Each LP includes a bonus 7" with an exclusive non-LP track and a remix of 'Bloodlines' by Pan American.
Note: if you're overseas and hoping to avoid postage charges please ask your favorite record shop to stock it. Distribution is by Cargo in the UK/EU and it will also be available online via Norman Records, Rough Trade, etc.
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Digipak CD edition.
Shipping now.
Includes unlimited streaming of Starlight And Still Air
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Streaming + Download
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
I’ll hold this moment
In my mind’s eye
A heartbeat
A tension
A moment
A heartbeat
A tension
A moment
Twilights And Solid Air
Knife Cold The Night Air
Starlight And Still Air
Time
Hangs Here
I dream
That my life’s worth more
Knife Cold The Night Air
Starlight And Still Air
I’ll Hold This
Moment forever now
I’ll hold this moment
"A far cry from the plasticity of modern pop." – Fluid Radio
Dominic Appleton has been a member of London dream-pop group Breathless since the 1980's but is perhaps better known for his vocal contributions to This Mortal Coil albums 'Filigree & Shadow' and 'Blood', including a cover of Chris Bell's 'I Am The Cosmos'. Matteo Uggeri is a composer and producer living in Milan whose most recent solo album was released by Infraction in 2019.
Redolent of trip-hop, electro-pop, shoegaze and other beat-driven forms of modern pop music, Starlight And Still Air vibrates deeply with Uggeri's unique production language, Appleton's instantly-recognizable voice, and a supporting cast of European musicians on cello, trumpet, guitar, backing vocals, and more.
In early 2019, Dominic Appleton met up for lunch in London with 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell while the long-retired label boss was visiting from his home in New Mexico. Who better to encourage Appleton to take the plunge into his first songwriting collaboration outside of longtime band Breathless than the man who invited him so many years ago to contribute vocals to This Mortal Coil, Watts-Russell's collaborative supergroup? At the time of their lunch Appleton had already agreed to work on an album with Italian composer and producer Matteo Uggeri but was suffering from a minor crisis of confidence. As he told British writer Barry Fry last year, "I loved the music Matteo sent me and had agreed to work with him but was dragging my heels. It was a confidence thing, it's hard to be openly creative and expressive with someone you've never met. I needed a push out of my comfort zone and Ivo gave me an encouraging kick up the arse.” Lucky for us, thanks to Uggeri’s persistence and Ivo-Watts’ timely encouragement, we have Starlight And Still Air, their stunning, memorable, and downright addictive debut album as Starlight Assembly.
"Without exaggeration, Dominic Appleton is by far my favourite living male vocalist. He has such a beautiful, sad voice and comes up with melodies that do the same" – Ivo Watts-Russell (4AD founder)
"Hearing Dominic Appleton take his voice in quieter, more intimate directions, exploring new textures and strengths, in combination with Matteo Uggeri’s flowing production, makes for a striking experience. Interesting and unexpected." – Ned Raggett (Bandcamp/The Quietus)
credits
released October 22, 2021
Recorded in 2019 in London and Milan.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll.
Dominic Appleton: vocals, keyboards
Matteo Uggeri: laptop, samples, and mixing
with:
Sharon Shahani – backing vocals
Gayatri Lyndsey Robertson – backing vocals
Anna Mioni – bass
Mattia Costa – drums
Simone Riva – drums
Andrea Serrapiglio – cello
Franz Krostopovic: violin and viola
Vittorio Ondedei – acoustic guitar, bass
Alessandro Sesana – trumpet
Cristano Lupo – bass
Francesco Giannico –piano
Mattia Costa's drums recorded by Gianmaria Aprile.
Simone Riva's drums recorded by Andrea Serrapiglio.
All other sounds recorded by Starlight Assembly.
Original photos by Dominic Appleton.
Photo treatments by Matteo Uggeri.
Design by ACN and Studio Barnhardt.
Thank you Jay Cloth, Gary Mundy, Andrew Neerman, Ari Neufeld, Mark Nelson, and Ivo Watts-Russell.
Written over the course of two years, “Chances” captures an array of life experiences in moving soft-focus pop songs. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 20, 2022