Adam Ross
Randolph's Leap frontman, Adam Ross shares debut solo album ‘Staring at Mountains’ via Olive Grove Records.
Photography Credit: Greg Ryan
Having fronted indie-folk collective, Randolph’s Leap for over a decade with a range of albums from an 8-piece band through to more solo lo-fi singer-songwriter material Ross decided that it was time to share music under his own name, as he explains "The songs are more folky in tone and the lyrics are less tongue-in-cheek than what I was writing as Randolph’s Leap. The album is more interested in things like landscapes and nature and is a bit more character-driven and it’s the first time I’ve collaborated with external musicians.
Recorded in the atmospheric settings of Delgatie Castle and Todhead Lighthouse in Aberdeenshire, enlisting the help of Pedro Cameron (Man of the Minch) on violin accompaniment and Jenny Sturgeon on vocal harmonies. Ross produced and mixed the album himself resulting in an album full of charismatic charm blending wry humour and poetry with a sparse delicateness of traditional folk akin to Loudon Wainwright III & Townes Van Zandt across the 10 tracks.
Initially taking lyrical inspiration from the Scottish landscape and its nature Staring At Mountains guides us through the Cairngorm mountains to Sanna beach on the west coast while also delving into more personal storylines such as battling the decisions of whether or not to have children on opening track The Quiet Joys of Parenthood and feeling clueless in how to deal with a friend’s alcoholism on What Are You Doing?.
The allure of Staring at mountains is the continued adeptness of Adam Ross’s lyrical prowess and the albums sparse instrumentation, which combined serves to create an intimate listen perfectly encapsulating the beauty of Scotland and those moments of human connection.
Purchase on CD, Vinyl & Digital via Bandcamp here
