The fifth album by The Doomed of Providence, Meteoric Heralds of Danger, is out now on 10 to 1 Records. It takes a different approach to any other album by the band in that it was in equal parts fairly restrictive in how the compositions were played, yet at the same time it encouraged a lot of improvisation. The most similar album in approach was 2017’s Burrowed in the Soft Sky. Both albums use graphic scores, but the style of score is very different for each.
The idea for the new album came about initially from listening to late 70s minimalist composition and the way music could move through iterations gradually transforming and evolving the sound. It was then thought to take The Doomed Bird’s early influences (Brel, 70’s British Folk, Peer Raben) and use these styles to inform the chord progressions and melodies. Additionally, the pieces were all inspired by descriptions of the sea, specifically descriptions by Marcus Clarke in the convict themed novel, For the Term of His Natural Life.
With all this in mind, Mark Kluzek created graphic scores for the works. After this, members of the band met to work through the scores and how to play them. This was typically done in the evenings at someone’s house. After about half a year of practising, the band felt it was time to start playing with full amplification.
They started rehearsing at Dalston Rehearsal Studios.
Rehearsals carried on for another half year. Essentially just working on the four extended pieces using the scores. The pieces required the six players (Joolie, Ian, Katie, Richard, Drew and Mark) to play together and follow the prompts on the score. But it also required all members to work together so that sections sat well with what others were playing.
Once the band felt the pieces were in strong enough shape they were recorded at Dalston Rehearsal Studio in one session.
The smaller, introductory pieces were created very differently. Mark recorded the chord progressions slowed down and sent them to various musicians (Rachel Laurence, Flake Brown, Simon Finn and others) to play to. Little was offered to them in terms of guidance, the idea being that they would be in contrast to their related extended pieces whilst still being connected.
The final result is Meteoric Heralds of Danger. Available here to buy: Meteoric Heralds of Danger | The Doomed Bird of Providence
The Doomed Bird of Providence 
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