Glasgow based composer and musician C Duncan (aka Christopher Duncan) has just recently unveiled an expanded edition of his stunning recent album Architect and for those unfamiliar with the young muso it’s the perfect introduction to a breathtaking talent.
Written and recorded alone in his Glasgow flat on a bedroom studio setup, Duncan constructed the album by gradually adding each layer and each instrument one at a time, building up the breadth of the pieces. Though time-consuming, the process allowed for Christopher to lovingly assemble the intricacies and subtleties for this astonishingly intricate and subtle collection of music.
Born to two classical musician parents, Duncan was more interested in indie and alternative music and playing in school bands as a teen that he added guitar, bass guitar and drums to his existing repertoire of viola and piano, studying all five instruments at the same time. The influences of these two distinct schools is clear in his unique brand of songwriting.
To celebrate the re-release Architect, Duncan has kindly peened us a track by track run down of the record which you can check out below. Architect is out now via Cooking Vinyl Australia.
Say
“The album opens with ‘Say’ which sets the scene for the rest of the album – not in mood, but musically. It is a melancholic song about escaping and leaving everything behind, which is a theme that recurs throughout the album.”
Architect
“I named the album after this song once I had finished recording the entire thing. It seemed an appropriate name given that I had just spent the past year recording and building this album piece by piece.
I also love painting buildings and street views so it just tied the whole thing together. As for the song itself, I had an architect friend in mind when I wrote it. It is cheerful and slightly whimsical (like my friend).”
Silence and Air
“Like ‘Say’, this track is about escaping – but not from anything in particular. My brother purchased a new car, and I decided to write him a song to drive to.”
For
“Another theme that comes up a lot in the album is the sea. ‘For’ is more meditative than the previous songs and centres around the placidity of the sea.
It was actually the first song that I completed from the album – so I guess it’s really this song that sets the scene for the album.”
Miracles
“‘Miracles’ is basically a joyful love song. Prior to the album I recorded a lot of 1950s barbershop quartet inspired songs and this is me looking back to that and incorporating it into the style of the album.
I have always had a soft spot for singers like June Christy and (dare I say it) Doris Day… which I guess/hope shows in this track.”
Garden
“This was the final track I recorded for the album. It is about throwing your troubles and cares away (and sitting in the garden..?..). I suppose the song reflects my joy and excitement of finishing the album (and my love of sitting in the garden).”
Here to There
“I was gifted a very nice boating jacket. I take it everywhere I go, to all the places that I know.”
By
“‘By’ has the vaguest title on the album and is perhaps the most clouded song lyrically. It hints at a love song, although strained and stern.”
New Water
“‘New Water’ was originally going to be an up tempo track when I started recording it, but like a lot of the other tracks on the album, the melodies and subjects evolved throughout the process and this is what came out of it.
I was a bit lost at the time and I was beginning to feel more and more isolated (having spent most of the past few months recording, alone in my flat).”
Novices
“This song is about two people eloping. I had always wanted to incorporate strings in my music, and this was my first attempt.”
As Sleeping Stones
“Like ‘New Water’, ‘As sleeping Stones’ came at a particularly difficult point in the recording process. It took months to record. I had hit a real creative block and nothing I was working on at the time got finished, except this track.
Tried and failed attempts to make music is something that I am used to, but never to this extent, and the lyrics reflect this. As a result, It is one of my favourite tracks on the album.”
I’ll Be Gone By Winter
“Glasgow will always be home to me and is be a very vibrant place, but it can also be bleak and grey – especially the winters.”
