Four years after the unexpected and exquisite treat that was Philip Selway's debut album Familial, the man formerly known only as the drummer of Radiohead returns with his sophomore record, Weatherhouse. At ten tracks and 38 minutes, the album is as concise in shape as it is expansive in mood and assured in execution, mining a generally darker, fuller sound than its gentler, more acoustic-based predecessor and reflecting the band-centered nature of its construction and its creator's growth in confidence.
Weatherhouse was made in collaboration with Adem Ilhan and Quinta; artists in their own right who had previously performed in Philip's backing band. "From the outset," Selway recalls, "we wanted the album to be the three of us, and we covered a lot of instruments between us. With a studio full of inspiring gear and a great-sounding desk, we felt like a band. Different musicians stretch you, and I felt stretched on Weatherhouse, but very enjoyably so." Working mostly out of Radiohead's studio in Oxfordshire, Adem also produced and engineered Weatherhouse, while Quinta played an equally integral role in the arrangements. The album was mixed by David Wrench. Album opener "Coming Up For Air" sets the scene with its brooding, spectral mood, mantra-like pattern and Selway's simmering, reverb-drenched vocal exploring the album's dominant theme. "It's very much about taking stock of my life. I wanted to convey a sense of release and affirmation," he says. "This was the first song that we recorded. Immediately it felt in a very different space from Familial." Click HERE to listen to the track.
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