Firestations
Firestations share new single ‘Small Island’, the first instalment of a new multi-EP project titled Automatic Tendencies the first of three EPs set to be released digitally and on limited-edition CD-R over a six-month period released via Lost Map.
Released as part of Lost Map’s PostMap Club subscription series of postcard releases, and accompanied by collaborative, experimental videos. Small Island is the first taster with whimsical harmonies set against looping synths creating a tranquil groove which the band describe as “a pop song about finding ways to escape when the dominant narrative seems to be stuck in slow motion or on repeat”
Band member and visual artist Laura Copsey has curated limited edition artworks that expand on the themes of the songs which she comments “The songs on Automatic Tendencies reflect on ideas of cultural identity and belonging. A tendency for repetition, a desire to escape, but also a strong connection to place and the shared experience of being alive at the same time on this small island. The contents of the art collection work alongside the music to create a sense of belonging, yet there is an ever-present awareness of growing insularity. The waters surrounding the British Isles are increasingly politicised – viewed as a border, despite being fluid and acting as a connection.
“It was these metaphors that guided the illustrations in the risographed No Parking zine – which contains human / machine translation poetry generated from the lyrics to ‘Small Island’ by forcing a machine to glitch via many global languages. The lines would not exist were it not for the differences between us and the zine aims to celebrate this fact. Designer Philip Crewe (espergaerde.co.uk) has crafted a set of reusable brass fish and chip forks to represent the iconic staple of British culinary culture which can be used whilst staring out to sea eating chips in quiet contemplation. These items speak to a wonky ‘no parking’ sticker (‘take back control?’) and the Automatic Tendencies print which features legs, knee deep, drawn into a risographed version of a 16mm film still that had been buried in the English countryside for three months.”
