HARP.

Tim Smith, former member of Midlake, has released his debut LP under the name Harp. The album, titled Albion, draws inspiration from ancient English history and features a blend of folk and electronica. Smith spent over 10 years working on the album, aiming to create something that he was truly pleased with. The artwork for the album cover was taken on an iPad near his home in Durham, North Carolina. Smith's songwriting process involves creating melodies while reading poetry, and he even incorporated the words of William Blake into one of the songs. The album combines the warmth of 70s music with influences from 80s artists such as Clannad, The Smiths, and Roxy Music. Smith's wife, Kathi Zung, provided vocals and drums for the album, and the couple worked together on the production. Harp's music has been described as atmospheric and autumnal folk hymns, reminiscent of Sandy Denny and Cocteau Twins. The album is available now via Bella Union, and another record is expected within a year. [Extracted from the article]