Apollo will release Healesville, the new ambient album of Albrecht La’Brooy (a.k.a Sean La’Brooy and Alex Albrecht), recorded in a mud-brick hut on a strawberry crop in the Melbourne countryside. 

Healesville follows on from the bucolic wonder of the Australian duo’s 2018 Apollo debut, Tidal River, which took inspiration from their visit to the Wilson’s Promontory, a remote national park on the South East coast of Australia. 

“Late last year, we trekked out to a beautiful mud-brick studio located next to a large strawberry crop in Healesville,” Albrecht recalls. “We spent a few days capturing the feeling of the slow-paced, relaxed surrounds—the wildlife, the strawberry pickers, the sounds of the night, and improvising a response to them with music we felt suited.” Setting up their favoured musical equipment, which included two pianos, a Waldorf, a Nord, and a clutch of microphones, they began their long-form improvisations. 

The resulting pieces are fully improvised (augmented by percussionist Joseph Batrouney, guitarist Carla Oliver, and guitarist Oliver Patterson), freeform recordings that explore themes of relaxation, sleep, and dreams. 

We can expect a “delicate fusion of ambient electronic textures, live instrumentation, and field recordings that beguiles and soothes the listener in these troubled times,” the label explains. 

Tracklisting

A1. Afternoon Carafe 

A2. Tractor (Featuring Oliver Paterson) 

B1. Alex’s Lullaby 

B2. Healesville (Featuring Badskin & Joseph Batrouney) 

B3. Sean’s Lullaby

Healesville LP lands on July 26 on 12″ vinyl and digital, with “Afternoon Carafe” streaming below, and pre-order here.