Mary Lattimore & Paul Sukeena announce West Kensington; share single “Altar of Tammy”

West Kensington is the product of harpist Mary Lattimore and her neighbor, guitarist Paul Sukeena, recording in “strange times,” which I think we all know is a code phrase for. It’s a funny-business new-age sound, definitely an unearthly, beautiful listen but at times almost seems to take classic ambient concepts and turns them on their head; or as liner notes author Nicky Devine put it, “the chords of the harp conjure a feeling of togetherness and intentional greeting resembling Philip Glass after loads of red wine.” Notes bend and drawl; Lattimore’s harp a lit-up carousel, sparkling to extend the abilities of the instrument past tradition.

This track captures the dark spirit of the time. Waking up to a life with no form; drinking again in the same room every night, illuminated only by red light. The world was telling us to stop.

Paul Sukeena

We watched a lot of Friday Night Lights.

Mary Lattimore

West Kensington is out May 20th, 2022 on Three Lobed. Pre-order here.

Photo of Mary: Jamie Kelter Davis