Clouds in the Sky… (New LP)

All the songs started out as poems,”” says Margolin of the work thatbecame Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me (2024), “”I wantedto challenge myself.”” In a song, Dana argues, the writer can always hidebehind the tricks of the music and well-worn techniques such as repetition. “”Ina poem, though,”” says Dana, “”it’s just words and that’s it.”” Recorded in theSomerset countryside in early 2024 by longtime Big Thief and Laura Marlingengineer Dom Monks, Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me isPorridge Radio’s new album and first new music in two years. The UK band’snew album is a coming-of-age moment inspired by burnout, the musicindustry, the brutal collapse of a relationship and – crucially – Dana’s ownincreasing immersion in her craft as an artist. “”A lot of this album is about a more frenetic and desperate kind oflove,”” says Dana, “”it is about completely losing my sense of self in arelationship, and the deep residue of insecurity and pain that lingered andclouded a new relationship.”” Songs that were written as love songs – like In ADream I’m A Painting – took on new meanings as Margolin viewed the songswith a new distance. “”There was a lot of love and confusion, all interspersedwith exhaustion and pain.””The Clouds sessions took place in Frome as Winter melted into earlySpring at the beginning of 2024. “”There were a few breakdowns,”” grins Dana,in a fair assessment of recording such intimate and personal songs, “”aftersome takes I would just collapse on the floor, so upset.”” An environment wasfostered where Dana could express herself and be nurtured. “”We would havethese big communal meals every night,”” she says, “”it felt very close knit andcaring and warm and special.””Our little house looked over a big hill,””remembers Dana, “”there was a river running through it, it was big and brightand beautiful.”” The studio itself was bright – full of beaming natural light fromthe large windows, a blessing for musicians used to the sealed tomb world ofmost recording studios, and for once the band were all able to record in thesame room as the producer.Today, Dana reflects on Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be ThereFor Me with the enthusiasm of a real creative breakthrough. “”It feels like thefirst time we’ve made something,”” she explains, audibly delighted at thealbum, “”it captured something about our friendship and the way that we havelearnt to play together. I love the songs, I love playing them, they haven’tgotten old and it feels like it’s a special thing.”” A pause. “”It’s taught me somuch. Following your gut to the nth point, trusting your friends and theirloyalty, trusting to be able to fight with people properly. How I want to live ishow I want to make records, because making records is my life because mywork is my play is my job is my life. It all ties together in this thing, and thereare ways to do this that might not kill me.