For those who actually need to get away from all of it, Chale Abbey is likely to be the spot. Located on the southern tip of the Isle Of Wight, the studio is housed inside a superb sixteenth Century barn, all authentic oak trusses and pure stone partitions. “It’s out in the course of nowhere and a 10-minute stroll to the coast,” enthuses multi-instrumentalist Jordan Lehning, flipping his cellphone digital camera to provide Uncut a digital pan of the studio. “We’re within the management room now. It’s simply stunning, completely remoted. An amazing place to make a document.” Even when it means travelling all the best way from Nashville, which is the place Lehning, Andrew Combs, Dominic Billett and Romford-born Spencer Cullum are normally primarily based. Their new group, Echolalia, is rounded out by bassist Eli Beaird, multi-instrumentalist Juan Solorzano and Lehning’s brother Jason on synths and engineering duties.
“A couple of years in the past I instructed Jordan about this magical place, so we ended up reserving some days to document right here,” explains Cullum, peering over Lehning’s shoulder. The pair liked Chale Abbey a lot that they’re again there now, engaged on one other mission. However earlier than that, Echolalia’s self-titled debut is due out in February – it’s a heat, psychedelic people set that always feels peculiarly English, evoking the pastoral spirit of Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers or Cat Stevens. “A number of the songs had been written on the spot, actually,” says Cullum. “Then we’d all begin chipping in concepts.” There was little or no dialogue beforehand, intentionally so. “I feel we every introduced three tunes to the desk, and just about our first instincts guided the course,” says Lehning. “We sort of simply dove in. I feel we reduce the document in three or 4 days.”
The key to the mission’s success, it appears, is belief. These musicians have all been associates for a while, showing on one another’s data or at stay reveals. But they’d by no means performed altogether earlier than. “It felt like a kind of issues that you just discuss with associates whenever you’re out for a drink however by no means appeared prone to come to fruition,” says Combs, becoming a member of us over Zoom from the States. “However Jordan made it occur. I feel ‘collaborative’ and ‘enjoyable’ had been the important thing phrases for me.”
Jason Lehning chimes in from Nashville: “With most data, you’re simply framing one persona, placing all of your vitality into making that particular person sound nice,” he observes. “Echolalia has singers and artists, however there was none of that sort of vitality. It was like hanging out together with your childhood associates and driving bikes across the neighbourhood. Nevertheless it nonetheless has that artistry. That was a extremely fascinating aspect for me.”
This overriding sense of bonhomie is mirrored within the album’s closing monitor, the spontaneous “In The Pub”. Basically a geezer-ish East London singalong, it proved a cultural training for the visiting Individuals. “I feel it was the primary take,” laughs Jordan Lehning. “We couldn’t have completed that two or thrice. It was the very last thing we tracked and it was actually humorous.”
“I used to be channelling Chas & Dave,” chirps Cullum. “Me and Dom are massive followers!”
It stays to be seen if Echolalia might be a one-off. Schedules being what they’re, everybody concerned is hopeful that the celebrities will align once more quickly. The prospect of touring, most certainly within the UK and Europe, can also be on the agenda. “For me, it’s the proper band,” says Cullum. “Each band member is somebody that I like, musically and personality-wise. Normally, whenever you’re youthful and in a band, the bloomin’ bass participant desires to do a Snow Patrol track and your drummer desires you all to put on hats…”
Echolalia is launched by Full Time Interest on February 28