The temptation is to portray Lost Horizons as the new This Mortal Coil. The group, helmed by Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) and Richie Thomas (Dif Juz), enlists guest vocalists and musicians to craft material that is ornate, spacious, and lush in spots. But where This Mortal Coil created a sort of hermetically-sealed sound, no matter who was on the track, this project's output is somewhat warmer, and altogether more improvisational in nature. Flashes of jazz and soul, mixed with a rich production, combine to place In Quiet Moments, the new Lost Horizons album, in a rare space.
From the supple "Grey Tower", featuring vocals from Tim Smith of Midlake, to the more ramshackle "Halcyon" with fellow Bella Union band Penelope Isles, the material immediately captivates. The tracks engage with the sort of naturalism we found in records like The Spirit of Eden and Rain Tree Crow. And while those comparisons suggest a studio-trapped dream project, lots of this soars and pops with life. "One for Regret", with Porridge Radio, combines plaintive vocals with a hook that sounds not unlike Joy Division to these ears, while "Unravelling in Slow Motion" with Ren Harvieu marries a faintly jazzy rhythmic approach with a cinematic sound to great effect.
So much of what's here owes its power to both the correct assignment of guests, and the superbly intuitive playing of Raymonde on bass, guitar, keyboards, and production, and Thomas on drums, keyboards, and guitar. The two made the backing tracks first and then shopped around for singers, but, in all honesty, one can imagine these numbers working in a fashion on their own. One recalls bands like Penguin Cafe Orchestra and what they were able to craft when hearing snippets here. Still, there's no discounting the power of the guests on this record, from the heartbreakingly beautiful "Blue Soul" with Laura Groves, to the icily-perfect "This is the Weather" with Karen Peris of The Innocence Mission. When paired correctly, the vocalists here serve the material in a way that is truly magical.
If This Mortal Coil started from a position of choosing classic tracks to be covered, and letting producers have complete freedom in the studio, Lost Horizons seems to be more of a collaborative effort, one between Raymonde and Thomas first, then between that duo and a guest. And what a guest brings to the material is what gives these tracks so much color, flavor, and meaning. Heartfelt, melancholic, and full of natural grace, the selections on In Quiet Moments combine to provide one of the richest listening experiences of the start of this year.
In Quiet Moments is out tomorrow via Bella Union