Whispers Of Granite

Multi-national duo release profound and cinematic lockdown collaboration

File sharing has allowed many projects to exist that might not have seen the light of day for logistical reasons and Whispers Of Granite is a case in point. It’s a collaboration between former White Willow and When Mary vocalist Trude Eidtang from Norway and Andreas Hack, previously the main creative force behind Frequency Drift from Germany.

Their new album //Liquid Stone// combines Trude’s honey-soaked vocals and thought-provoking lyrics with Andreas’ cinematic, often orchestral keyboards. How did this somewhat unlikely pairing come about?

“I got an email from Andreas in the midst of COVID,” says Editing. “Everything felt really dark and the world felt dead. Then suddenly I got the email, which was really heartwarming and profound. He asked me if I would cooperate and then he sent me a lot of instrumentals. I got to pick the ones that I resonated with the most. In fact, the first track we worked on was actually the first one I clicked on, which became the ethereal ballad //Endlessly//.

“There were about twenty pieces in total, ” remembers Hack. “I wasn’t just recording aimlessly. I was writing with a voice like Trude’s in mind, so it was a great thrill when she agreed to take part.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing, though, as Eidtang was going through some turbulence and tragedy in her own life, which led to a stop-start, four-year process. Thankfully, in recent months her life has stabilised, allowing the project to be completed. Does the resulting album have any particular themes?

“I like people to find their own associations, but when I find the energy of a song, I go with it,” she says. “I don’t plan it, it has to flow. I’m just like a stone worker. I’m chiselling and then something appears. So if there is a theme for the album, it’s our connection to the earth and to different time periods, especially geological eras. It’s also about our current times, so there are some politics in there if you look for them.”

Those who have enjoyed his work in Frequency Drift will find a lot to enjoy in Hack’s orchestrations for this new album. //Prog// comments on the predominance of piano, which weaves through many of this varied album’s eight tracks. While many of //Liquid Stone//’s textures were digital, this was one aspect that was definitely analogue

“It’s my grandmother’s upright piano”, says Hack with evident pride. “It’s a really lovely instrument, so I try to use it as much as possible.”

While most of the instrumentation is provided by Hack, with vocal arrangements from Eidtang, guests include popular multi-instrumentalist Marek Arnold on sax and Paul Sadler, who contributes two key guitar solos. But the process wasn’t quite as simple as handing over finished pieces for Editing to add vocals, especially on the glorious //Ocean Maker//.

“I expanded some of the pieces, including that one.” Says Hack, “But Trude had wanted me to work on another piece entirely, so we ended up with a very happy accident.” SL

PROG FILE

LINE-UP: Trude Eidtang (vocals and lyrics), Andreas Hack (all music and instruments)

SOUNDS LIKE: Cinematic and dynamic arrangements combine with warm, multi-layered female vocals and profound lyrics

CURRENT RELEASE: //Liquid Stone// is out now on Apollon Records.

WEBSITE: www.whispersofgranite.com

— Stephen Lambe