Editorial Reviews LORNA released their first CD-EP 'Never Grow Old' in March 2001 on Nottingham independent label Intromit Records. Seduced and intrigued by the release, the head of Heavenly Recordings (Jeff Barrett) immediately signed LORNA to a publishing deal through EMI Music in 2001. More experimentation, inspiration, and collaboration — including work with members of Six By Seven, Spiritualized, and Echoboy — led to a 7" vinyl release in 2001 through the Spanish label Becalmed Records. The single received critical acclaim and worldwide airplay. "Piano and guitar notes fall like teardrops. This is imagined memory where Brian Wilson invites Slowdive to work with him." In 2003, LORNA completed their first proper album, "This Time, Each Year" — a collection of fourteen new songs. The album was released in December 2003 by the Spanish label Pause Music. It received immense critical acclaim, and by January 2004 "This Time, Each Year" was already marked for Album Of The Year by many Spanish radio stations. The band took on a full promotional tour of Spain to astounding success including slots of national daytime TV and radio and playing capacity shows at cities including Madrid and Valencia. In January 2005 LORNA signed to WORDS ON MUSIC for the worldwide release of their second album, 'Static Patterns and Souvenirs.' The album showcases eleven new songs that use Scottish pop, post-rock, Americana, and dream pop as signposts. LORNA invigorates each of these genres by injecting a complex yet seamless array of instrumentation, both traditional (pedal steel, classical guitar, flute, vibraphone, viola, banjo, French horn, flugelhorn, harmonica, mandola) and experimental (theremin, found noises, electronics). This orchestration serves as an innovative anchor to the compelling melodies sung, often in tandum, by Mark Rolfe, Sharon Cohen, and James Allen. Repeated listens are rewarded with newfound orchestral discoveries throughout these stunning musical arrangements. LORNA have performed with Neil Halstead (Mojave 3), Evan Dando, Mark Gardner (Ride), American Analog Set, Midlake, and Pernice Brothers. LORNA uses Scottish pop, post-rock, Americana, and dream pop as signposts, but invigorates each of these genres by injecting a complex, yet seamless array of instrumentation – both organic (pedal steel, classical guitar, vibraphone, viola, cello, banjo, flute, French horn, flugelhorn, harmonica, mandola) and experimental (theremin, found noises, electronics). This orchestration serves as an innovative anchor to the compelling melodies sung, often in tandum, by Mark Rolfe, Sharon Cohen, and James Allen. The album is inaugurated with "Understanding Heavy Metal Parts I and II." Part I is a beautifully mild-mannered pop song in the vein of MAZZY STAR, with flourishes of banjo, harmonica, and trumpet. The song eventually segues into Part II – a two-minute instrumental coda with an electronic-fused rhythmic underbelly punctuated by vibraphone and trumpet melodies. LORNA accelerates the pace with "The Last Mosquito Fight of Summer" – propelled by briskly syncopated brushed snare strokes and Allen’s "Pictures of You"-esque bass line. The song contains a rousing instrumental chorus, highlighted by a MORRICONE-tinged theremin melody, and closes with fading trails of electronics, radio noise, and a melancholic assembly of violas. "Remarkable Things" is inspired by the John McGregor novel about a day in the life of small British town with children left to their own devices and imaginations. Rolfe and Cohen sing over a naked bed of classic country instrumentation – banjo, acoustic guitars, and pedal steel. On "He Dreams of Spaceships" LORNA sings about the sad, forgotten story of Laika the Soviet space dog against a deceivingly warm backdrop of Scottish pop suggesting CAMERA OBSCURA or Sarah Martin of BELLE AND SEBASTIAN. The measured post-rock composition "Illuminations" closes the album, building from its bare opening verses with passages of flute, trumpet, banjo, and experimental noises, only to conclude with pulsating electronics, a TWIN PEAKS "Red Room" muted trumpet, and ringing vibraphone melodies.
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About the Artist
LORNA was originally formed as a studio project in 1997 by Nottingham, England songwriter Mark Rolfe, gradually expanding over the years to a quartet. LORNA's songs are conceived, written, and produced by the band in their own studio Stars of Winnetka, with the assistance from various collaborators and an eclectic and wide range of instrumentation. Studio work is LORNA's forte — Rolfe has a deep-rooted understanding and knowledge of conventional music theory as well as orchestration, and singer Sharon Cohen has spent years of academic and self-study of Music Production and Technology. Often a co-writer with Rolfe and Cohen is bassist and sound instrumentalist James Allen, whose biggest gift to LORNA's music is providing the majority of the genuine, earthy male vocals. Matt Harrison completes the core of LORNA's studio and songwriting team, contributing his classical knowledge and affection for electronic experimentation.
Album Description
‘Static Patterns and Souvenirs’ is the second album of remarkably orchestrated songwriting by the Nottingham, England quartet LORNA. The album blends classical orchestration with Americana instrumentation to anchor stunning pop melodies that evoke the works of MOJAVE 3, LAMBCHOP, CAMERA OBSCURA, and ANGELO BADALAMENTI.