FROZEN BY SIGHT (GATE) (DLCD)

Drawing inspiration from disparate musical and poetic sources, two British Mercury Prize nominees have come together in a playful departure from their respective work with Field Music and Maximo Park. Based around text from Paul Smith's travel writing, and Peter Brewis's chamber-band arrangements, the pair have collaborated on a suite of songs, creating a restrained yet richly descriptive sound-world. The music wraps itself around the words and the places they chronicle. The locations become tangible; from their home towns in north-eastern England to more far-flung - destinations. Characters appear, such as the diminutive L.A. Street Cleaner going about his work in the song of the same title, or the romantic old couple "digging their forefingers in freshly-soaked sand" in 'Santa Monica'. Frozen By Sight', then, is a rare piece of music that quietly announces the arrival of a potent new collaboration.