolutely breathtaking… A masterpiece of concept, design and execution.” NARC – 5 Stars *****
“With experienced mood masters Raymonde and Thomas at the tiller In Quiet Moments is holistic audio balm to soothe, hug and give hope in these ‘unprecedented times’ and beyond.” Music OMH – 4 Stars ****
“An epic 16 track record of quite stunning beauty… A masterful sonic journey of discovery.” Contact Music – 5 Stars *****
Lost Horizons have announced news of a London live performance at the Scala in Autumn 2021… Date/info HERE.
