French folk duo The SANDMAN’S ORCHESTRA to release 2nd album “Nocturne”

March 25, 2013 – The Sandman’s Orchestra, uncle and niece duo comprising PIERRE LAPLACE and LEONIE GABRIEL, will release new album « Nocturne » as a CD and download on Bandcamp, CDbaby, Itunes and Amazon.

The title of the duo’s new album defines its mood : nocturnal, contemplative, sometimes dark but never complacent. The album is made up of 10 original ballads filled with ghosts and shadows but the duo stay clear of any « goth » pose ; on the contrary, Nocturne’s songs exude warmth ; the duo’s sound is both organic and atmospheric. Finger-picked guitar, piano, wurlitzer, banjo, drums, cello, flugelhorn, kalimba and percussion lay the foundation, and both Léonie and Pierre sing, together and separately.

« Nocturne » is a folk record at heart : opening track « Razor Eyes » is just a nylon-string guitar part and Léonie’s vocals. « In Your Wake », with its open-tuned banjo, choral work and harmonium sounds like a dark atmospheric folk tale. « Shades Of The Past » is pure songwriting : with finger-picked guitar, vocals, cello and flugelhorn, and lyrics conjuring up ghosts from the past.

The Sandman's OrchestraNocturne also includes atmospheric piano songs : « To Haunt You » is a song that’s special to The Sandman’s Orchestra as it has already been covered by 22 artists on Soundcloud. Brooklyn songstress Heidi Harris included her version of the song on her album « Storm story » (Reverb Worship, September 2012).

Closing track « Nocturne » is an epic ballad : deep piano chords, soundscapes and the sound of a ticking clock give it an almost Floydian feel.

The duo have also expanded their sonic palette with melancholy soul song « Wildfires Of The Mind » and « On A Cloud », which blends wurlitzer piano with beats and electronica.

With « Nocturne », The Sandman’s Orchestra have created a timeless record that will appeal to fans of Nick Drake, Beth Gibbons, Joni Mitchell, Bill Callahan, Cat Power and Kate Bush.

The album was recorded at home then mastered at Studio KA in Lille, France.

A selection of tracks from « Nocturne » can be streamed here : https://soundcloud.com/thesandmansorchestra/sets/mastered-tracks-from-1/

The tracks « To Haunt You » and « In Your Wake » are offered as free mp3s, we grant permission to post them on blogs and websites.

For more information, please visit https://thesandmansorchestra.com

Contact:
Pierre Laplace
0632687031
the.square@free.fr