There is a long tradition of pastoral music capturing a quintessential Englishness, running from
Vaughan Williams through the English folk tradition to more recent names like Robert Wyatt and
Talk Talk. Further down this line you'll find Epic45.

Ten years after their formation in a small rural Midlands village, a decade in which the nucleus of Ben
Holton and Rob Glover have redefined and refined the band's sound, Epic45 release “Weathering”,
their new album and definitive statement. Epic45's last full-length album “May Your Heart Be The
Map” in 2007 was described as “the best English summer album ever” by Word Magazine, and was
later included in their albums of the decade. “Weathering” takes the same elements, but is a more
mature, reflective and subdued work with a far broader sonic palette.

“Weathering” boasts an impressive set of guest singers and musicians. Stephen Jones of Babybird
lends his trademark falsetto to the beautiful “With Our Backs to the City”, a track co-written with
Jones after he contacted the band, impressed by a cover of his song “Losing My Hair” that Epic45
had been performing live. The track is unquestionably one of the album's highlights. Rose Berlin, the
daughter of Curve's Dean Garcia, adds her delicate vocals to “Summer Message”, a duet she wrote and
performs with Ben. Meanwhile, regular contributor Antony Harding of July Skies, sings and plays
clarinet on the Durutti Column-esque “Ghosts I Have Known”. Instrumental contributions come
from a wide cast including Richard Adams of The Declining Winter and Hood, who adds guitar and
hammered dulcimer, electronic duo The Remote Viewer, EL Heath and Brave Timbers/Declining
Winter violinist Sarah Kemp.