DePlume is a Manchester-born, London-based bandleader, composer, saxophonist, activist and orator. Hes a resident at the legendary London creative hub Total Refreshment Centre, a recording artist for the off-grid, Scottish Hebridean island label Lost Map, and now the latest arrival into Chicago-based International Anthems growing family of progressive musical explorationists. Whilst much of his music contains vocals often whispered imperatives this is a collection of instrumentals, drenched in feeling and recorded over four albums and eight earth years in cities across the UK.

The music of “To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1” contains naturally elegant orchestration wrapped around something visceral and primordial. Swirled inside the 11 pieces are shades of Japanese Minyo folk, Celtic folk, the Ethio-jazz of saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya and hints of the pan-human ancient music that sat underneath Arthur Russells melodies on First Thought, Best Thought. The music is filled with space, inspired, he says, by computer games and Japanese animation, particularly Joe Hisaishis soundtrack for Studio Ghiblis Castle In The Sky.

The record combines new compositions alongside bygone instrumentals and understated lullabies that feel like theyve been picked from between the cracks of civilisation. These songs were collected from albums “Copernicus,” “The Jester,” and “Peach” under-the-radar records that preceded his critically acclaimed 2019 release The Corner of a Sphere. The new tunes feature Dan Danalogue Leavers of The Comet Is Coming and Sarathy Korwar alongside a host of Londons finest musicians. – Bandcamp

Label: International Anthem Recording Company IARC0030, Total Refreshment Centre TRC-005, Lost Map Records LT 017 07’02.2020

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation

Country: US

Released: 28 Feb 2020

Genre: Folk, World, & Country