Follow The Line

True to its title, Follow the Line is a record mapped out by geography, with many of the tracks directly derived from my travels across the globe. The inspiration for "Tokyo Dawn" is written right into its name, while "One Last Morning" serves as a somber reflection following a deeply moving visit to Hiroshima. The album also journeys to the astonishing, evocative Okunoin cemetery high up on Mount Koya near Osaka, which laid the groundwork for "Empire of Dust." Shifting hemispheres, "Searching for Blue Sky" and the title track were born from an Australian expedition. "Follow the Line" itself was inspired by the magnificent Macquarie Harbour on the wild west coast of Tasmania; its almost velvet-like water is captured exactly as it appeared in reality on the album's cover art.

Musically, this album marked a massive technological turning point for me as the first outing for the Kemper Profiling Amplifier. For home recording, it’s a brilliant piece of kit that allowed me to pair the perfect simulated amp and effects chain with the right guitar for each track. Crucially, it allowed me to start using highly manipulated guitar signals to replace traditional keyboards for ambient pads and backing textures. While you will still catch a keyboard part or two on a couple of tracks, Follow the Line is the moment the guitar truly took over as the primary orchestra for my soundscapes.