Clark has unveiled his ninth studio album, Playground In A Lake, scheduled for March release on Deutsche Grammophon.

Across Playground In A Lake, Clark “broadens horizons and tries new things,” we’re told, and this creates “profound results.”

With its orchestral tropes and release on Deutsche Grammophon, the album may appear a departure to the casual observer, but it is in fact a more “illuminated development” of clues from Clark’s past releases,” we understand. It builds on the piano vignettes from Clarence Park, the folky wonder of Iradelphic, and the strings on Body Riddle, plus the British producer’s skewed symphonic rework of Max Richter‘s “Path 5.”

Conceptually, the album broadly tells a story about real climate change, but told in mythological terms. “It’s about the last human on earth, the betrayal of an innocent child, and becoming a grown-up; growing a shell over our lost young selves,” Clark says. “It’s the playground we bury and a drowned planet; an extinction myth.”

Clark, real name Chris Clark, recorded the album with string ensembles in Budapest and Berlin. It features Oliver Coates on cello, Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear on clarinet, Manchester Collective’s Rakhi Singh on violin, AFRODEUTSCHE and Kieran Brunt on backing vocals, 130701 signee Yair Elazar Glotman on contrabass, and 12 year old choir boy Nathaniel Timoney, whose vocal recordings were directed via Zoom during lockdown.

As well as scoring the guests’ parts, Clark himself sings, and plays piano, synths, and cello.

Earlier this year, Clark released his score to Adam Egypt Mortimer’s psychological horror “Daniel Isn’t Real” on Deutsche Grammophon. In 2019, he released Kiri Variations on his own Throttle Records.

Tracklisting

01. Lovelock
02. Lambent Rag
03. Citrus
04. Forever Chemicals
05. More Islands
06. Small
07. Disguised Foundation
08. Suspension Reservoir
09. Entropy Polychord
10. Aura Nera
11. Already Ghosts
12. Earth Systems
13. Emissary
14. Comfort and Fear
15. Shut You Down
16. Life Outro

Playground In A Lake LP is scheduled for March 26 release. Meanwhile, you can stream “Small” and an album teaser below. Pre-order is available here.