Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Cheryl Waters, host of The Midday Show on KEXP, is "I Woke Up With An Open Heart (feat. The Hempolics)" by Lost Horizons, from the forthcoming 2020 album In Quiet Moments on Bella Union.
Lost Horizons unites the talents of Richie Thomas (aka Dif Juz) and Simon Raymonde (bassist of Cocteau Twins and founder of record label Bella Union), two former 4AD recording artists in the '80s. Their 2017 debut full-length Ojalá featured a stellar cast of guest vocalists, including Marissa Nadler, former Midlake frontman Tim Smith, and Karen Peris of The Innocence Mission. And, on their forthcoming sophomore LP In Quiet Moments, they reinvite those three stunning voices, adding John Grant, Porridge Radio, Penelope Isles, and more to their cast. London-based soul group The Hempolics appear on today's featured Song of the Day.
The duo gave their guests the following theme to inspire their lyrics: "Death and rebirth," Raymonde confirmed via a press release. "Of loved ones, of ideals, at an age when many artists that have inspired us are also dead, and the planet isn’t far behind. But I also said, ‘The most important part is to just do your own thing, and have fun.'”
“I think In Quiet Moments is more in the direction of where we’re going,” Thomas adds. “People have retreated into their lives and, in those quiet moments, reflected on the world, how we fit in and who we trust. Maybe the next album will be about rebellion! But the road is long and winding. We just need to express ourselves in how we feel at the time.”
In Quiet Moments will be released in two parts: the first 8 songs will be shared digitally on December 4th, with the remaining 8 songs added on February 26th, and the whole tracklist available on colored vinyl that same day.
