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It’s been a while since the world last heard from Torn Sail, the soft-focus and sun-kissed musical project helmed by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Huw Costin. The Nottingham-based artist last popped his head above the parapet in 2017 with debut album ‘This Short Sweet Life’, a superb collection of timeless songs and instrumentals that built on the success of two stellar singles for Claremont 56, ‘Birds’ and ‘Treasure’.
With his love of gently unfurling guitars, sunset-ready grooves, delicate arrangements and emotive vocals, Costin is a neat fit with NuNorthern Soul, a label long celebrated for its atmospheric and life-affirming approach to music. His first single for Phat Phil Cooper’s imprint is a sunny, slow burn treat, with Costin delivering two heartfelt songs.
‘A Beautiful Life’ lives up to its name, with Costin passionately delivering poignant, thoughtful lyrics over a similarly heart-aching musical backing that makes the most of sustained synthesizer chords, hazy, finger-picked electric guitar notes and a gentle but rhythmic piano motif.
The track that follows, ‘Disconnected’, is equally ear catching. More folksy in tone and lyrically dexterous, the track’s part acoustic, part electronic construction is little less than stunning: a yearning, head-in-the-clouds treat that evokes buried memories of slow, sun-baked afternoons amidst Britain’s most idyllic rural locations.
The track’s future Balearic credentials are strengthened further by the accompanying remixes. Manchester veteran Neil Scott, the man behind El Diablo’s Social Club, dons the North Of The Island guise to deliver vocal and instrumental versions that tease the track further towards the dancefloor whilst retaining every ounce of beauty contained in Costin’s original version. The gorgeous guitars and chords remain, with Scott adding shuffling drums, warm bass and the kind of electronic flourishes that gurgle and babble like a mountain brook.
To complete the package, Cooper has turned to Bali-based Liverpudlian Joey Fitzgerald, a DJ/producer best known for playing regular sets and the now legendary beachside venue Potato Head. His ‘Sunset Drums’ mix builds slowly and majestically, with Fitzgerald layering up delay-laden guitars, bass, vocal snippets and cosmic electronics before introducing a suitably heady drumbeat and more spaced-out electronic flourishes. By the time the rework plays out, you’ll be smiling, saucer-eyed and gagging to play it all over again. It’s a fittingly brilliant conclusion to another must-have Torn Sail release.
Phil Mison, Cantoma - Sounds great!
Chris Coco - The atmospheric and moody Joey Fitzgeralds Sunset Drums version is the one for me on this package.
Bill Brewster - Fave track is ‘A Beautiful Life’ and the North Of The Island remix of ‘Disconnected' is lovely too.
Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy, Smith & Mudd, Claremont56 - I love Huw's beautiful and emotive originals, excellent work all round Torn Sail!
Adam Macca, NTS Radio - Beautiful stuff this. Exactly the sound I need in times like this. Particularly feeling A Beautiful Life and loving Joey Fitz's drums mix of Disconnected.
Dave Pickering, One Million Sunsets, Music For Dreams Radio - Nice little package this! The original vocal versions of the two tracks have that nice laid back sound that Huw does so well and the acoustic guitar parts are glorious, but it is the NOTI Instrumental remix and the 'Sunset Drums' mix that are doing it for me, the latter has a similar vibe to the 'Birds' remix that everybody loved. 'Sun blissed folk not folk vibes’
B.J. Smith, Smith & Mudd - These are all pure gold.
Peter Croce, Rock Steady Disco, Detroit, USA - Absolutely stunning music from NuNorthern Soul again. Singer-songwriter vibes meets sunset DJ sets. "Disconnected (Joey Fitzgeralds Sunset Drums Mix)" is massive and I'll be playing it for many years to come.
credits
released April 10, 2020
Disconnected (Original mix) recorded & mixed by James Bennet at Swanyard. Produced by E.R. Thorpe
Guitar and vocals for Disconnected North of the Island mixes recorded at Kinema Audio by Huw Jones.
A Beautiful Life : Recorded at Random Recordings by Huw Costin, Synth by Simon White, mixed by Simon White at Studio 31.
North of the Island mixes by Neil ‘Diablo’ Scott
Mastered by Robin Lee
Artwork Design by Mr. Vincent
Jungle Reflection photo taken in Agonda, Goa, India by Phil Cooper, March 2020
Torn Sail make bold, singular, extravagant records of rare, uncompromised passion. Each of his records swerves from the
beaten track – though COSTIN always eyes his destination – and its subtle surprises still startle after repeated listens. LEISURE & TECHNOLOGY simply does this better than ever....more
supported by 24 fans who also own “A Beautiful Life / Disconnected”
A breath of fresh air coming just at the right time. All 4 tracks are stunning, hard to pick a favourite, but if I had to it would be Whisper in the wind. Outro is killer. x micky browne
supported by 21 fans who also own “A Beautiful Life / Disconnected”
Ive selected this one track because I had to but the whole selection is nothing short of wonderful really. A favourite label getting a full reworking from a favourite producer. Can the week get any better ?!?
badgervsbaboon
With their blend of playfulness and graduate-level instrumentation, Dorcha deftly prove that improvisational zeal and conservatory-level precision aren't mutually exclusive. Bandcamp Album of the Day Nov 16, 2020