Landings Book & CD – 2nd Edition

The Landings 96-page book + 70 minute CD is now available in a beautiful new 2nd Edition. This repressing of the book features new cover art, some minor textual amendments, a revised and expanded appendix and also – for the first time – an index…

Each of the 250 copies are signed and numbered, and can be ordered by emailing richieskelton@yahoo.co.uk.

Review:

“Landings” from Richard Skelton received its release on CD at the start of the year after originally being made available late last year on vinyl.

Having now had some time to enjoy this album, I’ve taken this opportunity to put forward a slightly different spin on the conventional review, taking time to consider both the artist as well as the record itself.

Since “Landings,” we’ve been treated to “Crow Autumn” albeit under one of Skelton’s many guises; A Broken Consort. During my review of that particular album, I concluded by stating that Skelton was “an auteur in the truest sense” and an artist “at one with his medium.” Reflecting on “Landings” I’m pleased to say that my sentiments are no different, and in many ways have been strengthened by delving deeper into this recording.

To give credence to my thoughts, I feel it is important that we should explore the elements that make up Skelton as an auteur as there has to be a sense of authorship, a signature if you like, to an artists work in order for this title to be attributed. Skelton’s personal stamp on his music can be identified in three key forms.

Scar Tissue

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Firstly, is the consistent use of auditory motifs. Unsuprisingly, being a master of stringed instruments, these motifs usually are presented as harmonic stringed groupings. These often take on a melancholic, melodic structure and remain at a constant throughout a single track.

Referring this back to “Landings,” one can instantly spot this Skelton trait in the album’s opening track “Noon Hill Wood.” Here an uneven, ridged bowing conjoins with a variety of deep, emotive strings, sometimes looping and over lapping. The expanding and contracting of the bowing gives the track a respiratory quality, which sits well as an album opener; bringing the record to life from its inception. Tracks like “Of The Last Generation” and “Remaindered” are other stand outs that incorporate this particular element of Skelton’s authorship.

Green Withins Brook

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The second ingredient in Skelton’s making as an auteur is his reference to nature. Where “Crow Autumn” was very much sent against the backdrop of his native Lancashire, “Landings” includes references to wildlife, woodland, rivers and a host of other natural delights. Whether it is the gentle tweeting of birds, served as a backing to the guitar fragments on “Scar Tissue,” or the trickling of a stream on “Greens Withins Brook,” these soundscapings of the natural world add ambience to an already atmospheric collection of recordings.

Finally, as with any masterful auteur, Skelton is able to bring narrative cohesion to his music. Working with so many different instruments, there is a danger of his sound becoming over complicated and confusing, yet for Skelton each of his instruments personifies a character, and his albums’ a story. With “Landings” this is no different, and I encourage all listeners to enjoy this record from beginning to end.

Rapture

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Reviewing in retrospect is not something I’m used to doing. Normally there is the battle to time a review around an album’s release to maximise all publicity angles. Having the opportunity in this instance, I hope to have provided a different, but equally rewarding insight into both this record and its recording artist. I will conclude on this word, for it is Richard Skelton the artist that I hope to have painted here, with “Landings” a fine addition to an exceptional body of work. – Review by Josh Atkin for Fluid Radio

Pariah

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Track List:

01. Noon Hill Wood 08:26
02. Scar Tissue 01:56
03. Threads Across the River 08:20
04. Green Withins Brook 04:27
05. Of the Last Generation 07:07
06. Undertow 06:26
07. Voice of the Book 07:27
08. Rapture 02:00
09. Pariah 04:43
10. River Song 06:38
11. Remaindered 05:34
12. The Shape Leaves 07:01

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