Canadian drummer, producer, and historian Quinn Downton, under his recording alias Cries for Colour, is set to release his sophomore album, Yellow Sands; Or, Eight Tales of Pixie Mischief, on October 25th, 2024. The album is a bold exploration of disease, madness, and the supernatural, weaving personal experiences with historical research to craft a deeply evocative soundscape.
The project emerged during a challenging period in Quinn's life, marked by an ongoing health crisis, his role as a caregiver, and struggles with mental illness. These personal trials profoundly shaped the concept behind Yellow Sands, an album that oscillates between the ethereal and the eerie, the historical and the deeply personal.
Yellow Sands initially began as a musical extension of Quinn's academic research on the life of 19th-century British painter Richard Dadd (1817–1886). Dadd, whose descent into madness and obsessive depictions of fairies fascinated Victorian audiences, became the subject of Quinn’s master’s thesis. His accompanying essay, Masculinity and the Mad Artist, examines how Victorian notions of manliness influenced Dadd’s treatment as a patient in an asylum.
However, Quinn's personal life also left a strong imprint on the album. In June 2023, his partner was diagnosed with advanced stage throat and lung cancer, a devastating event that profoundly influenced the album's production and lyrics. Her intricate embroidery adorns the album cover, a tender reflection of her enduring spirit and their shared struggles.
Musically, Yellow Sands defies easy categorization, blending hazy psychedelic pop with fragile indie folk and cosmic post-rock. Voices and instruments from the early 20th century subtly find their way into the album, hinting at lives long past. The album’s eight tracks are richly textured, striking a balance between the mystical and the real, each piece contributing to a genre-bending, eclectic whole.
While Quinn spearheaded the writing and production of the album, over twenty session musicians and friends helped bring the project to life. Of particular note is the contribution of Colin Edwin, renowned fretless bassist of UK cult band Porcupine Tree, whose silky bass lines flow throughout every track.
Mastering for Yellow Sands was done by Noah Mintz, whose extensive mastering work includes collaborations with Metric, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Broken Social Scene, and The National, adding a final polish to this distinctive and deeply personal album.
Tracklist:
Yellow Sands - 6:03
Spellbound - 4:25
Heavenly Bodies - 6:23
Lovelace - 6:11
Dust Eater - 5:49
What You Sound Like in Gold - 3:09
Sleeper - 11:51
Water Lilies - 7:54
Cries for Colour’s Yellow Sands will be available on all major streaming platforms on October 25th, 2024. Physical copies of the album will include a printed version of Quinn's essay, Masculinity and the Mad Artist, offering listeners further insight into the academic inspirations behind this haunting and emotionally charged album.
