Lost Horizons unite with John Grant for dreamy new track "Cordelia"

"Cordelia" marks the first time Lost Horizons have collaborated with John Grant, and it follows on from last month's lead outing "I Woke Up With An Open Heart" featuring The Hempolics.

Simon Raymonde of Lost Horizons says of the track, "This was one of the last tracks recorded for the album, though it came from the ashes of one the first improv sessions Richie and I had. Listening back to what we started with, I jettisoned the drums and most of the guitars but salvaged a small part of it and turned it into something brand new. Then I had the amazing David Rothon - who I had seen play live with Marissa Nadler a few nights before - and long-time collaborator Fiona Brice add pedal steel and strings respectively."

He adds, "Sitting quietly in the studio with our spacey slice of instrumental swirl, I closed my eyes to imagine a voice. While much of his recent work involves synths and crunchy beats, how he magnificently handles cinematic melancholy in his own work, and specifically in the Scott Walker Prom for the BBC, I knew my dear friend John Grant would nail this. I hoped he might enjoy the freedom of creating some melodic magic alongside elegant emotional lyrics. I sent him the piece, aware that he is always so incredibly busy, and tried to keep my expectations low, in case he had to turn it down, but to my utter and continuing delight he said yes and I’ll have to admit to shedding a tear or two when he sent me back the completed vocal a few weeks later."

John Grant says of the collaboration, "I really loved doing this track with Simon. I'd had the idea for this song for a long time and when he sent me the instrumental, I immediately thought: "CORDELIA" - so happy to have found such a beautiful home for this track!"

During the album process, Lost Horizons, aka Richie Thomas (Dif Juz) and Raymonde (bassist of Cocteau Twins and boss of record label Bella Union), created 16 instrumentals to send to potential collaborators. Raymonde suggested a central theme for the lyrics, "Death and rebirth. Of loved ones, of ideals, at an age when many artists that have inspired us are also dead, and the planet isn’t far behind. But I also said, 'The most important part is to just do your own thing, and have fun'."

Thomas says, "I think it’s more joyous than Ojalá, but both albums have a great energy about them."

He adds, "I think In Quiet Moments is more in the direction of where we’re going. People have retreated into their lives and, in those quiet moments, reflected on the world, how we fit in and who we trust. Maybe the next album will be about rebellion! But the road is long and winding. We just need to express ourselves in how we feel at the time."

Lost Horizons' forthcoming album will include collaborations with Porridge Radio, C. Duncan, Ren Harvieu, Marissa Nadler and more.