Acoustic Flight

This Is Sandtimer

Any artist is welcome to send us a track via freshonthenet.co.uk anytime between Monday lunchtime and Thursday morning - and all our moderators, including Tom Robinson, will listen to every track. This is our full inbox from the week beginning Mon 29 October: from midday on Friday you'll be able to hear our shortlist and pick your favourites on this week's Listening Post which will appear at freshonthenet.co.uk/batch302

If a track you submitted does not appear in this list, it’s probably because another of your tracks appeared in our Fresh Faves or on the BBC Music Introducing Mixtape during the last three months — we ask that artists featured on either wait three months before resubmitting to give others a chance. You will be able to resubmit the track in future.

ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 302

i'm lost

Learning To Fly

Produced by Ganjet
Mastered by Trilobit
Anancy Records 2014

More Leah Rosier: https://soundcloud.com/leah-rosier

Leah Rosier - Fly Again (Way Home Riddim)

The Never Ending Pageant

Dunnottar Skies

it's a fixed race, hey, I'll save my breath for the next

Listen on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/track/6023CVd4DiJf3x29rjmNcW
And all other stores via: https://song.link/gb/i/1176941952

Free download at: https://sandtimermusic.bandcamp.com/track/get-on-your-skates

This is 'Get On Your Skates', from our second EP, Mackerel, released December 1st, 2016

Robert Sword - Vocals, Guitar, Percussion
Simon Thomas - Vocals, Guitar, Bass 

Written by Robert Sword 
Produced and arranged by Robert Sword and Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas 
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering

Mackerel

Get On Your Skates

"Honey" was produced & written by Johnny Balik, Sam Hudgens, & Sam Hagensick at CRC in Chicago.

Honey

Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune is the third movement of his Suite Bergamasque, written for solo piano and completed in 1905. The title, meaning “Moonlight,” is inspired by Paul Verlaine’s poem, evoking a serene and reflective atmosphere. The piece epitomizes French Impressionism, focusing on mood and imagery over traditional form.
Structure and Atmosphere

The piece is in ternary form (ABA):

    Opening (A):
    A soft, flowing melody emerges over delicate arpeggios. The music feels weightless, like moonlight shimmering on water. Debussy uses rich harmonies and seventh chords to create a dreamlike quality, with a tender, introspective mood.

    Middle Section (B):
    The dynamics intensify, with fuller textures and soaring melodic lines. This section brings a sense of emotional depth and urgency, contrasting with the calm opening. Arpeggios cascade dramatically, giving the impression of moonlight suddenly brightening or revealing hidden beauty.

    Closing (A):
    The opening material returns, slightly varied, fading into a gentle, whisper-like conclusion. The piece ends as quietly as it began, leaving a sense of stillness and wonder.

Musical Features

    Harmonics: Debussy’s use of whole-tone scales, parallel chords, and non-functional harmony creates a suspended, ethereal soundscape.
    Melody: The lyrical melody floats effortlessly above the accompaniment, expressing both simplicity and emotional depth.
    Texture: Light, transparent textures alternate with moments of lush, resonant fullness, embodying the interplay of light and shadow.

Mood and Interpretation

Clair de Lune evokes the quiet magic of a moonlit night, combining serenity with subtle melancholy. Its poetic quality invites listeners to imagine moonlight reflecting on a calm lake, whispering through trees, or illuminating a tranquil landscape. The music feels timeless, blending stillness with fleeting moments of intensity.

Cultural Impact

This iconic piece has been widely used in films (Ocean’s Eleven, Twilight) and pop culture, often accompanying scenes of romance, nostalgia, or quiet reflection. Its universal appeal lies in its ability to evoke deep emotion while remaining understated.
Performance Notes

Expressive dynamics, fluid phrasing, and careful pedaling are essential to capturing its delicate atmosphere. A balance between freedom and control ensures its dreamlike flow remains intact.

Clair de Lune is a masterpiece of impressionistic music, celebrated for its ability to transport listeners into a realm of quiet beauty and introspection.

Claude Debussy - The Essential Collection

Clair de Lune

Clair de Lune - Debussy

Debut Single. 

Every word is true.

Thanks to Nathan Conell-Howard on guitar

Slug Frontier

'Clouds' by Sandtimer, out October 26th on Lost Forest Records.

Robert Sword - Vocals, Banjo, Bass, Percussion 
Simon Thomas - Guitar 
Rachel Thomas - Vocals

Written by Robert Sword 
Produced and arranged by Robert Sword and Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas 
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering
Cover artwork by Simon Thomas
Cover design by William Thomas

Lyrics:

The clouds are clearing far away, a blank new page, 
but you cannot seem to find a way to start again. 
The sun was breaking through the clouds yesterday 
but it never seems to dry out all your old mistakes. 

The sleepless nights that people passed for you, 
the pain of being saddled with the weight of truth. 
It’s something I’d take in my stride, walking blue 
with the fear and guilt of starting to resent what I can’t do- 

to lift your head up from that big wooden desk, 
to catch what’s left of summer now, 
to feel that warmth that you’ve not often felt- 
wish there was some way we could help. 

One sky with clouds full of snow and one of rain 
and I think how love and friendship sometimes toll on you the same. 
That burning wish to know and fight their pain and 
shape the clouds into faces that could make them smile again. 

To salvage something good from such a mess, 
to join the dots between the good days, 
to feel that warmth and settle for nothing less- 
wish there was some way we could help 
but the power to change is locked inside yourself.

Clouds - single

Clouds

melloween iii

sacred heart

4D Journey is the second track from Jo's debut album 'Constellations'

4D Journey:
Written and performed by Jo Ash 
Produced by Mike Ellis and Jo Ash 
Recorded by Chris Taylor at Bluebarn Studios 
Mastered by Chris Mann at Prods in the Dark 
Photography by Angela Stonebridge

4D Journey

Pre-order the EP here: http://smarturl.it/SomethingToBeWonEP

End Is Near

a day of the most peculiar kind

'209' by Sandtimer

Simon Thomas - Vocals, Guitar, Bass 
Robert Sword - Vocals, Guitar, Percussion, Piano 
Rachel Thomas - Vocals 
Sophie Sword - Additional vocals 

Written by Simon Thomas 
Produced and arranged by Robert Sword and Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas 
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering 
Cover artwork by Alex Jackson 
Cover design by William Thomas

_____________________________
Lyrics

A day of the most peculiar kind, 
I never did mind- I'm too far down the line. 
All my sorrow on the gate 
powering out this bad state. 

Gone back to the county line 
caught in a Peugeot 209 
His motivation is not yet called upon, 
he's a victim of his own crime. 

I came to the turning down the drive 
but never arrived, turned straight around. 
Cold feet, cold on the ground, 
footprints could never be found. 

Gone back to the county line 
caught in a Peugeot 209 
His motivation is not yet called upon, 
he's a victim of his own crime.

Peugeot 209

to lie on the waves and float on the ocean: the simplest of motions

'Dormant' by Sandtimer

Simon Thomas - Vocals, Guitar, Euphonium 
Robert Sword - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Percussion 
Rachel Thomas - Vocals 

Written by Simon Thomas 
Produced and arranged by Robert Sword and Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas 
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering 
Cover artwork by Simon Thomas 
Cover design by William Thomas

Dormant

Twilight - Bella's Lullaby - Original Piano

even through the dark, dark, dark days

'What's On Your Mind' by Sandtimer

Robert Sword: Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Bass, Percussion 
Simon Thomas: Vocals, Guitar
Rachel Thomas: Vocals

Written by Robert Sword 
Produced & arranged by Robert Sword & Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas & Robert Sword
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering
Cover artwork by Simon Thomas
Cover design by William Thomas
_____________________________
Lyrics

Even through the dark, dark, dark days
there was never a doubt how this would end,
there was never an 'if', just a 'when'.
But now I've moved on some way
look back over all that time again-
is it a waste that time I've spent?
But it's already over, it's already gone.

Are we just slaves to a system we create?
Are we just slaves to a system?
'I guess I thought that my whole, whole, whole life
Look back and I wonder if it's just me-
am I the one who isn't free?'
But it's already over, it's already gone.

Are we just slaves to a system we create?
Are we just slaves to a system?
I guess we just move back, back, back and forth
between the extremities of thought:
are we the captors or the caught?
But it's already over, it's already gone.
It's already over, it's already gone.

What's On Your Mind

Far, Far Away

A 'live vibe', solo, fingerstyle, original piece

Ascend

did he sell his soul so he could buy it back, somewhere down the track

'Three Cars' by Sandtimer
Stream/purchase: https://song.link/gb/i/1522202368
Bandcamp: https://sandtimermusic.bandcamp.com/album/three-cars-single

Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering

Cover artwork by Simon Thomas, Photini Knoyle and William Thomas

Three Cars

have more faith in humanity

Listen to and follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2gT0XcBApcekilU3OI01Ys
We're also on Facebook, feel free to give us a like, comment etc
https://www.facebook.com/sandtimermusic

おれたちは二人のイギリス人なミュージシャンだ。アクースチックギターを使ってで、自分たちのおとの世界を作りましょうね！