The Loafing Heroes – Crossing the Threshold [2014 Album]

Description

This is the fourth Loafing Heroes album, recorded in Lisbon in 2014, thus beginning a new cycle in the band’s journey. This album plays out as a wide-eyed adventure, where many of the twelve songs were composed on Rua da Saudade, overlooking the Tejo River, —a river from which innumerable explorers have set sail onto uncharted seas, many never to return.

Some of the band’s most memorable songs can be found here, such as “Dream of the Celt” – the rousing ode to the humanitarian and Irish revolutionary Roger Casement; the poignant “Heavenly Waters” that reflects on suicide and renewal; the enigmatic classic “The Trickster” with the memorable bass clarinet riff; and their catchiest and most popular songs live such as “Digression” and “Into the Nothing”. Nearly eleven minutes in length, the title track and centrepiece of the album brings together all of Bartholomew Ryan’s compositional ideas into one epic, multi-part adventure: sailing, loafing, a hero’s journey, windows to the imagination, stargazing… and even a wild ride inside the belly of a whale, accompanied by Alexander Andrade’s ecstatic jazz trumpet flourishes.

Celebrated Portuguese artist Sara Maia’s magical cover art reflects the music’s positive, vagabond spirit, and invites the listener to join The Loafing Heroes as they embark on this poetic journey across the threshold. The album is produced by Nuno Gracio, and features Bartholomew Ryan (vocals & guitars), João Tordo (double bass), Judith Retzlik (violin), Jaime McGill (bass clarinet), Alexandre Andrade (trumpet) and Nuno Morão (percussion)

1. THE TRICKSTER 05:41
2. INTO THE NOTHING 03:08
3. DIGRESSION 03:35
4. STARGAZER 04:41
5. DREAM OF THE CELT 05:38
6. CHI-RHO 03:19
7. HEAVENLY WATERS 06:51
8. ORPHAN & THE CALL 01:59
9. WILD COUNTRY 03:41
10. THE SHEPHERD 02:36
11. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD 11:03
12. THE ONES WE LOVE 03:00

Condition:   New

Format:   CD

Country/Region of Manufacture:   Portugal

Record Label:   Record Union

Case Type:   Jewel Case: Slimline

Language:   English

Release Title:   Crossing the Threshold

Artist:   The Loafing Heroes

Release Year:   2014

Genre:   Alternative/Indie

Type:   Album