Warmrain - Back Above the Clouds (2019)

BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS is the highly anticipated debut album from WARMRAIN. The band s first release, a four-track EP 'Absent Friends' issued in 2011, was described in Prog magazine as a thoughtful calling card... A stately affair that shows some Floyd influences. Since then WARMRAIN have been out of the spotlight, quietly crafting the intense and deeply personal double album. Conceived and written by Leon J Russell, BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS is based on a true story, adapted, according to Russell, to appeal to everyone. As human beings, we all share in the universal experience of heart-breaking loss, and during the after-effects we have to discover coping mechanisms that will give us the strength to rebuild ourselves and our lives. The concept was brought to life by guitarist Matthew Lerwill and bassist Simon Bradshaw, with Russell handling vocals, guitar and drums, and tells how the person who lived through this story kept a series of journals, documenting the thoughts and feelings they were experiencing. BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS is made up solely of extracts from these journals. Because of the universal nature of such a story, there are plans to widen its horizons so that it is not only told through words and music, but also through videos, photographs, illustrations and infographics via social media platforms. There isn t a single person who doesn t know what it feels like to experience loss, explains Russell, and I see this as a healing aid, if you like, something people can engage with and not feel alone. BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS will be preceded by an EP which is set for release on 17 May. The lead track Here Comes The Rain Again [RAIN001MCD], a sublime interpretation of Eurythmics song, appears in edited form, and will be accompanied by a stunning 4K video, shot at Dorchester Abbey and featuring guest musicians Craig Blundell on drums and John Mitchell playing keyboards. The EP is completed by three non-album tracks Shadow-Line Paradigm, Keep Going and Clock Watching Pt.1, Pt.2 & Pt.3 written specifically for the release. The full seven-minute version of Here Comes The Rain Again will be included on BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS as a bonus track. A must have for fans of Pink Floyd, Steven Wilson and Anathema.