Name: The Forecast
Brand: Downpilot

Bonus disc

Catalogue number

TR518

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-03-17

Signed copies

Supplier GB

Shellshock

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4015698604436

Total Cap

Artist

Downpilot

Genre GB

Alternative / Modern

Label GB

Tapete

Welcome to Tapete, an independent record label based in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 2002 by Gunther Buskies and Dirk Darmstaedter, Tapete has become a prominent force in the music industry. With a diverse roster of talented artists and performers, we strive to bring you the best in music across various genres.

At Tapete, we are passionate about supporting emerging talent and providing a platform for them to showcase their artistry. Our dedication to quality and innovation has earned us a reputation as a trusted source for exceptional music.

With our *labelcode* LC 12227, we offer an extensive catalog of releases that span multiple formats. From vinyl records to CDs and digital downloads, we ensure that you can enjoy your favorite music in the format that suits you best.

Downpilot is ostensibly the solo project of singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording/mix engineer Paul Hiraga. For the last four albums, Hiraga has recorded and mixed single-handedly, which has given his work a seasoned clarity, and his seventh album, The Forecast, is the boldest, most exquisitely crafted Downpilot album to date. A trip across multiple decades with influences subtly ranging from the melodic Laurel Canyon-esque ballads ("Balancer"), to Baroque and Sunshine Pop of the late 60s and 70s ("Strangers Hotel"), to 90s Britpop ("Red Desert"), all with a 21st Century spin, it's nothing less than an achievement that The Forecast hangs together so wonderfully as a cohesive body of work. The crystalline intro to "Black Eye", the album's opener, showcases Hiraga's voice, which has a richness and raspy expressiveness that has never sounded better than it does on this album. "Black Eye" is one of Hiraga's finest songs to date with one of the catchiest choruses in the Downpilot catalog. Hiraga has long been exploring a range of themes in his songwriting: the inevitability of change, the mystery and beauty of nature, the varied histories of places and people, the complexity of human relationships, and the uncertainty of the future. He is a Seattle-based artist, and the Pacific Northwest is a palpable presence - it has gotten into his blood, and it seeps into the songs. With the sparse and delightfully rhythmic "Totems," he evokes the distant past of the region, interweaving it with individual and personal narratives. The intoxicated twang of "Night Shade" underpins a lament on things lost, while shimmery guitar and three-part vocals on "Balancer" take a bow to CSN, making a layered bed for a poetic love song. The melodic chorus of "Strangers Hotel," a symphony of strings, piano, and obscure oddball keyboards underpins a philosophical exploration of memory and the nature of reality. One of the albums most exciting moments appears with "Red Desert," a desolate urban vision with a transcendent violin from virtuoso Melinda Rice, who contributes string parts on several songs. Hiraga has also included longtime Downpilot members Jeff Brown and Anne Marie Ruljancich (Walkabouts) along with Terry de Castro (The Wedding Present) to add a few vocal nuances throughout the album, with Brown's harmonies adding a soaring quality to "Favorite Neighborhood." Ending with the title track, this may not be the sunniest of forecasts but it is not without hope. Ultimately this is a life-affirming album that dips effortlessly into different styles while maintaining Downpilot's unmistakable musical identity. Loyal fans will not be disappointed, as the The Forecast contains plenty of signature sounds, themes, and motifs. But this new collection of superbly crafted pop songs could also open the field to new listeners.

The Forecast

Music GB