By Stevie Connor.
And Also The Trees (AATT) formed during the original post-punk era in rural Worcestershire, an environment that has provided a constant inspiration to a group whose music has often explored the dark underbelly as well as the beauty of the British countryside. They are renowned for their captivating live performances, a unique style of mandolin-like electric guitar, evocative lyrics and dark jazz rhythms - not to mention a creative independence fiercely preserved for over four decades. AATT immediately caught the attention of Robert Smith of The Cure, who invited them to tour with his group on several occasions. Smith was also involved with their early recordings alongside his bandmate Lol Tolhurst, who produced their first records, a long-term friendship and mutual respect further solidified when AATT were invited to perform at the 2018 edition of the Meltdown festival in London, an event that Smith curated. Founded by singer Simon Jones and his guitarist brother Justin, AATT have maintained a continuous presence on the post-punk, alternative rock and Gothic scenes worldwide. They have released fifteen studio albums and toured frequently throughout mainland Europe, as well as North America and Japan where they have also built a sizeable following. The panoramic soundscapes on AATT’s compelling new album, ‘Mother-of-pearl Moon’, were born from a series of extraordinary electric guitar improvisations created in the pre- and post-dawn hours during a month of solitude in 2020. With the artful integration and imagery added by the voice, clarinet, piano, percussion, autoharp and Moog, the listener is taken on a voyage from the depths of the English countryside far out in all directions of the compass.
The music on ‘Mother-of-pearl Moon' is often filmic and reminiscent of various genres from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, perhaps most apparent in ‘This path through the meadow’, a song that explores the intertwining of human nature and nature in its animal and botanic form. A video for it can be seen in which the band appear to be performing to an imaginary screening. Elsewhere, the album title track transports the listener oceans away to the Far East...and to its exotic gardens, still waters and the ‘Mother-of-pearl Moon’. ‘Mother-of-pearl Moon’ will be released in February 2024 and promoted with tours throughout the year.
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