Hydranism by Oracle Sisters
This album was recorded at the height of the windswept plague of 2020 on the island of Hydra, Greece in the Old Carpet Factory. The band found itself locked down, with no boats coming or going off the island. In this time, with the last sun kissed days turning to winter in the months of October and November. We sang in the ball room, dined in the old wine cellar and paced round the kitchen taking turns cooking 3 meals a day. We would turn off the stove or a cool a pot of boiling water if we wanted to record a vocal take. The old cobbled streets were our forum, and we would debate which way to go on our many walks. Songs were written as fast as we could, some new from on the island and some old were finished there. We met the ghost of the Old Carpet Factory. We gave her a name; we called her ‘Samandu’.Every time she liked a take the lights would flicker. That’s how we knew it was good.
She didn’t always flicker.
It was an ordinary time. It was a special time.
The album was later finished in France in 2021
Tracklist
| 1. | Tramp Like You | 5:25 |
| 2. | Hail Mary | 2:49 |
| 3. | RBH | 4:17 |
| 4. | Hot Summer | 2:23 |
| 5. | Cigale Song | 3:53 |
| 6. | Peat Fire Morning | 4:53 |
| 7. | Ruby On the Run | 2:24 |
| 8. | Paris III | 3:36 |
| 9. | Sailor Song | 2:58 |
| 10. | Lunch and Jazz Chords | 2:29 |
| 11. | Modern Love | 2:34 |
Credits
Credits:
Produced by: Oracle Sisters & Maxime Kosinetz
Mixed by: Noah Georgeson in Los Angeles, CA
Engineered by: Maxime Kosinetz
Mastered by: Philip Shaw Bova
Cover art work by: Eloîse Labarb-Lafon
Graphic Design: Clément Johanet
Recorded at: Old Carpet Factory on Hydra, Greece
Overdubs: Yasmine’s Cabin & La Ferme Records, France
Musicians:
Drums: Cyprien Jacquet a.k.a 'Wend¥ Kill'
Bass: Jerome Goldet
Acoustic guitar: Christopher Willatt
Electric Guitar: Lewis Lazar
Vocals: Christopher Willatt, Lewis Lazar, Julia Johansen
Keyboards and Organ: Lewis Lazar
Piano: Reni Lane (on Tramp Like You, Hail Mary, Sailor Song & Lunch and Jazz Chords),
Lewis Lazar (on RBH, Peatfire Morning, Paris III, Tramp Like You and Prisoner of
Love)
Percussion: Julia Johansen and Cyprien Jacquet a.ka 'Wend¥ Kill'
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Special guests:
Saxophone and Clarinet on 'Hot Summer': Leonard Le Cloarec
Accordion on 'Hot Summer': Pierre Rioufol
Second Piano and Eventide on 'Tramp Like You': Joshua Rouah
Bass on RBH and Paris III: Lewis Lazar
Horn and Clarinet arrangement on ‘Hot Summer’: Lewis Lazar with Leonard Le Cloarec
String arrangement on ‘Ruby’: Julia Johansen
String arrangement on ‘Lunch and Jazz Chords’: Lewis Lazar
Special thanks to: 22TWENTY, Stephan Colloredo, Maja, Margueritte, Cosmo, Our Families, Harvey & Sarah, Theo, Roger Green, Yasmine & Sarah Lavoine, Arthur & Bamboo, Thassula, Bruna Albertini and Samandu for helping us choose the right takes.
License
All rights reserved.
Based in Paris, Oracle Sisters is composed of childhood friends Lewis Lazar and Christopher Willatt, and Finnish musician Julia Johansen. Their debut album, Hydranism, is set to be released in early 2023. Recorded on a remote island during the pandemic, it embraces larger than life ballads, intimate folk songs, table thumping rousers and a vision of the world suspended in a timeless place.