Ali George - Watchful Days (2023)

"Watchful Days" marks the third and latest instalment of Ali George's album trilogy, produced in collaboration with Josh Clark. Through a powerful blend of soulful vocals, poignant lyrics, and evocative melodies, the album delves into themes of love, betrayal, and isolation. Drawing from personal experiences and observations of those around him, George delivers an introspective and emotional performance.

The majority of the album was written during a difficult period for Ali George and his partner, Olia Tsopela. In 2020, they made the sudden decision to relocate from Bath, UK, to Athens, Greece after Tsopela’s mother Soula was diagnosed with cancer.

Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, George and Tsopela supported themselves by teaching online as they waited for Soula's chemotherapy to take effect. The title of the album refers to this strange and disquieting period in their lives.

In his spare time, George poured his heart and soul into the album's creation, spending countless hours crafting intricate fingerstyle patterns using unconventional guitar tunings. Through this dedicated process, the foundations for the album were made.

After spending months in Greece writing and refining the songs that would make up “Watchful Days”, George returned home to Bath in July 2021 for a brief visit to see family and to perform a series of small concerts. During this time, he started recording the album with his longtime producer and collaborator, Josh Clark, at Get Real Audio Studios.

Together, they worked to create a unique ambient soundscape for George's guitar, implementing ping-pong delays, long reverbs, expression pedals, and dual amps to achieve a rich stereo effect. They also captured George's percussive playing style, inspired by the likes of John Martyn and Nick Jones, using carefully placed microphones.

Upon returning to Athens, George enlisted the help of several other friends and collaborators who recorded their parts remotely due to the pandemic-related travel restrictions. George focused on recording overdubs for the album, drawing inspiration from Elliott Smith and Bon Iver. He experimented with layering multiple backing vocals, incorporating harmonies and double-tracking to create a rich, textured sound.

With the recording work complete, George and Clark worked together to mix and master the final tracks. Taking cues from legendary concept albums like Pink Floyd's "The Wall," they decided to blend several of the songs together to create a seamless, cohesive listening experience that takes the listener on a dark and enthralling journey. The result is a beautifully crafted album that showcases George's talent as both a songwriter and a musician.

Soon after the album was completed Soula’s cancer was deemed to be terminal. George and Tsopela married in Athens in May 2022, and Soula attended the wedding. She passed away in September. The album is dedicated to her memory.