Ahead of the release of his latest album, Kistvaen, this Friday (June 5), Roly Porter has shared a full stream of the LP, which you can check out exclusively above.
Named after a type of granite tomb found predominantly in Dartmoor, covered in a mound of earth and stone and allowing bodies to face the sun, the producer excavated stories and images of ancient burial rituals to explore the universal truths of death that have survived since the Stone Age.
Kistvaen features contributions from three vocalists: Mary-Anne Roberts (of medieval Welsh music duo Bragod), Ellen Southern (of Bristol’s Dead Space Chamber Music group) and Phil Owen (a singer and researcher in vocal traditions).
The six pieces that comprise the album were developed for an AV performance of the same name with visual artist MFO, which has been presented at festivals such as Unsound and Berlin Atonal. The LP was recorded during various rehearsals and performances, alongside studio sessions in Bristol.
Subtext will release Kistvaen on June 5, 2020.