Over a series of EPs, Emlyn Bainbridge and Josh Day-Jones have conjured a picture of the mysterious fictional village of Orbury Common through the traditional music they have created for it. And while it does draw on elements of folk, morris dancing and other sounds associated with the British countryside, the tracks have been far more dancefloor-focused than you might expect.
Returning with their debut album ‘Sylvan Chute’ later this year, the duo are set to expand this world and confound expectations further. Their new music sees them move towards a more dreamlike, less clubby sound, and introduce their own vocals. The first single from the album is ‘The Resident’, the origins of which, they say, “date back years, arguably centuries”.
“The original version”, they explain, “which was a fixture of our live set in 2023, featured the verse’s looping bells, bass synth and beat, alongside ancient Gregorian chant, the melody of which we later emulated when writing our own vocals”.
“Our lyrics and unison vocals came together in a session at the PRAH Foundation in Margate”, they add, “describing a dream-like vision of a crumbling mythic landscape, through a yearning, reaching lens - a theme that recurs often across ‘Sylvan Chute’”.
The album is set for release on 7 Jun and they have various live dates over the coming months, including at Two Palms in London on 8 Mar.
Watch the video for ‘The Resident’ below 👇
