The second single from South / East London band Cloud Studies. It's the follow-up to their debut 2024 single ‘Ghosts’.

PRESS RELEASE
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For Fans of: Dreampop, Shoegaze, Slowdive, Film School, My  Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Stereolab, Beach House, DIIV

Cloud Studies formed in 2024, as means for Adam Cresswell and Martin J Langthorne to explore the sonic possibilities offered by the large arsenal of effects pedals they had acquired.

‘Cloud Cartography’ was the first song written by Adam for the band as a means to set the tone for the direction of their sonic explorations. It was inspired by visits to the Derryveagh Mountains of Donegal in Ireland, and fighting off the elements as sheets of rain beat down upon the mountainous landscape.

The song is about trying to make sense of a constantly changing world and our efforts to document and understand it.  In a library, the protagonist meets someone attempting to map and catalogue the clouds. They find themselves standing together on a mountainside battling the elements, their undaunted optimism constantly challenged by the impossible nature of their undertaking. 

Sonically the song presents a panoramic, full-spectrum wall of sound; dreamy synths, layers of reverb-drenched guitars from Adrian Taylor and Martin J Langthorne, ethereal vocals from Adam Cresswell, underpinned by a tight insistent rhythm from drummer Nat Guest.

Cloud Studies:
Adam Cresswell, Vocals, bass; Nat Guest, Drums; Martin J Langthorne, Guitars; Adrian Taylor, Guitars

Produced by Adam Cresswell.
Mastered by Toby Campen Mastering.
Recorded at Nan's House Studios (Liverpool) and Bellasonic Sounds (London).

Cloud Cartography

CLOUD STUDIES: Cloud Cartography

Anything can happen in a cartoon - falling from a great height then getting up and walking away unscathed, Tom & Jerry, Coyote & Roadrunner , Bugs Bunny - their world was full of all sorts of weird and wonderful happenings. Maybe my music is a bit cartoonish. I hope so!!!

All sorts of influences may be noticeable (or not).

Edit in summer 2025.
Since 2020-ish, or those inexplicably missed from the list of faves, nearly in ABC order.

Beck- lots of interesting music and associated with someone who became a big influence on me.

Gwenno - singing in Welsh and Cornish! She got up at 5am for the in-store at Jumbo Records. Much appreciated!

Imogen Heap - original and frequently surprising. Love the Harry Potter album.

King Crimson - After listening to the first two tracks on the first album it was obvious that they were going to go anywhere and everywhere. Lucky to be stood about 4m from RF with Sunday All Over The World, Leeds 1989.

Looking Glass Alice - saw them at Jane Weaver's show at Hebden Bridge 2024 and it was Sarah who sold me 2 CDs. Exciting and original, definitely due more attention. 

Serafina Steer - check out the great video for "Disco Compilation" and others.

Sia - it was late 2020 and things were rough for me. Came to the realisation that I had badly misjudged this gem of an artist. Got me through with her inspiring songs and fun character! 

Jane Weaver- first read a review for Jane's music 10 years ago and foolishly filed in the back of my mind for a long time. My fave song: "Slow Motion" or possibly "Solarised" or maybe.....
Lucky to meet Jane at Jumbo Records in 2024. Not forgetting her recordings with Fenella, Misty Dixon and Kill Laura.

Last (for now), certainly not least but they were to me in 1974. Worst song ever, performed in the worst possible way. In my defence I was only 9. The fact that I still remember seeing them on Top of the Pops after all this time should be enough to convince anyone that they are truly something else!! I give you "the Sparks Brothers". This town was definitely not big enough! I'm not going to waffle on about them, but take a look at all those wonderful concert performances from summer 2025 that have been loaded on YT!!! Mad!!

Original text below from long ago.

Favourite album for 45 years: 
"Ommadawn" Mike Oldfield

Sadly very much under-rated
"McDonald and Giles" McDonald and Giles

More favourite artists:
The Lilac Time/Stephen Duffy,Vivian Stanshall, no-man, Fleetwood Mac, Nick Drake, Durutti Column, Hatfield and the North/Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, Gerry Rafferty/Stealers Wheel, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Stereolab, The Roches, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Harry Nilsson, Matt Berry, Slapp Happy, Traffic, XTC,Bjork, Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno, Wubble-U, Scritti Politti, Mandalay, Fox/Kenny Young, Gryphon, David Munrow, Erik Satie.

Childhood memories (1960s) goes back to Freddie Phillips for Trumptonshire TV programmes. Vernon Elliott for various Oliver Postgate productions. Other telly with music by Edwin Astley. ...And ..."Good Vibrations".

Mike Oldfield became my single biggest influence with his unforgettable 1970s albums and indirectly introduced me to early music. Farnaby, Holborne, Adson, Susato and others.

Of course I can't forget my local ace guitarist Bill Nelson who went on to make some great off-the-wall instrumental records from the eighties onwards. A unique talent.

Maybe I've forgotten to mention something really great - there's so much!! 

My recordings are distinctly inexpensive (although I did spend 200 on a microphone. Pence that is, not pounds!) and lo-fi and are created on computer mainly using 16 track MIDI software. The audio recordings are made using the excellent free Audacity software with electric guitar plugged directly into the computer. Sometimes I get out my trusty, old Spanish guitar. I hope you enjoy listening to my sounds and that you may be interested in some of the artists I've highlighted above. Thanks for visiting.

London based electronic robot-pop label. 

Contact: info@happyrobots.co.uk
Web: www.happyrobots.co.uk

Releases include those by artists CLOUD STUDIES, ALICE HUBBLE, MOOD TAEG, ROMAN ANGELOS, HOLOGRAM TEEN, RODNEY CROMWELL and ARTHUR & MARTHA. Distributed by Cargo Records.

The Serenity is a studio project somewhere between wave and pop music.
Thank you for being here and for listening. Comments are always welcome.
All songs are originals and copyrigthed.

Just here for the stuff too good for spotify

聞いて。。。機女神は話している
Residing at the nexus of shoegaze, dreampop, industrial and electronica. Human and computer vocalists welcome.

CLOUD STUDIES: Cloud Cartography

Happy Robots