MOSTLY AUTUMN’S EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE
York collective announce new album in memory of their original guitarist.
Mostly Autumn’s Bryan Josh admits that writing and recording White Rainbow was “the hardest thing I’d ever done.” The group’s latest album, out in March via their own label, pays tribute to their former guitarist, Liam Davison, who died in 2017.
“I lost one of my closest friends of 38 years and I was so doused in emotion that I just wanted to give him some kind of send-off. I wanted to do something to remember him by, and help other people remember him as well,” says the band’s founding musician and vocalist.
Davison, who played with Mostly Autumn for 18 years, had spoken about wanting a Viking funeral and it’s this ritual that inspired the emotional lyrics and musical landscape of the 11-track. Although the result is very different from 2017’s upbeat Sight Of Day, it still explores the common themes of nature, life and loss. The title and artwork borrow imagery from an area that was not only dear to both Josh and Davison but also has strong Norse ties.
“Just before Liam died, I was camping in the Lake District with a few friends. Liam and I have been going there since we were 12, and [on this occasion] we saw a white rainbow over the valley in the middle of the night. I didn’t know they existed but I liked the idea of it as a title,” says Josh. “A white rainbow is a beautiful and rare thing, as was Liam, so it all fell together.”
The distinctive recording also features Nightwish piper and long-time collaborator Troy Donockley. He’s the only guest on the album as Josh wanted to keep it personal.
“Dark emotions are the most powerful and a lot of people can relate to them if they’ve lost someone,” says
Josh. “I listened through to the album for the first time recently and it moved me to tears. It’s brutally honest and I’ve never done anything like it before. I miss Liam every day, but I do feel better for making this album and knowing it’s going to be out there.”
Mostly Autumn head out on tour in April and plan to start incorporating the new material into their set soon. More dates will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, Josh has also confirmed that he’ll start work on the second part of his Gothic Transylvania solo album later this year. NRS
For the full list of live shows, visit www.mostly-autumn.com.
“It’s brutally honest and I’ve never done anything like
it before.”