Leon Vynehall's debut album, Nothing Is Still, will come out in June on Ninja Tune.
Vynehall says the LP has been in the works for nearly four years. It's dedicated to his grandparents, who emigrated from the UK to New York City in the '60s—a part of his family history that he'd been only vaguely familiar with before his grandfather's death four years ago. Seeing old photos and talking with his grandmother about the couple's experiences led to the album's creation.
We're told to expect a "defiantly atmospheric and textural" record, with today's announcement mentioning works by minimalist composers Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Gavin Bryars as inspirations. It features guest musicians, including a ten-piece string section arranged by Amy Langley, saxophonist and flautist Finn Peters and pianist Sam Beste, while its cover uses a 1967 piece from the late visual artist Pol Bury depicting New York's famous George Washington Bridge. The album will be accompanied by some short films, and a limited-edition box set will also include a paperback novella Vynehall wrote with Max Sztyber.
Vynehall has previously put out pair of double-vinyl EPs: 2014's Music For The Uninvited for 3024 and 2016's Rojus for Running Back, his most recent solo release. Nothing Is Still marks his first appearance on Ninja Tune