Name: Island Of Lost Souls
Brand: Roy Montgomery

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

GY11-1

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-02-05

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Revol­ver

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

600197610411

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Roy Montgomery

Genre US

Post Rock

Label US

Grapefruit

Roy Montgomery (born 1959) is a composer, guitarist and lecturer from Christchurch, New Zealand. His mostly instrumental solo works blend post-rock, lo-fi, folk and avant-garde experimentation. With a signature sound that can be described as atmospheric or cinematic, Montgomery creates complex layers of chiming, echoing and droning guitar phrases. Currently the head of the Environmental Management department at Lincoln University in New Zealand, he has played in several bands since 1980 and released solo albums on various labels.

Montgomery's musical journey began in the early 1980s when he started playing with different bands in his home country. Notably, he was part of [a299466], [a58470], [a58480] and [a277139]. Throughout his career, he has explored diverse genres while maintaining his unique style.

In addition to his band contributions, Montgomery has also released numerous solo albums on respected labels such as [l606] and [l23611]. These albums showcase his talent for creating captivating compositions that push boundaries and defy categorization.

Island Of Lost Souls is the first of four new albums by Roy Montgomery coming out in 2021 to commemorate Montgomery’s forty years in music. His debut release was also Flying Nun’s first, the Pin Group 7-inch from 1981.

Roy Montgomery, a pioneer of the NZ underground, believes there is always new sonic terrain to investigate. His latest album for Grapefruit marks forty years of rigorous exploration in which he’s managed to navigate disparate genres, scenes, and atmospheres, always at the forefront of experimental independent music. 

Island Of Lost Souls follows his acclaimed 2018 LP Suffuse—a novel departure in which he consigned all vocal duties to ambient / experimental peers Liz Harris (of Grouper), Julianna Barwick, Purple Pilgrims, Haley Fohr (of Circuit des Yeux), Katie von Schleicher, and She Keeps Bees. But the veteran evolves again. On this release Montgomery creates resounding, aerial compositions for guitar. Where some might be inclined to relax and lean into their legacy at this stage in a sprawling career, Montgomery’s new music continues to seek and challenge, moving like the eye of a storm.

This latest album cries out like a chorus, though there are no vocals on the record. Its tracklist instead builds upon the lonesome and polyphonic dimensions of guitar in order to express universal feelings of communion and isolation, resisting conclusion but never resorting to fatalism. Life is all about navigating these contradictions and everyone is with Montgomery on this island whether they’d like to admit it or not. Here, the artist has created a work of wisdom and grit, a searing beauty, a new masterpiece for an uncertain and restless time.

Island Of Lost Souls

Music US