Originally written and composed for her Masters of Fine Arts thesis at UBC, Songs For a Lost Pod is a concept album combining scientific research, whale sounds processed into beats, and marine mammal history.
Told from the perspective of various whale species, the songs explore themes of inter-species communication, intergenerational trauma, and grief for a polluted planet. Songs For a Lost Pod highlights separation—both animal and human—to one another and to the natural world, with the goal of reconnection through musical communication.
In collaboration with musician-producers, field recordings and orca whale vocalizations were processed into beats and tracks, barely recognizable as original sounds, but providing an intangible continuity to the album. Musician-producer collaborators include Sandro Perri (Polmo Polpo, Devon Sproule, Tasseomancy), Aidan O’Rourke (Lau), J.J. Ipsen (Hayden, Jim Guthrie), Andrew Lee (Holy Hum, In Medias Res), Antoine Bédard (Montag), and more.
Abramson is also releasing a companion to the album in the form of a comic book, in collaboration with Vancouver artist Taylor Brown-Evans.
released November 3, 2017
Songs For a Lost Pod
Vocals recorded by Leah Abramson, except #1 recorded by Eric Weiden
Additional recording and editing by Andrew Lee
Mixed by Sandro Perri
Orca samples used in beats are from vocalizations by the A5 pod from the Northern Resident population of British Columbia, recorded by OrcaLab and downloaded from the Orchive. Additional sounds recorded by Leah Abramson on Malcolm Island, BC and in Sitka, Alaska. Tape hiss courtesy of Ken Abramson.
1. Pilot Protest
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and J.J. Ipsen
Leah Abramson: Voice, Rhodes
J.J. Ipsen: Beat, Guitar, Synth, Percussion
Produced and arranged by J.J. Ipsen
2. Pender Harbour
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and Andrew Lee
Leah Abramson: Voice
Andrew Lee: Guitar, Keyboard, Synth
Produced by Andrew Lee
3. Skana
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and J.J. Ipsen
Leah Abramson: Voice, Accordion
J.J. Ipsen: Drums, Percussion, Cello, Mellotron, Bass Clarinet
Produced and arranged by J.J. Ipsen
4. Fossil Dust
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson
Leah Abramson: Voice, Wurlitzer
Marten Timan: Beat, Bass, Guitar
Produced by Leah Abramson
5. Resting Line
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and Arliss Renwick
Leah Abramson: Voice
Arliss Renwick: Beats and samples
Produced by Arliss Renwick
6. Lampedusa
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and Antoine Bedard
Leah Abramson: Voice, Wurlitzer
Antoine Bedard: Beat, Voice, Bass, Keyboards, Synth
Produced by Leah Abramson and Antoine Bedard
7. Hey, Hi, Hello
Lyrics by Leah Abramson, Music by Leah Abramson and Sandro Perri
Voice: Leah Abramson
Produced by Sandro Perri
8. The Lost, The Gone
Leah Abramson: Voice
Aidan O'Rourke: Fiddle, Electronics
John Blease: Drums
Produced by Sandro Perri and Aidan O’Rourke
This project would not have been possible without The Sointula Art Shed, The Island Institute, the Abramson family, the A5 pod, John K. Samson & Christine Fellows, J.J. Ipsen, Andrew Lee, Antoine Bedard, Sandro Perri, Arliss Renwick, Marten Timan, Aidan O’Rourke, OrcaLab, The Orchive, Lyn Heinemann, Kyle Cashen, Laura Tretheway, Taylor Brown-Evans, Ryan Huizing.
10% of album sales donated to OrcaLab:
www.orcalab.org
© Leah Abramson, 2017
All rights reserved
Made in Canada