Scott London (aka Metro) drew inspiration from his time living near the sea for the album "Blue Hue." The opening and outro both have field recordings from the ocean. And while mostly drum and bass and jungle, the album includes soundscape and mid-tempo pieces as well. The use of layering, noise and vinyl crackle, and rumbling sub bass can set a tone that feels distant or lost in a fog.
Click play and read along as we get to know more about Blue Hue through Scott's words and pictures:
Something I really notice about living in Cornwall is the space in the air, in the sky. I guess it's being by the sea and the hills and moors but with that, the light and colour is brighter (when the sun is shining). I really notice the blue hue hence the to title of the LP. The image depicts that "Blue Hue" and was used on the labels [of the vinyl record].
Axis x11, I can't really remember where the title for this came from but the track itself again is heavily influenced by early proto d&b, break beats, bass and bleeps from '91/'92. Image is a collection of sea finds by Bear - Studio Cornwall. This was also used on the labels.
MB & the owl... sampling an owl on a late night walk back from Charlestown with Bear. This tune harps back to early rave for me pre d&b underground breakbeat.
Barefoot on Dry Seaweed - the sample there of a mysterious misty walk on the beach... I think I actually had shoes on.
Moving Glasses in the Cupboard - the sample there of before the big move from landlocked Bedfordshire to the sunny south coast of Cornwall (apart from when it rains). I like to find rhythms in ordinary sounds; this formed the basis to the track. Then some heavy breaks and punk esque bass and floating synths portrays the mood of the pleasure and pain of such a massive move in our lives.
Stutter Brook - one of the more ambient, down tempo tracks on the LP. Together with other found sounds and synths, I sampled the birds over a babbling brook that meets sea on the beach that is always carving a different path to freedom.
Hard graft - the studio before the renovation (we work hard) work to pay the bills, live and renovate a house from top to bottom inside and out. And complete a 12 track lp. Contains wave samples, and again reflects the peaks and troughs of the balance of the life we choose and everything else that's thrown into the mix.
Hardcore you know the score... 16th Verse.
Dream -490.5602 - the title was a mistake paste but I liked it. I was listening to a lot of punk records at the time that I'd picked up in a charity shop plus some free records. So had an experimental sampling day just flicking through stuff a lot in reverse. This for me had a punk feel. Image is some sea potatoes, spider crabs, and mermaids purses as you do.
This isn't a goose, but the track "Beat Atari" features geese flying over my head in Charlestown Cornwall which happens daily. The love dove lives there too. Beat Atari is another breakbeat proto d&b tune digital only from the LP. A personal favourite if I'm honest.
Scar face Jeff - more of an experimental skit, all field recordings and found sounds. Again I like finding rhythm in ordinary sounds the main of which in this bag of noise is my old pal DJ Roll’e kicking a tin can through an underpass and shouting (rip mate). The image is a shadow of him wearing a horses head which he put in our bed haha. The title comes from a story being told by a right proper geezer in a local pub back in the shires.
Mia's Tune - the last tune on the LP. So my beautiful, amazing, oh so clever daughter knows I like to use weird sounds in my tunes. So she sent me an audio of a laser engraving process and the challenge was set. She calls my music "scrambled eggs music." This track however is more chill, down tempo and also contains seagulls and wave. The birds in our garden and the 10am Tea whistle from St Austell brewery kicks off proceedings... peace and love.
Release date 2024.
More PCMS releases by: Metro.
PCMS, Pinecone Moonshine (C) 2024.