British experimental producer and composer James Holden is releasing his first new album in six years next month, and following on from lead single “Contains Multitudes”, we now have “Common Land”. Holden says of the song’s origins and its title’s reference to land ownership:
“The title comes from the British Library bird recordings I wrote the track around, but obviously references the idea that all land is everyone’s and we are all born with the right to roam or rave on it. I think who and what is allowed on the land tells you a lot about how this place is run, and for who. Personally I think anything a rich person claims as ‘theirs’ is stolen off the rest of us and there’s nowhere that’s more obvious than the English countryside. Imagine! – the state protects the right of these cretins to fence off thousands of acres for their barbaric hobbies while ancient traditions like communities coming together to get high and dance in the woods are criminalised! Everything is upside down and we need to fix it.”
While Holden’s opinions on the matter are justifiably heated, the track “Common Land” is a verdant paradise of chirping birds and crickets, blissed-out synth tones and subtle saxophone. As ever Holden starts the song in one place – with the looped and echoed sounds of bird call – and transports the song via sonic pathways that only he can envision, swelling it into a veritable nest of aural activity. Whether intended as a protest song or not, “Common Land” relays the message of community with nature and the breadth of human spirit transcending man-made borders.
Watch the video for “Common Land” below or find it on streamers.
James Holden’s new album Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities arrives on March 31 through Border Community. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
He’s also announced a special live date at London’s EartH on April 13 – tickets on his official website.
