‘Northern Rain’ is taken from Tim’s forthcoming sixth solo outing “Late Night Laments” (released on InsideOutMusic on August 28th, 2020), and it’s a sad one.
As the press release notes, it ‘combines electronic soundscapes and acoustic percussion with a powerfully emotional lyric and melody. Melanie Woods (Sidi Bou Said / Knifeworld) and Evan Carson (Kate Rusby / iamthemorning) guest.
Bowness comments: ‘To an extent, this is about a person seeing their partner slowly descend into the fog of dementia, reflecting on their life together and coming to terms with their powerlessness and eventual demise, and the ever-changing nature of the world. I’m more of a ‘rage against the dying of the light’ person, but this is a song of blissful acceptance.’
The bliss is understandably counterbalanced by a deep sadness, a slow-creeping melancholy, although the video reinforces the idea of renewal and the cycle of life as bushes grow and die, and buildings are erected and replaced.
Ultimately, we’re all here to go, and it’s making the most that counts, and this is a subtle reminder of that.