Following the release of critically acclaimed new album ‘The Weight Of The Sun’ back in the Spring, Modern Studies used the time they’d have usually spent touring to create new music, resulting in two new EPs soon to be released on Fire Records.
Based on stray threads and thoughts from this period, Modern Studies reworked these seedlings remotely over the turning of seasons from Summer to Autumn this year. The EPs were recorded partly at the Glad Café in Glasgow with Emily Scott and Joe Smilie laying down piano melodies and percussion. Rob St John added guitars and modular synth, and an ambient track came from the processing of an accidental export of each ‘The Weight Of The Sun’ track playing at once.
Inspired by this collaborative process Rob and Emily began writing vocal melodies and collaborating on lyrics whilst Pete Harvey began mixing the new ideas in his Pumpkinfield studio and recording the basslines, cello and musical saw.
“We shook off our usual song structures in favour of something repetitive, slow and heavy; life flows in endless song. We added chopstick drums, prepared guitars, harmonium, xaphoon, bowed clock gongs, chimes and violins from our homes.” Modern Studies
Split into two parts but arriving separately, Modern Studies first EP ‘Life Flows In Endless Song’ is diaphanous, adorned with the expansive sound of their recent releases whilst the second EP ‘The Body Is A Tide’ carries you into more ominous darker terrains providing another fine addition to the experimentalists’ expanding catalogue.
Modern Studies ‘Life Flows In Endless Song’ EP is digitally released on 10th December with the second EP due out in 2021.